Spicy Kale salad

My blog is mainly about skinny and easy recipes, so it is not a big surprise if I come up with a simple vegan green recipe. Yes, this spicy kale salad is the latest find in my kitchen that I'm proud of as it's being skinny, and vegan that spice up the dinner.

I always try different recipes to make my family love this kale green. And this spicy kale salad is the one which recently made them happy.

I like this kale-green for its crunchy texture and unique taste. But contrarily, it's the least preferred in my home. But I cannot skip and, just like that, get away from this green. Everyone from the media to the press talks about the goodness of Kale greens.

About this recipe

This is mildly spicy, delicious, and super easy to put together. The almonds and the homemade lime vinaigrette are the stoppers; every forkful would be fascinating and meet your expectations.

The prep time is less than ten minutes; the integral time-consuming part of this spicy salad recipe is chopping the kale leaves. Now you understand how simple it is to prepare the dinner.

The almond slices give a crunchy bite and the balsamic vinaigrette beautifully balances jalapeno flavors. The natural crispy texture of kale adds value and makes every bite memorable.

The one ingredient that makes this kale salad spicy, it's no secret. The jalapeno adds up the heat and the bright, irresistible flavor, which keeps asking for more.

How spicy is this Vegan kale salad?

Are you reading this post with this question in your 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.

The one good advantage of making our food, is we know what's in there. And we fully control the ingredients that go right into the pan.

Adopting this spicy kale salad recipe to suit your spice level is like a breeze. The jalapeno's seed is the only source of heat. Seed them according to your choice.

Remove all the seeds for the mild version, leave some seeds for the medium heat, and add them as if you prefer a fiery hot salad.

But I prefer to seed them roughly with some seeds here and there.

Other fresh salads,

• Mashed chickpea salad
• Greek yogurt cucumber salad
• Chinese green bean salad
• Asian cabbage salad
• Indian tomato salad

How to make the best-tasting Spicy Kale salad?

This kale salad stands out with its distinctive mixture of flavor and feel.

Pro tips for ingredients

The Kale. Any variety of kale is good to use here. Anything from curly kale, dino kale, and purple, to red Russian kale works fine. Feel free to use any of them. We aim to include greens in our diet, so get the readily available variety.

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 you time.

Almond. Protein-rich and provides a crunch. Substitute with pine nuts or roasted sunflower seeds, if this is not in your pantry. This is optional but it remarkably makes the salad delicious.

Jalapeno. Core and seed them if you want a mild salad. Leaving the seeds intact will increase the heat. Adjust the number of seeds according to your spice level preference.

Olive oil. Add extra virgin olive oil for more flavor. Make the salad more crisp than usual.

Lime vinaigrette. A homemade, super simple basic vinaigrette that makes the salad finger-licking. Add lime juice, salt, olive oil, and shake. That's it!

The recipe direction.

Prepping work. Roughly chop the kale leaves to bite-size. Chop the carrots to match stick thin. Seed and chop jalapeno.

Lime vinaigrette. Add olive oil, salt, and lime juice in a small jar. Shake until salt and olive oil combine. Olive oil and lime juice emulsifies and becomes 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.

What to serve with spicy kale salad

• Spicy garlic lime chicken
• Pan-fried garlic chicken
• Tandoori masala grilled chicken
• Broccoli stuffed grilled chicken
• Cedar plank grilled salmon

The recipe variations

Vegan. This spicy basic kale salad is naturally a vegan and vegetarian dish. If you prefer, you may add nutritional yeast for a more creamy aroma.

Kale Caesar salad. Substitute balsamic vinegar with Caesar dressing, another delicious alternative to the simple sauce.

Lime juice or apple cider vinegar. It's an excellent refreshing swap for balsamic vinegar. Each addition gives a whole new look, which is delightful.

Cayenne pepper or red pepper flakes. Other spicy toppings in addition to jalapeno.

Red onion. Another complementary ingredient that is most popular in our home.

Storing and Make-ahead spicy kale salad

Spicy kale salad is a magical side salad recipe, that tastes the sooner, the better. However, refrigerated in an air-sealed container stays suitable for up to a day.

If you plan to make ahead, chop all the ingredients and refrigerate them individually for a day or two. When needed, toss and serve.

Other Salad recipes you may like,

• Cantaloupe Salad
• Fresco salad
• Indian quinoa salad
• Greek yogurt cucumber salad
• Indian corn salad

Printable recipe card