How to Soften Kale for Salad

Learn how to massage kale using oil or acid to make it more tender and less bitter for salads.

Course Salad

Cuisine American

Prep Time 10

Total Time 10

Servings

Calories 47kcal

Wash the kale and pat dry. Tear the leaves away from the stems and discard the stems. Chop or tear the leaves into smaller pieces, and place them in a mixing bowl.
Drizzle with olive oil, lemon juice, or apple cider vinegar. Add a pinch of salt if desired.
Massage the kale in between your hands by picking up the leaves and rubbing them. Do this for 2 to 3 minutes until the kale is noticeably softer. Avoid over-massaging to prevent the kale from getting mushy.
Use in salads or other dishes. Enjoy!

Store massaged kale in an airtight container in the fridge for 2 to 3 days.
You can skip massaging if you are using the kale in a salad with an acidic dressing. Just let the salad sit for a half hour or more before eating so the kale has time to soften. However, the kale may taste even better if you still massage it beforehand.
If you are using baby kale, you do not need to soften it.