Please subscribe to our YouTube channel for more content!
MEET THE KROCKS: We are a married couple who started on a life-changing whole food, plant-based weight loss journey in June 2018. To date, we have lost over 290 pounds combined and we aren’t done yet! Read Our Story
Follow our Journey:
YOUTUBE | FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | PINTEREST | TWITTER
A few months ago I was traveling with my mom and we decided to hit up the Whole Foods salad bar for dinner. That was when I first discovered their Garlicky Kale Salad! I was super excited to see that it did not have any oil in it. The ingredients were all simple and very similar to what we use at home. After trying it, I immediately texted Brian a photo of the ingredient list and asked (okay… told) him to try making it at home.
Unfortunately they don’t seem to have the Garlicky Kale at the salad bar of the Whole Foods I normally frequent. When we were on our road trip in September, Brian and I stopped at a Whole Foods and they had it! Brian was able to taste it and he really liked it too. He doesn’t even like kale, but he loved the flavors of this.
Even if you don’t make it at home, if you are ever looking for options at the Whole Foods salad bar, I highly suggest using this as the base for your salad. Normally finding an oil-free dressing at a salad bar is quite the challenge and this is a great solution!
We went home and started experimenting and honestly, I think we pretty much nailed it (kaled it?) on our first try! We’ve made it a few times now, and while I don’t have the original to compare side by side, I think it is pretty darn close.
Check out the video here and get the full recipe below.
Recipe: Garlicky Kale Salad (Vegan, Oil-Free)
Ingredients
- – 2 large bunches of kale (approx. 1 pound)
- – 2 Tbsp water
- – 1/4 cup Nutritional Yeast
- – 1 Tbsp Bragg Liquid Aminos
- – 1 Tbsp apple cider vinegar
- – 1 small lemon (zest & approx. 2 Tbsp juice)
- – 2 to 3 cloves of fresh garlic, minced (or put through a garlic press)
- – OPTIONAL: 1 can of garbanzo beans (no salt added if possible)
Directions
- Measure all of the ingredients (except kale) into a small bowl and whisk to combine.
- Prep your kale. I like to rip the kale into bite size pieces as I am removing it from the stems and rinse in a large mixing bowl filled with water and then drain into a colander. Repeat if desired. Pat dry or use a salad spinner to remove as much water as possible.
- Add the dressing mixture to the bowl with the kale and use your hands to massage for around 5 minutes until it starts to soften.
- OPTIONAL: Drain and rinse a can of garbanzo beans to top your salad.
Makes 2 large servings as a main dish or 4-6 as a side dish.
The great thing about this dish is that you can have it all on its own or add any number of veggies, beans, toppings, etc. to it. I also want to try using the dressing on our regular nightly salads. It packs a really nice punch of flavor.
My favorite way to serve this is with some kind of chickpeas – whether they are straight from the can or something like our roasted chickpea recipe!
Leave us a comment below if you try it out or if you’ve had the Whole Foods version!
Featured Products:
PLEASE NOTE: If you choose to purchase any products through these links, we receive a small commission from each sale at NO extra cost to you. All proceeds go back into making more content!
Bragg Nutritional Yeast Seasoning Shaker Top, 4.5 ounce, 2 PackBragg Liquid Aminos, All Purpose Seasoning, 32 fl oz
Bragg Organic Unfiltered Apple Cider Vinegar, 16 Ounce
Microplane 46020 Premium Classic Series Zester Grater
Zulay Premium Quality Metal Lemon Lime Juicer
LiveFresh Stainless Steel Micro-perforated 5-Quart Colander
Calphalon Gadgets Garlic Peel and Press
365 Everyday Value, Garbanzo Beans, No Salt Added, 15.5 oz
OXO Good Grips Salad Spinner, Green
Kuhn Rikon 6-Inch Balloon Wire Whisk
Oh yeah, garlicky kale salad!!! Got me the recipe… life is good 🙂
😀
I’m with Brian, wasn’t really a kale fan but I love this! I’ve made it several times now and recently added 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper to the dressing.
I really appreciate you two sharing your journey with us!
Oooh I bet cayenne would be nice!
Thank you for figuring out this recipe. It’s delicious!!! 😋😋😋
Thanks Lisa!
I don’t like raw kale so I blanched, drained and squeezed out the excess moisture, it then mixed the dressing into it, then put it on the griddler with some mushrooms that I drizzled with 4% balsanic vinegar…OMG it tasted like grilled steak and even had the chewy texture. I also grilled up a few pieces of the chicken flavored tofu to go with it and some thinly sliced potates…also cooked on the griddler plain. I used the Lacinito Kale instead of the type you used.
Thanks for sharing…it was delish.
Awesome – thanks for sharing! We will have to try that out! This sounds right up Brian’s alley 🙂
Tried the garlicky kale salad salad tonight – YUMMMM. Thanks for the recipe. I’ve never tried kale before but loved the video so decided to give it a go. I’m converted. This will also be one of my go to salad dressings from now on.
Yayyy! Glad you enjoyed it Kelly! Thanks!
This is so good and so easy!
Thanks Lori!
Maybe I can do this salad. My friend dresses hers with olive oil and it tore me up. Thanks.
Made it. Love it. Kept good in fridge for leftovers the next day.
Thanks Debi!
Jessica and Brian, awesome Garlicky Kale salad loved it !made the dressing separate to try on other salads also . You nailed it ! Thanks for sharing Marta
Also the red beans and riced cauliflower vegetables Rocks !!!
Thanks Marta! We appreciate the feedback 🙂
The only thing lacking is adding in the Nutrient Content at the bottoms of the recipes! Phosphorus, Potassium, Sodium, Protein, etc.
Put these in a food dehydrator for kale chips.
I agree with the other commenters. This was fantastic!! I live in BFE, so good kale is hard the find, but I will be vigilant in looking for it. The dressing is a game changer for all other salads too! Thank you guys!!
Thanks Drea!
I cook kale and red cabbage together in the Instant Pot, which tastes great on its own, but also with this dressing of yours. I’ve been doubling your recipe, blending it, and keeping it in my refrigerator to drizzle on my vegetables. Thanks!
Awesome! Glad you are enjoying it 🙂
This was delicious!!! Thanks. I’ll be making this more often.
It is a great simple salad! Glad you enjoyed 🙂
This is a really delicious salad! I made it with lemon juice because I was out of real lemons and it still was amazing! The key is the 5 minute massage. So good! Thanks for getting the ratios right in the recipe! KROCKS rock!
I had a big bag of kale to use up, and didn’t know what to with it. Knocks to the rescue! This was so, so good!! 😁
I’m just discovering y’all! I am so excited to try the chili, this salad dressing, and the pesto made with peas! Very fun as I love veggies! Thank you for sharing your journey!
I really like this salad. The lemon was a bit over powering, so I added some more nutritional yeast.
I’m wondering, perhaps, the lemon should be put on the kale an hour or two before eating to soften it up.
Love the garlic. It’s gonna be a two gargle night!
Thanks,
Gail
This was my first attempt at kale in years and it was a hit! The whole family (including two teenagers) loved this! Thank you!!