This Gluten-Free Vegan Wilted and Massaged Kale Salad with Creamy Chipotle Dressing is an easy and healthy recipe made with only 8 clean, real food ingredients. It's the perfect plant-based lunch that is ready to enjoy in under 15 minutes!
Gluten-Free Vegan Wilted + Massaged Kale Salad with Creamy Chipotle Dressing
Just when I thought I had eaten every version of kale known to man, I find this massaged kale salad from Russell James, The Raw Chef.
I've seen "wilted" or "massaged" kale in recipes before, but have never thought twice about it.
All I can say is "wow"!
I practically eat a kale salad every day but this was such a pleasant change.
The kale was softer and I guess you would say "wilted".
If you look at the pictures of the kale below, you can see how much the kale "shrunk" or "wilted" in the second photo compared to the first.
I thought that was really neat!
And because the Creamy Chipotle Dressing is avocado-based, it was much thicker and creamier than the usual cashew dressings I make.
I usually sprinkle hemp seeds on top of my salad, but never really mix them into the salad so I liked that part too.
It only took a couple of minutes to make by putting the dressing ingredients in a Vitamix and "massaging" the kale.
How To Make This Wilted + Massaged Kale Salad Recipe: Step-by-Step Instructions
Here is how to make this recipe and I'll show you with step-by-step instructions below.
Step 1: Prepare the Kale
Firstly, de-stem the kale, break it into bite-size pieces and add to a medium-size mixing bowl.
Step 2: Add the Himalayan Salt + Massage the Kale
Secondly, add the Himalayan pink salt and "massage" the kale pieces with your hands for a few minutes, until the kale pieces become soft and "wilted".
Step 3: Dice And Add The Tomatoes
Thirdly, dice and add the tomatoes to the mixing bowl.
You can use either cherry tomatoes cut in half, or regular tomatoes diced into small pieces.
Step 4: Add the Hemp Seeds
Fourthly, add the hemp seeds to the mixing bowl.
Step 5: Combine the Salad Ingredients
Fifthly, gently toss all the ingredients for the salad until everything is well combined and evenly distributed, then set aside.
Step 6: Prepare the Dressing
Sixthly, add all ingredients for the dressing to a Vitamix and blend until creamy and smooth.
Taste and adjust the seasonings to your preference.
Step 7: Combine the Dressing + Salad Together
Lastly, transfer the dressing to the mixing bowl with the salad ingredients and gently toss together until well combined.
Karielyn's Expert Tips + Ingredient Substitutions
Here are some of my expert tips to make this recipe perfectly:
Tomatoes: You can use either cherry tomatoes cut in half, or regular tomatoes diced into small pieces. For example, sometimes I like to use a diced Roma tomato.
Avocado Oil. This can be substituted with organic extra-virgin olive oil.
Chipotle Powder. Feel free to reduce or omit the amount of chipotle powder if you don't like spicy foods or will be serving this dish to children.
Hemp Seeds. I used "unhulled" hemp seeds and they work really well in this recipe but you could substitute with another small seed or nut to give the salad a crunchy texture. For example, sesame seeds, pine nuts or pumpkin seeds would be good.
Lemon Juice. A freshly squeezed lemon will give you the best flavor and nutrients since it hasn't been pasteurized, but you can substitute with store-bought organic lemon juice in the same amount.
Himalayan Pink Salt. This is my salt of preference, however, it can always be substituted with sea salt.
Gluten-Free Vegan Kale Salad with Creamy Chipotle Dressing
Equipment
- Vitamix or high-speed blender
Ingredients
For the kale:
- 2 cups organic kale (de-stemmed)
- ½ teaspoon Himalayan pink salt
For the salad add-ins:
- 1 cup organic cherry tomatoes (halved)
- ½ cup organic hemp seeds
For the dressing:
- 2 organic avocados
- ¼ cup 100% pure avocado oil
- 2 tablespoons organic lemon (freshly squeezed)
- 1 teaspoon organic ground chipotle powder
Instructions
Prepare the kale:
- De-stem the kale and break into bite-sized pieces.
- Add the kale pieces to a medium mixing bowl with the Himalayan pink salt and "massage" the kale with your hands for a few minutes until it becomes soft and wilted.
Add the salad add-ins:
- Add the tomato and hemp seed add-ins to the mixing bowl with the wilted kale.
- Gently toss everything together then set aside.
Prepare the dressing:
- Add all ingredients for the dressing to a Vitamix, or high-speed blender, and blend until well combined and creamy.
- Taste and adjust the seasonings to your preference.
Assembly:
- Add the dressing to the salad mixture and gently toss together until all pieces of the kale are covered with the dressing.
- Sprinkle with additional hemp seeds on top of the salad, if desired.
Recipe Notes
Nutrition Information
Copyright Notice
The notes, instructions, and photographs for this recipe are copyrighted material and are protected under the Digital Millenium Copyright Act (DMCA). They cannot be used legally without my written permission.
Want More Healthy Gluten-Free Vegan Salad Recipes?
Check out these:
- Vegan Roasted Chipotle Sweet Potato Salad with Tahini Lime Dressing
- Greek Salad
- Strawberry and Spinach Quinoa Salad with Balsamic Vinaigrette
- or my CLEAN EATING Cookbook with 75+ plant-based recipes made with clean, real food ingredients just like this one that you will love!
Did You Make This Recipe?
I'd love to hear about it! Please give it a rating and leave a comment below...it would make my day! 🙂
Dina says
great recipe! i'm looking for ways to eat more greens, so this was perfect and so delicious!
Karielyn says
Hi Dina! Thanks so much! And yes, not only is this a new way (at least for me!) to eat greens, you also have a healthy, nutritious dressing to go with it.
Thanks for stopping by and I'm so glad to hear you enjoyed it 🙂