This chopped kale salad recipe, with grapes and feta cheese, is an easy and healthy vegetarian side dish for your next meal.
As I was attempting to un-stifle myself from the distinctly stifling heat last week, a thought occurred to me. How in the world did women living 100 years ago tolerate the heat while wearing ankle-length dresses, corsets and layers of undergarments, and how would I have ever survived? I'd imagine it would have been deemed somewhat unladylike to hoist my dress up to my thighs, uncork a beer and let out a stream of profanity about the withering heat.
I really would have sucked at living in that time period.
Women of that era, and many others before modern times, were resourceful in providing meals for their families, growing their own food and wasting very little of what they had. Today, we have the luxury of driving to the grocery store or the farmer's market to buy our fruits and vegetables. However, there's something intensely satisfying about harvesting vegetables from your own garden. And I dare say that it's a heck of a lot cheaper and healthier, too, assuming you don't spray your backyard crops with chemicals.
Inspired by my friend, Kalyn of Kalyn's Kitchen, my husband and I decided to try our hand at growing kale this year. Kalyn has always had an impressive bounty of kale and chard each year, and I have coveted her planters full of those dark leafy greens that are touted to be rich sources of calcium, iron, and vitamins A, C and K.
This salad was born from ingredients in my pantry and fridge (how very "100 years ago" of me). The kale, rubbed with a little warm water to soften it slightly, is tossed with sweet red grapes that provide a pop of sweetness and feta cheese, which add some creamy tang. The simple vinaigrette is nothing more than some fresh lemon juice, olive oil, a touch of agave nectar or honey, and salt and pepper.
Even the kids munched up a hearty helping. Beat that, Laura Ingalls Wilder!
The recipe:
Rinse the chopped kale in warm water, gently rubbing the leaves to soften slightly. Dry the leaves in a salad spinner or on a towel.
In a large bowl, combine the kale, grapes and feta cheese.
In a small bowl, whisk together the lemon juice, olive oil, agave nectar (or honey), salt and pepper.
Pour the dressing over the salad and toss to coat. Serve.
Other salad recipes with dark, leafy greens:
Cookin' Canuck's Chopped Kale Salad with Pomegranate & Avocado
Cookin' Canuck's Warm Bourbon Spinach Salad with Bacon & Avocado
The Kitchn's Garlicky Grilled Kale Salad with Grilled Bread
Eating Bird Food's Raw Collard Greens Salad with Sun-Dried Tomatoes
Natasha's Kitchen's Spinach Salad with Balsamic Vinaigrette
Printable Recipe
Chopped Kale Salad Recipe with Grapes & Feta Cheese
Ingredients
The Salad:
- 3-4 large kale leaves stems removed, leaves chopped (about 5 cups)
- 1 cup red grapes cut in half
- ¼ cup crumbled feta cheese
The Dressing:
- 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
- ½ teaspoon agave nectar or honey
- â…› teaspoon salt
- â…› teaspoon ground pepper
Instructions
The Salad:
- Rinse the chopped kale in warm water, gently rubbing the leaves to soften. Dry the leaves in a salad spinner or on a towel.
- In a large bowl, combine the kale, grapes and feta cheese.
The Dressing:
- In a small bowl, whisk together the lemon juice, olive oil, agave nectar (or honey), salt and pepper.
- Pour the dressing over the salad and toss to coat. Serve.
Notes
Nutrition
Disclosure: I am a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for me to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.
Megan {Country Cleaver}
I would not have dealt with this heat well 100 years ago. Having no AC in our tiny apartment is bad enough! Clearly, first world problems. I could totally go for one of these to beat the heat.
kirsten@FarmFreshFeasts
Dara,
I would have sucked at living 'way back when' due to the footwear in addition to the layers of clothing. I love new fangled sneakers too much.
Your salad looks very fresh and inviting--I like the idea to rub the kale with warm water and will have to try that.
Thanks!
Norma
I can almost taste the sweet and salt combination. Can't wait to try this. Thank you for sharing.
Jessica@AKitchenAddiction
Love grapes and feta together! This salad sounds perfect!
Cassie | Bake Your Day
This is a gorgeous salad, Dara. I love the combination of grapes and feta. Can't wait to try it!
Min
Yum! This looks so simple and satisfying! I am so jealous of your garden! The husband and I started a vegetable garden for the time recently, and it's turning out to be a lot more difficult that I imagined. Mostly bc I don't know how much to water! I feel like I'm overwatering but then the stems are turning yellow...I'm scared..I would love to grow kale but I believe I have to wait till October to plant here in Texas. Did I mention how jealous I am? 😉
Nessa
I want a bid plate of that right now! 😉
Robyn Stone | Add a Pinch
What a delicious way to get my dark leafy greens!!! Yum!!!
Jess S. @ Floptimism
I've always massaged my kale with vinegar - I never knew you could do it with regular water! I'll have to try that sometime. Also, this recipe as a whole looks delicious!
Mr. & Mrs. P
What a light and beautiful salad! Great for you too!
kelley
I love everything about this recipe. I have some freshly picked kale myself and this is definitely getting made for dinner tonight!
Annalise @ Completely Delicious
What do you know, I have all of these ingredients! Making this for lunch today. I'm growing kale too, and I can't believe how well it's doing! Kale for every meal. 🙂
Laura (Tutti Dolci)
I love the sound of grapes and feta together!
Brianna
Congrats on your successful little garden! There is almost nothing as satisfying as growing and eating your own food :).
Tieghan
So pretty! I love the addition of the grapes and obviously the feta. So yummy!
Liz @ The Lemon Bowl
Love this Dara! Grapes are such a great idea for kale!
Sommer @ ASpicyPerspective
Love the simplicity of this salad!
DessertForTwo
It's all of my favorite ingredients in one salad! I've got to try this!
Katrina @ Warm Vanilla Sugar
I love salads like this, and this looks perfect for summer!
Angie
I can't wait to try this, I have some fresh kale in the fridge now!