Kale Cucumber Salad

This kale cucumber salad is citrusy, bright, and vitamin-packed. Crunchy kale is served alongside fresh cucumbers, orange wedges, and parmesan cheese.

So simple, yet so sophisticated, this is the kind of dish you’ll want to keep the ingredients around in your home. Because the kale is chopped finely and covered in a deceptively simple yet delicious citrus dressing, even the kale-haters in your home will want to go back for seconds.

This recipe is full of robust and full flavors and fits well into any brunch spread you may be preparing for your family or for guests. I like to have this alongside my favorite cup of coffee and a couple of poached eggs, but you could easily make it a meal unto itself.

When you make this salad dressing, you will likely have a little bit left over, depending on how well you like to dress your salad. Reserve this to put on another salad or grilled vegetables. 

The other key thing to this dish is spending a few minutes ‘massaging’ the kale. I know this sounds crazy! But rubbing the kale in your fingers will help soften the leaves and make them easier to chew and digest.

You don’t have to give the kale a 60-minute trip to the spa, but spending a few minutes rubbing the leaves will do wonders for your final salad.

What You Need To Make Kale Cucumber Salad

To make a kale cucumber salad, you need fresh kale, cucumber, salt, pepper, oranges, pepitas, parmesan cheese, and olive oil.

In this dressing, I recommend using a really light olive oil—something with a light floral flavor if possible—because it will add a lot to the dish. If you want to use a store-bought dressing, consider using something like a citrus vinaigrette or a creamy goddess dressing.

Ingredients:

• Kale
• Cucumber
• Salt
• Pepper
• Orange
• Parmesan cheese
• Olive oil
• Pepitas

Equipment: 

To make this kale cucumber salad, you need a cutting board, a knife, a peeler, a jar with a tight-fitting lid, and a salad bowl. I also like to use a citrus juicer to juice the orange, but you can also use your hands or insert the tines of a fork to juice the fruit as well. 

How To Make Kale Cucumber Salad

Prepare the kale: Wash and dry the kale. With your fingers, massage the kale for 3-4 minutes, working to loosen the fibers in the leaves. Chop into small pieces and set aside.

Prepare the cucumber and orange: Peel the cucumber and slice into semicircles, roughly ½ inch in thickness. Pare the orange peel and section off into small slices. Set aside. Cut another orange in half and juice both halves.

Make the dressing: Place the olive oil, orange juice, salt, and pepper, in a jar and shake vigorously until well combined. Set aside. 

Prepare the cheese: If using a block of parmesan, use the peeler to shave off thin slices.

Assemble: Place the kale, cucumber, and orange in a bowl. Add the cheese. Season with salt and pepper. Toss with the salad dressing. 

Serve: Enjoy!

Recipe FAQs

I can’t find pepitas. What else can I add to the salad?

Try pumpkin seeds, pine nuts, or sunflower seeds. Any of these would add a nice crunch to your dish. 

Can I make this salad in advance? 

Because the kale is hardy, this salad can sit dressed and be made in advance of when you plan to serve it. I recommend waiting to add the parmesan cheese until you are ready to serve the salad, as the dressing will cause it to lose its firm texture and sharp flavor.

Here are a few other recipes you might enjoy!

• Easter Egg Salad
• Julienne Salad
• Santa Fe Salad
• Vegan Croissant Sandwich
• Kale Scrambled Eggs
• Kale Mango Smoothie