Kale, Tangerine, Pepita Salad +
3 Tips for the Best Winter Salad

This kale, tangerine, pepita salad brings together some of the best flavors of winter! Make it and get my tips for making the best winter salad.

 

Winter salads are a thing. I know. There’s nothing like warm soup or stew when it’s cold and dreary outside. I’ll be the first to admit that I don’t always reach for salads in the winter but a girl’s gotta get her greens and an easy to prep winter salad is a perfect way to do it. I am trying to convince myself of this just as much as you.

Make the most of #winter produce with Kale, Tangerine, Pepita Salad + 3 Steps to Winterize a Salad! #healthyeating Click to Tweet

How to Make a Good Winter Salad

You can make a delicious winter salad that just wouldn’t be the same once the warmer weather starts to make its way in. Here are 3 easy steps to make your next winter salad work:

Pile on hardy greens. Greens like kale love colder temps so they taste better this time of year. I like baby kale, Dino or Tuscan kale but you can also use regular green kale – if you massage it. (Read below for the deets.) Mustard greens add a punch of spice and would be delicious mixed with other greens. Collard greens are also delicious but can be hard to chew when raw. Try lightly sautéing them in olive oil as the base for a warm salad.

Choose citrus. While apples, pears, and grapes are delicious winter fruits, citrus thrives in winter. That means it’s less expensive, tastes great, and abundant. I chose tangerines here but there’s no shortage of regular navel, Cara Cara, or blood oranges, grapefruit and even pomelo available. Use the fruit segments in the salad and swap the juice for vinegar in a vinaigrette to boost the flavor and vitamin C of the dish.

Add some crunch. Use root vegetables like carrots, roasted chickpeas, nuts, or seeds to add texture and crunch to your salad mix.

Now, you have the base of a delicious winter salad. Add grilled fish, chicken, boiled eggs, or tofu for protein and your salad is complete!

 

Here’s how these steps come together in my Kale & Tangerine salad.  For the vinaigrette, juice a tangerine, combine with extra virgin olive oil, a little apple cider vinegar, honey, salt and pepper in a jar. You can also add a little fresh ginger if you have it.

Unless you’re using baby kale, remove the kale stems, slice, and give it a little massage. 💆‍♀️

How to Massage Kale

Massaging kale: This process helps break down the fibers and turns the kale into a silkier texture for salads. Add shredded kale plus 1 tablespoon olive oil to a large bowl.

Massage (or knead) with your hands until the kale develops a vibrant green color and feels softer, about 3-5 minutes. See the difference?

 

Once your kale is silky smooth, toss the salad ingredients together ending with a hefty sprinkle of roasted pumpkin seeds (pepitas – the green ones). And it’s done!

Winterize your salad with hardy greens and citrus for a winter salad that satisfies.