16 Kale Salads Perfect for Summer

June 09, 2020

Kale is a great base for these summer salad recipes. When paired with fresh berries, filling proteins like salmon and chicken and other seasonal vegetables, these salads make a healthy and delicious meal. Recipes like Kale & Avocado Salad with Blueberries & Edamame and Cobb Salad with Herb-Rubbed Chicken are bright, flavorful and perfect for summertime.

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Eat-the-Rainbow Chopped Salad with Basil & Mozzarella

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This fresh and colorful salad has all of the delicious flavors you love from the classic caprese salad, plus even more healthy veggies. Double this and top each portion with 3 ounces grilled or roasted chicken to take it from a simple side to a quick main dish. Source: EatingWell.com, January 2020

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Chicken & Kale Taco Salad with Jalapeño-Avocado Ranch

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This healthy, super-fast salad recipe swaps out romaine for kale, giving you more than 10 times the vitamin C. Easy flavor hacks like store-bought ranch and pickled jalapeños help make a creamy, tangy and spicy dressing you'll want to drizzle on everything from salad to sliced veggies and shredded poached chicken. Source: EatingWell Magazine, July/August 2018

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Black Bean, Mango & Kale Wheat Berry Salad

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Wheat berries give this healthy grain-salad recipe a toothsome bite. The chopped kale can be swapped for any dark leafy green, such as spinach or chard, if desired. Source: EatingWell Magazine, May/June 2017

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Baby Kale Breakfast Salad with Quinoa & Strawberries

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Fruit, whole grains and greens for breakfast? Yes! Start your day off right with this breakfast salad recipe and you'll knock out half of your daily veggie quota with the first meal of the day. Source: EatingWell Magazine, May/June 2016

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Kale & Avocado Salad with Blueberries & Edamame

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Bursting with nutrient-rich produce, this California-inspired salad is a delicious and satisfying way to get your vitamins. We love the unique combination of blueberries, edamame, and goat cheese. Source: Diabetic Living Magazine, Summer 2020

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Massaged Kale Salad with Grapes & Cheddar

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The kids participating in the California Farm to School Network who inspired this salad knew that they could make kale more tender and appealing to fellow students by massaging it first to break down tough cells in the plant. You probably won't find crumbled Cheddar at your market, but all you have to do is buy the cheese as a brick and then slice before breaking it into little chunks. Source: EatingWell Magazine, April 2020

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Hawaiian Pickled Beet Salad

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Quick-pickled beets are topped here with a namasu (a lightly pickled vegetable salad) made with carrot, cucumber and daikon radish. Recipes like this reflect the influence of Japanese immigrants who came to Hawaii to work on the sugar plantations in the 1800s. Recipe adapted from Chef Greg Harrison, Pacific'O Restaurant. Source: EatingWell Magazine, January/February 2019

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Asparagus & Baby Kale Caesar Salad

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Traditional Caesar salad gets a nutrition and flavor boost with the addition of crisp asparagus and dark, leafy baby kale in this healthy recipe. Use arugula or mixed greens for the salad if baby kale isn't at your market. Source: EatingWell Magazine, March/April 2015

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Superfood Chopped Salad with Salmon & Creamy Garlic Dressing

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Curly kale forms the base of this salad, but you could use chard or spinach. To the greens, add a multitude of chopped veggies, such as broccoli, cabbage and carrots. Finish with rich salmon for protein and a drizzle of creamy yogurt dressing to bring it all together. Source: EatingWell.com, December 2018

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Chopped Salad with Chicken & Avocado-Buttermilk Dressing

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This herb-loaded green goddess-inspired dressing gets a color boost from creamy avocado. Make a double batch of this healthy salad dressing to keep on hand for salads throughout the week. Source: EatingWell Magazine, March 2020

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Cobb Salad with Herb-Rubbed Chicken

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Try this satisfying salad recipe for an updated version of the classic Cobb. Kale, feta and strawberries give this chicken salad a colorful upgrade. Source: EatingWell Magazine, March 2019

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Grilled Flank Steak Salad with Ginger-Wasabi Dressing

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This quick, healthy dinner salad recipe is ready in 40 minutes thanks to preshredded carrots and coleslaw mix. If you have leftover quinoa, skip Step 1 and use 2 cups in the salad. If you want a bigger flavor kick in the dressing, up the wasabi powder to 1 tablespoon. Source: EatingWell Magazine, May/June 2016

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Baby Kale Breakfast Salad with Smoked Trout & Avocado

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Kale for breakfast? Oh yeah! Start your day off right with a breakfast salad recipe full of good-for-you greens and you'll knock out half of your daily veggie quota with the first meal of the day. Source: EatingWell Magazine, May/June 2016

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Kale Salad with Creamy Poppy Seed Dressing

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The lightly sweet, creamy homemade poppy seed dressing takes this crunchy salad to the next level for a mouthwatering vegetable side dish or light lunch. Top with cooked chicken for a heartier meal. Source: EatingWell.com, April 2017

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Lemon-Lime Chicken, Kale & Mango Salad

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Hazelnuts, blueberries and fresh ginger are welcome additions to this kale and chicken salad. Source: Diabetic Living Magazine

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Mason Jar Chicken Salad with Japanese Hibachi Dressing

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This vibrantly colorful and healthy make-ahead salad is sure to become a go-to weekday lunch, though it's pretty enough to serve to guests. Fresh ginger gives a pleasant bite to the toasted sesame salad dressing, which is inspired by the dressings served at Japanese hibachi restaurants. Source: EatingWell.com, April 2019

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