This Spicy Kale Salad is a flavorful side dish. Crunchy kale greens are tossed in a zesty lime vinaigrette and topped with toasted almonds and jalapeños. It's simple, fresh, dairy-free, and tastes fabulous with spicy & citrusy notes!
I like kale for its crunchy texture and unique taste. Although it's the least preferred vegetable in my home, I can’t just skip it and move on.
I always try different recipes to make my family enjoy kale, and this spicy kale salad recently made them happy(along with these spicy kale chips).
The one ingredient that makes this kale salad spicy is jalapeño. It adds heat and a bright, irresistible flavor that keeps you returning for more.
Our homemade lime vinaigrette balances the jalapeño flavors, while almond slices add a crunchy bite. The kale's natural crisp texture enhances the salad, satisfying every bite.
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Why You'll Love This Recipe
⭐️This is mildly spicy, and delicious.
⭐️Ready in less than 15 minutes;
⭐️Customizable and adoptable!
Ingredients
- The Kale: Any variety of kale is good to use here. Curly kale, dino kale, and purple to red Russian kale work fine. Feel free to use the chopped, storebought bagged kale as well.
- Carrot: Carrots counteract its color with the kale's natural green color and balance the spice level from the Jalapeno. Chop them as thin as a matchstick, which makes it look pleasing and gives the salad a good texture. Getting them readymade can save your time.
- Almonds provide a crunch. You can substitute with pine nuts or roasted sunflower seeds.
- Jalapeno: Every jalapeno is different, so always start by adding little and increasing the quantity to match your heat tolerance.
- Olive oil: Add extra virgin olive oil for more flavor.
- Lime vinaigrette: A homemade, simple basic vinaigrette that makes the salad finger-licking(try this chili lime vinaigrette for a flavorful twist). Add lime juice, salt, olive oil, and shake. That's it!
How To Make Spicy Kale Salad
- Prepping work: Roughly chop the kale leaves to bite-size. Chop the carrots to match the stick thin. Seed and chop the jalapeno.
- Lime vinaigrette: Add olive oil, salt, and lime juice to a small jar. Shake until salt and olive oil combine. The olive oil and lime juice will emulsify and become a thick, creamy sauce.
- Add: Add kale, carrot, jalapeno, roasted almonds, and lime vinaigrette to a large mixing bowl.
- Toss: Toss gently till the ingredients blend well with each other.
- Transfer to a serving plate and enjoy.
♨️How To Adjust The Heat Level
Are you reading this post with the above question in mind? I can hear you. Well, there is no definite everyday scale for measuring the spice level in the recipe. If someone describes a dish as 'hot,' it can be 'bland' for others.
Adopting this spicy kale salad recipe to suit your spice level is a breeze. The jalapeno is the only source of heat. Seed them according to your choice.
If you want a mild salad, core and remove the seeds(including the white membrane), leaving the seeds intact for profound heat.
The Leftovers
- Spicy kale salad tastes best when made fresh.
- If you want to store it, keep it in an airtight container in the refrigerator, and it will stay suitable for up to a day.
- This is not a freezer-friendly recipe.
FAQ
Can I make this salad vinaigrette ahead of time?
Yes! You can prepare this vegetable in advance and store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a day. But you can make the lime vinaigrette up to five days in advance. Just give it a good shake before tossing into the salad.
Absolutely! To make it a satisfying weeknight meal, add grilled chicken, shrimp, tofu, tempeh, or chickpeas.
You can enhance this salad with avocado slices, cherry tomatoes for sweetness, or sunflower and pumpkin seeds for extra crunch. If you enjoy a fruity touch, add berries like blueberries or chopped strawberries(my favorite)!
Massaging the kale with other ingredients before serving helps soften its crispy texture, and it is soaked with the lime and jalapeno flavors.
This salad pairs well with grilled meats, fish, sandwiches, tacos(try this Cajun shrimp tacos recipe), or soups(like this paprika chicken soup).
More Salad Recipes To Try
If you enjoyed this recipe, please consider leaving a ⭐ star rating and let me know your thoughts in the 📝 comments section below the recipe.
📖 Recipe
Spicy Kale Salad
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 tablespoon lime juice
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 2 cups kale chopped
- ½ cup carrot chopped to match stick thin
- 3 tablespoon almond sliced
- 2 tablespoon jalapeno seeded
Instructions
- In a small mixing jar, make the lime vinaigrette by adding olive oil, lime juice, and salt.
- Shake until salt combines with olive oil. And keep aside.
- In a large mixing bowl, add kale, carrot, almond, jalapeno, and lime vinaigrette.
- Gently toss until all the ingredients combine together.
- Serve immediately.
Notes
- Use any variety of kale—curly, dino, or Russian kale. Chop carrots into thin matchsticks for texture and color contrast.
- Adjust the spice level by seeding the jalapeño; removing seeds makes it milder, while keeping them adds more heat.
- It is best enjoyed fresh but can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a day. It is not freezer-friendly.
Jack says
Everyone loved this crunchy spiced salad!
Sujatha Muralidhar says
Jack, very glad your family liked this salad.
Andrea says
This unique salad flavor combination sounds perfect for my family.
Sujatha Muralidhar says
Yeah Jacqueline, the sharp tint of lime's taste excellent for the taste of kale.
Jacqueline Meldrum says
Oh I love the lime on this dressing although I prefer to massage the kale. Looks yummy.
pepperbowl says
Great to hear, Jacqueline!
Ieva says
I always struggle to think of new ways with kale, so was really grateful for this recipe! Perfect healthy side salad to go with a summer bbq!
pepperbowl says
So happy to hear it, thanks Ieva!