When I eat this salad, I think of what a talent Russell James is, and how far I’ve come. For a gal who ate her first salad (and I use the term loosely since it was iceberg—from a buffet) at 19 years old, the fact that I can happily eat an entire head of kale in one sitting is an achievement that I am very proud of. Yes, my palette has changed quite a bit over the years, but I must credit Russell for creating one of the yummiest recipes involving kale that I have yet to come across. For those of you who only know kale as a garnish, it’s time to step out of your comfy zone and try this salad. You too, will be grateful for the raw genius that is Russell James.
Serves: 2 | Preparation Time: 25mins
The measurements below are slightly adapted from Russell’s recipe to create a 1-2 person serving size. Note: Chipotle peppers are smoked, not raw, so if you’d like your salad to be 100% raw, he recommends a combination of onion powder, cumin, chili powder, garlic powder and nama shoyu to taste. I always make it with the Chipotle pepper. For me, there’s no substitute.
Tools:
Blender
Ingredients:
For the wilted kale
1 head of kale (seems like a lot, but wilting reduces size dramatically)
1 tsp Pink Himalayan or Celtic sea salt
1/2 cup organic baby tomatoes, sliced in half
1/4 cup organic hulled hemp seeds
For the dressing
1/2 cup raw tahini (can substitute 1 organic avocado)
1 chipotle pepper
2 Tbsp cold-pressed, extra virgin olive oil
2 tsp raw agave nectar
1 Tbsp fresh organic lemon juice
Let’s Get Started:
Remove the stems from kale (either with kitchen scissors or a knife) and then wash and cut the kale into small pieces.
Place into a mixing bowl, add the sea salt and start to massage the kale until it wilts and takes on a ‘cooked’ texture. Add the sliced tomatoes and hemp seeds to the bowl and mix in by hand and set aside. Blend all the remaining ingredients in a high-speed blender until creamy and mix into kale. Enjoy!
NOTE: Look for unique ingredients in your local health food store and try the bulk section for the cost savings. Ask your grocer to stock the ingredients that you need. Check your local Farmers’ Market for organic kale too.
Where to purchase unique ingredients online:
Find Hemp Seed, raw agave nectars and raw Tahini at Sunfood Nutrition
Amazon carries:
Raw Blue Agave Nectar
Organic Light Agave Nectar
Pink Himalayan Salt (Pack of 3)
RawGuru carries:
Raw, Premium Amber Agave Nectar
Fine Ground Celtic Sea Salt
Organic, Raw Hemp Seed
Fine Ground Pink Himalayan Salt
Recommended appliances:
Vita-Mix 1700 Turbo Blend 4500 Countertop Blender
I use my high-powered blender every day for smoothies, milks, sauces, dressings, desserts and more.
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2 Comments to “Kale Salad with Chipotle Dressing”
Yum-yum! That looks so great! And I love Russell James.
Heather, I just made this….GENIUS! It’s so fabulous, I’m addicted!!
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