Tahini and Tofu Kale Salad – With a creamy tahini dressing and lots of baked za’atar tofu – this is the best kale salad you’ll find! It’s hearty enough to eat on its own, but it also makes a great side dish for lunch or dinner. This easy massaged kale salad will make a kale lover out of the biggest skeptics! It is vegetarian and gluten-free
Kale salad
Many people believe that vegetarians eat nothing but salad, which of course is far from the truth. I eat a variety of foods including pasta, pizza and tacos. But I eat a big salad for lunch every day. I actually love salad, and if I go too long without one I crave it.
When Lisa became a vegetarian The Simpsons, Homer and Bart dance around to the song, “You Won’t Win Friends With Salad! You won’t win friends with salad! I can win friends over with salads though. I make my salad hearty and filling, and top it with a creamy, crave-worthy dressing.
To keep things interesting, I mix up what I put in my salad. Sometimes I use romaine, sometimes I use kale or arugula. Sometimes I use tahini dressing, sometimes I use green goddess or ranch. I always add some hearty protein, like tofu or beans, and I like to add nuts or seeds for a little crunch.
This recipe is an easy salad that I love to make. It has a base of kale, cabbage and carrots with za’atar tofu and pumpkin seeds tossed in. I used tahini dressing, because something magical happens when kale, tahini, and za’atar combine.
what do you want
- Curly copy
- Lemony Tahini Dressing
- the carrot
- Purple cabbage
- Jatar tofu
- Pumpkin seeds
See recipe card for exact amounts.
How to massage kale
Kale is easier to chew when it is “massaged.” No, you don’t have to put on soft music and dim the lights, you just rub a little dressing on it to make it easier to chew. Massaging kale softens it. Be careful not to over-massage it, or it will dry out.
The best way to soften kale is with acid. The lemon juice in this salad dressing is acidic, so it will help break down the tough fibers in the kale. Just pour on about half of the dressing, wash your hands, roll up your sleeves, and get the massage!
How to Make Tahini and Tofu Kale Salad
This salad couldn’t be easier to make!
- First you massage your kale using the tahini dressing.
- Then you add the rest of the ingredients!
Customize your salad
When I make this salad, I never measure the ingredients. Approximate measurements of what I have here. If you use more than two carrots or less than 1 cup of cabbage, your salad will taste just as good. Feel free to add any additional ingredients that may strike your fancy.
If you want to mix up the type of tofu you use, you can use baked everything tofu or my favorite baked tofu. You can also use store-bought baked tofu, if you’re pressed for time.
I love tahini dressing on kale salad. If you don’t have time to make it, you can use a store-bought tahini-based dressing, such as Annie’s Goddess Dressing. If you’re not a fan of tahini, you can use other nondairy dressings. Maple mustard and green goddess dressing would also be delicious.
Tahini and Tofu Kale Salad
material
- 1 Bunch of curly kale Stems removed and leaves roughly chopped (about 6 cups)
- ½ the cup Lemony Tahini Dressing
- 2 the carrot cut off
- 1 the cup Chop purple cabbage
- 1 recipe Jatar tofu
- ¼ the cup Pumpkin seeds
instructions
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Place the pitcher in a large bowl and pour the tahini over it. Wash your hands and roll up your sleeves and then massage the tahini into the kale until it dries and softens. Be careful not to over-massage it.
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Toss in the remaining ingredients, and serve!
More kale salad you might like is included
- Strawberry Kale Salad
- Kale and Edamame Salad with Lemon Herb Dressing
- Tahini Kale Salad with Garlic Chickpeas
- Holiday Kale Salad
- Kale Caesar Salad
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