Coconut Sesame Kale Salad

Here's a kale salad that does not disappoint! It's a delicious combination of raw and crispy kale, toasty coconut, juicy mandarins, and a flavorful Asian-inspired dressing.

It's our go-to hearty salad for the winter months, but we serve it year-round because it's just so darn tasty.

Using crispy kale in a salad is a little trick we picked up some time ago, and will often add it to other salads, like our crispy kale salad. But it's the mix of raw and crispy kale that really does it for us.

To make it, simply bake half the kale in the oven until it's crispy, toasting the coconut ribbons at the same time. While they're in the oven, whisk the dressing ingredients together in the salad bowl. Add in the raw kale, mandarins, and sesame seeds. When the crispy kale and coconut are done, let them cool before tossing it all together.

One thing to keep in mind is that, unlike most raw kale salads that can be tossed a few hours in advance, this salad is best served right away to preserve the crispiness.

It's a versatile healthy salad that pairs naturally with Asian mains like our honey sriracha chicken. Serve it family-style with grilled meats, rice dishes, or even on its own as a light meal.

Coconut sesame kale salad ingredients

You only need a handful of ingredients to make this tasty sesame kale salad:

• Kale – a large healthy head of curly green kale will make a nice big salad. Other types of kale like lacinato or red kale also work.
• Toasted sesame oil – the toasty, nutty flavor of sesame oil is a wonderful complement to the other flavors in this salad.
• Unsweetened coconut – we use the wider large-flaked coconut ribbons for this recipe. If you can't find coconut ribbons, use unsweetened shredded coconut.
• Mandarin oranges – we like the flavor of freshly peeled mandarin segments, but you can use canned mandarins in a pinch.
• Toasted sesame seeds – toasting raw sesame seeds brings out their nutty flavor. You can also purchase them already toasted.

Here's what you need for the easy-to-make dressing:

• Rice wine vinegar – rice wine vinegar is less acidic than white vinegar with a mild, somewhat sweet taste.
• Maple syrup – adds sweetness and brings balance to the dressing. You can also use liquid honey instead.
• Avocado oil + toasted sesame oil

How to make coconut sesame kale salad

This healthy kale and coconut salad is our go-to in the winter months when mandarin oranges are in season, but we serve it year-round. Here's how to make it in a few easy steps:

1. Toss half the kale with toasted sesame oil, and bake it until crispy.
2. Toast the coconut until it's lightly browned. You can put it in the oven at the same time as the kale.
3. Whisk the dressing ingredients together in a large salad bowl.
4. Add the raw kale, mandarins, and sesame seeds to the salad bowl with the dressing, followed by the crispy kale and toasted coconut. Toss everything gently and serve right it away!

Full recipe instructions are in the recipe card below.

FAQS

What to serve with coconut sesame kale salad

This kale sesame salad pairs well with Asian mains like our soy sauce chicken or slow baked Asian salmon and a side of ginger rice.

It also makes a refreshing salad for summer alongside barbecue foods like grilled chicken wings, burgers, or juicy grilled pork chops.

You can also easily turn it into a light meal by adding some protein like chickpeas or leftover shredded chicken!

Popular kale salad recipes

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