My Rainbow Kale Salad is soft and feminine; the curls of the kale leaves, reminiscent of petticoats and ruffles. And the colours! Oh the colours: purples that sparkle like amethysts; greens that glow like jade; oranges that smoulder like a fiery sunset.
Not only is kale one good-looking cruciferous vegetable, it is also one of the healthiest to eat! Kale is an excellent source of vitamins A, C, K, and manganese. It is also a very good source of fiber, copper, calcium, potassium, and vitamin B6. It’s got anti-inflammatory properties, which means it can help ward that evil cancer away! It is a vital ingredient in the juicing regimen cancer patients often adhere to.
Kale is kind.
Because of its mild flavour compared to its relatives (cabbage, Brussels sprouts, and collard greens), kale can be easily enjoyed in soups, salads, pasta, or even as is. The trick is not to overcook these vegetables – 5 minutes cooking time is usually what it can handle in order to preserve all the nutrients.
But in this case, my recipe for Rainbow Kale Salad requires no cooking at all! The light taste of these leafy greens – combined with the sweetness of mandarin oranges and red bell peppers – will blow you away! The colours alone are so pretty; the flavour, fresh and dainty. I’m officially smitten with this salad! It makes my heart beat fast…and for all the right reasons!
| Rainbow Kale Salad |
|
- 1 cup purple kale, chopped
- 1 cup Tuscan kale, chopped
- 1/2 cup red cabbage, chopped
- 1/2 red onion, sliced thinly
- 1/2 red pepper, sliced thinly
- 2 large mandarins, peeled and cut into segments
- 2 tablespoons sunflower seeds
- 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
- 3 tablespoons freshly squeezed orange juice
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- freshly ground black pepper to taste
- Combine purple kale, Tuscan kale, red cabbage, red onion, red pepper, mandarins, and sunflower seeds in a salad bowl.
- In a smaller bowl or measuring cup, mix balsamic vinegar, orange juice, and Dijon mustard. Whisk until combined.
- Pour the dressing on the salad and toss until the leaves are well coated.
- Season with freshly ground pepper to taste and serve cold or at room temperature.
*You can easily double or triple the quantity of this recipe as needed.
{ 42 comments… read them below or add one }
Lovely, lovely salad!!! If only we get kale here… I have not seen any (or I was just not looking) kale in local groceries. If I do, I will try this. Sawa nako sa Kani Salad eh!
))
Kale has a mild taste like spinach so you can replace it with that! Spinach also have a nutritious profile! And you have red cabbage in the Philippines, so you can use that no problem. In any case, you can just replace the kale with any kind of colourful salad leaves available there! The simple vinaigrette makes it refreshingly delicious!
Oooh I’ve been meaning to find ways to put more kale in my life and this sounds delicious!
Hey MizzJ, thanks for dropping by! Will visit you soon!
You know that I love this kind of salad! Not only that is packed with nutrition but so darn pretty! Thanks for the inspiration..this is something I have to try over this weekend!
Thanks! I had a feeling you’d like this since you have a great eye and palate for all things healthy!
I love kale and am adding your colorful salad to my rotation
Love how you describe it!
Thanks, Priscilla! I think I was very inspired by the salad that day! Hahaha…
what a gorgeous salad! love love love the pretty colors + i know it must taste amazing as well. have a great weekend!
Thanks, Amy! I like being girly at times…oh ok, most of the time! Pretty colours like these makes me eat healthier stuff!
I don’t think I’ve heard anyone make kale as appetizing as you’ve made it here. Your salad is brimming with color–love it!
You must have hundreds of floral fabrics in your prop closet and each one is as beautiful as the last. I never see any as pretty as yours when I’m scouting for some. I think it’s how you use them–always styled beautifully! Love the bowls, too.
Have a great weekend, Jen!
Thanks, Jean! I do have a collection, but they are definitely not in the “hundreds”
! I have a thing for pastels and florals, as you may have noticed by now. This background I used here is not actually a fabric. It’s Japanese paper! I do love my cherry blossoms!!!
Hi Jen! I love the colors that nature gives. This salad is beautiful and so healthy! I love it!
Nature’s colours are indeed pretty! That is why I really enjoy food blogging and photography…
What a beautiful salad – the colours are divine together
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
Thanks!
This looks amazing! I love the colors too… sooo bright and vibrant!
Thanks, Katrina!
Gorgeous colors, I love all the textures!
Laura, it’s nice to connect with you! You have a lovely, sweet-filled blog!
Gorgeous!!! So vibrant! And love the spoon, too
Hehe, I know yo’d like the spoon, Liren!
I know you’d like the spoon
I adore all of those colours! They look so inviting and vibrant
Thanks, Lorraine! Kale is super healthy, too!
She looks pretty sexy to me! Beautiful, beautiful salad…love the colors!
Happy Sunday
As soon as I stop drooling over your gorgeous photos I am making this! Balsamic and oranges must make this dish fabulous!
As a kid I was told that the more colors on your plate, the better… This looks good to me!
Such a pretty salad. What great ingredients to make a healthy salad!
Gorgeous salad! I never knew kale came in any other color besides green. I love the dressing you used to season it too!
This is the most gorgeous salad I’ve seen in ages.
It makes my heart happy just looking at it!! Kale is my favorite green veggie and I can’t wait to try this. 
Truly, a feminine salad. She’s healthy too, so obviously very smart.
Gorgeous photos! I always leave your site with linen envy.
She’s so pretty and yes feminine:) I am loving all of the ingredients, colors and flavors. Just perfect Jen!
I LOVE how you describe her! Beautiful blog!
I have had such a tough time liking kale and then yesterday someone told me why. The kale that’s available here is tough and almost woody and so bitter I can’t get it down. I was told that I need to try young tender kale and I’d love it. I’m on a quest! This salad is beautiful.
Jen this looks so bright and colorful. Glad your dad is doing okay now and eating clean. I will have to look for that pretty kale all we have is the tough stuff I’ve not seen the baby kale but I now will keep and eye out.
Simply Gorgeous! Eating your colors never looked so good.
Jen, I’ve never had kale salad that looks beautiful like this! Great idea for kids to try – that was my first thought. So pretty and bet so delicious too!!!
This has to be the prettiest salad I’ve ever seen. I love the way you describe her and I think your description is perfect!
Wow beautiful pictures and I bet the salad even taste better. Kale is a staple in our household I would definitely try this. I stumbled upon you blog from Pepper.ph I saw your comment and decided to check it out …I’m glad I did. I’m also a mom of 2 boys, simple food blogger (loves food and family) and Filipino I lived in TO for 8 yrs but my family moved to the US recently. Love your site…for sure I would add you in my blogroll! Thank you for sharing and looking forward for more
Thank you SO much for this delicious recipe! I made it for thanksgiving and the family loved it!
So good! I modified it a quite a bit due to ingredients on hand: just purple kale, napa cabbage, onion, shredded carrot, a large grapefruit sliced in half with meat scooped out, then rinds squeezed to replace the oj (the rest of the dressing was the same) and I added sliced strawberries which totally worked with the delicate and bright medley of flavours! Prettiest salad ever