How to Massage Kale

Learning how to massage kale is essential for anyone who likes massaged kale salads. If you think that kale is bitter, tough, and difficult to eat raw, you've probably never tried massaged kale!

Prep Time10

Total Time10

Course: How-To

Cuisine: American

Keyword: how to massage kale, massaged kale

Servings: servings

Calories: 66kcal

Ingredients

1 bunch curly kale
2 tsp. extra virgin olive oil
1 tsp. lemon juice (optional)
pinch sea salt

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

Wash the kale. This is an obvious step - rinse the kale thoroughly with cool water to remove any dirt.
Remove the stem. Kale stems are tough and fibrous, so remove them. You can either hold the stem with one hand and pull the leaves away from it with the other hand or use a knife to cut the leaves away from the stem.
Cut the kale. Sure, you can rip the leaves off by hand, but I prefer cutting them into bite-sized pieces.
Massage the kale. Add the kale to a large bowl together with the salt and olive oil (optional). You could also add a drizzle of lemon juice for more flavor. Use your hands to massage the kale leaves, crunching and rubbing them together until they just start to wilt, for about 2 minutes. Turn the small pieces frequently to make sure they soften evenly. The kale should reduce in volume by about 30%. Be careful not to over-massage the kale; otherwise, it will lose its texture and become lifeless. The goal is to tenderize the kale, not weaken it.
Taste. Pick a piece of kale and try it. The leaves should still feel crisp but not overly chewy or rubbery.
Store. Leftover massaged kale keeps well in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

Notes

*Nutrition information is approximate and may contain errors. Please, feel free to make your own calculations.

Nutrition