Summer Kale Salad

Kale is one of my favorite vegetables, it's unbelievably tasty and at the same time you get to feel great about eating it. I'll admit, for a long time I was stuck in a leafy green rut. I felt like I had two options: spring green salads or sautéed kale/chard/collard greens. But then, someone shocked me with a new culinary delight! A raw kale salad. Raw kale? You can DO that?!?!

It turns out, yes, you can. And more importantly, you definitely should! Kale salad is a wonderful accompaniment to a summer BBQ, or served with a hearty winter meal. This version, with mangoes, cucumber and carrots is a light tasting side dish that is perfect with grilled chicken or fish. Plus it is super duper healthy: high in fiber, loaded with anti-oxidants, low in calories, and packed with vitamins A and K.

Summer Kale Salad

• 2 small bunches of kale, stems removed, washed and coarsely cut
• 1 mango, diced
• juice of 1/2 lemon
• 1 avocado, cubed
• 1/2 cucumber, peeled and cut into small chunks
• 1 carrot, grated
• sea salt

Now for the fun part, roll up your sleeves, wash your hands really well, and prepare to get dirty :)

1. Put kale, avocado and a pinch of salt into a large bowl. Using both hands, massage the avocado into the kale for 2 whole minutes. The kale will soften quite a bit, and reduce in volume.
2. Dress the massaged kale with juice of 1/2 lemon (or to taste).
3. Toss in the mango, cucumber and carrot.