This is one of the simplest yet best kale salads ever. I can literally eat this whole salad in one sitting! There is an explosion of flavors and texture from the kale and almonds mixed with the flavors of sesame, rice wine vinegar and asiago cheese.
Growing up in southern California we ate a lot of sushi, well I ate a lot of avocado cucumber rolls. The flavors of this salad remind me of those days. There was a sushi restaurant named Semba around the corner from my friends John and Jeff’s apartment. We hung out there a lot and we would walk over to Semba to eat sushi and drink sake. We weren’t even old enough to be drinking but we got away with it because the sushi chef loved us. I don’t think you could get away with that in this day and age.
A Spanish Rueda is my go-to wine for this salad but it is also great with a Riesling, Pinot Noir, Sauvignon Blanc or a cold crisp Sake.
Toasted Sesame Kale Salad
Ingredients
- 1 Head of Kale - I used luciano
- 2 Tablespoon Toasted Sesame Oil
- 1 Tablespoon plus 1 Teaspoon Brown Rice Vinegar
- 2 Teaspoons Tamari - or to taste be careful not to add too much
- 1 Clove Garlic - minced
- 1/4 Cup Sliced Almonds
- 1/4 Cup Aged Asiago - finely shredded - or to taste
- Toasted Sesame Seeds or Black Sesame Seeds optional
Instructions
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Wash the kale and remove the main rib by holding the end of the steam and pulling down with your other hand. Discarding the main rib.
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Chop the kale into thin strips and add to a large bowl.
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Add 1 tablespoon of toasted sesame oil to the kale and massage the oil into the kale. This softens the kale and infuses the flavor into the leaves removing any bitterness.
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Add the remaining 1 tablespoon sesame oil, vinegar, tamari, and garlic. Mix well.
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Add the cheese, almonds and seeds to individual salads.
Health Benefits:
Kale is low in calories, high in fiber and it is a loaded with antioxidants which help detox the liver. It is also an anti-inflammatory with omega-3 fatty acids, which is helpful for arthritis, joint pain and asthma. Kale has more Iron than beef and more calcium than milk which helps prevents osteoporosis, joint flexibility and helps maintain normal bone health. It is great for cardiovascular support that helps in lowering cholesterol. It is really high in vitamin A, C, and super high in the powerful antioxidant vitamin K. (Anyone taking anticoagulants should avoid kale because of the high level of vitamin K that may interfere with the drugs.)
