I was in the grocery store the other day craving a spinach and strawberry salad… I spotted some kale and thought: hmmm…. what about kale instead of spinach?  You know there are some thoughts you are just so happy you have?  Well, this is one of them.  Kale and strawberries are an excellent combo!!  Definitely going to be my new go-to salad all Summer!  And it’s just perfect for bbq’s and potlucks cause the more the dressing sits on the kale the nicer it tastes!  Say goodbye to soggy salads this Summer!

Strawberry and Kale Salad

Serves 4-6

What you’ll need:

16 oz. strawberries, de-stemed and sliced

1 bunch of kale, about 8-9 stalks, washed well, stalks broken off and chopped

optional:

3/4 cup walnuts

2 avocados, diced

1/2 purple onion, thinly sliced

8 oz. mushrooms, sliced

dressing:

1 shallot, finely chopped

1 tbsp. kosher salt

1/3 cup white balsamic vinegar

2 tbsp. agave nectar or honey

3/4 cup olive oil

What you’ll do:
After you wash your kale well, pat it dry and cut the stalk off and discard.  Chop the leaves leaving them salad lettuce size pieces and place in a big salad bowl. (the leaves will reduce to about 1/3 of the size when you dress it)  Make the dressing.  Combine all the ingredients in a bowl and whisk together.  Taste and vary as needed.  Pour the dressing over the kale leaves and massage with your hands.  Yup, you heard me correctly!  Get your hands in the kale and massage it like you would dough.  Do this for about a minute; you’ll start to feel the kale soften.  Add in the rest of your ingredients and serve immediately or hours later.  I promise you, this salad won’t wilt!