• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Hunger Thirst Play

Seasonally Inspired Recipes from my New England Kitchen

  • Home
  • Recipes
    • Hunger
      • Appetizers
      • Salads
      • Soup
      • Main Dishes
      • Instant Pot
      • Burgers + Sandwiches
      • Side Dishes
      • Pasta & Sauces
      • Breakfast
      • Dessert
    • Thirst
      • Wine
      • Vodka
      • Gin
      • Rum
      • Bourbon
      • Tequila
  • Adventures
  • About
  • Work with Me
  • eBooks
Home » Hunger » Kale Citrus Salad with Grilled Lemon Basil Dressing

Kale Citrus Salad with Grilled Lemon Basil Dressing

March 13, 2019 By Lauren 11 Comments

Jump to Recipe·Print Recipe
79shares
  • Share3
  • Tweet
  • Pin76
  • Yummly

Kale citrus salad is here to warm our taste buds into fresh spring flavors!  Grilled Meyer lemons and basil dressing massaged into chopped tuscan kale topped with juicy grapefruit and blood orange, creamy goat cheese, savory shallots and sweet honey drizzle.

Ready for fresh spring flavors?  This time of year is one of my favorites because you can start to see the change in the produce.  The shelves are popping with all sorts of citrus goodness and we are here for it!

kale citrus salad with grapefruit and blood orange

This post contains affiliate links.  You pay the same at check out, but I make a commission from the sale.  Thank you for your support!

What are your favorite spring citrus fruits?  Meyer lemons are always my go to when I can find them, but blood oranges are so vibrant and sweet.  Of course there’s always grapefruit on stand by being underrated, and if you haven’t tried Cara Cara oranges yet I have two words.  PLEASE DO.

But in the meantime, go to the store.  Get yourself some kale (or some other leafy green!), some bright and sunny citrus and make this Kale Citrus Salad because its going to brighten your day!

Lemon Basil Dressing

A salad is only as good as it’s dressing right?  Like finding the perfect dress but not having the right shoes, you need your leafy greens with a little sparkle of dressing.  This lemon basil dressing has alllll the spring mojo going on.

  • Bright lemon
  • sweet caramelization
  • fresh basil
  • touch of honey
  • rich olive oil
  • spicy garlic

The perfect balance to the pop of juicy, acidic fruit and the crunch greens.  I wish I looked this good all dressed up.

The key here is the grilling of the lemons.  As much as I try to be a recipe purist, here are a few truths.  1.) You can substitute regular lemons for Meyer lemons.  Meyer lemons are naturally sweeter, so your dressing might have a bit more zing if you substitute but overall it will still be great taste.  2.) You should really try to grill them, but if you substitute regular lemon juice it will still be tasty.

Grilling the lemons caramelizes the natural sugars in the fruit making it sweeter and less bitter.  The warm fruit will also be easier to juice, just be sure to strain out any seeds.   

If your grill is still covered under 2 feet of snow (here, right here ::sobs quietly::) you can still get beautiful grill flavor using stove top grill pan.  This one is most similar to the one we have and love.  

dressing pouring over kale salad

Side note, making salad dressing can be done so many ways.  Classic style with just a whisk or in a food processor, but my personal favorite is using one of these hand blenders.  It’s easy to pulse and break up bigger ingredients like garlic cloves and the fresh basil while emulsifying the olive oil and with other liquids to just the right thickness that won’t separate after storing.

How to make Kale Citrus Salad

Step 1 – love citrus fruits.  

Step 2 – prep some things

Step 3 – put on your favorite good weather music, sit down and enjoy.

We can manage that right?  Ok, ok, there might be a few more details involved in ‘Step 2’.  Like how to cut the citrus.  It’s not difficult, but it makes a difference when your blood orange segments are juicy and ready to go.

close up of blood oranges and grapefruits on kale citrus salad

Cut off each end of the round fruits, then stand the fruit on one of the ends.  Using a sharp knife, slice off the rind cutting as close to it as possible.  Then slice the juicy citrus in 1/4″ rounds.  The grapefruit rounds will need to be quartered to make them bite sized, or leave them whole if you like a challenge.

The hardest part in the prep process of this Kale Citrus Salad is the savory shallots – and bonus, it’s really not that hard.  Melt butter, add shallots, season, sauté, done.  Phew!  We’re killing it right now.

small bowl of kale citrus salad topped with thinly slice avocado

Finish up this beauty of a spring salad by adding the final toppings – healthy fats, herbs, and a touch of sweet.  A drizzle of sweet honey over the blood orange and grapefruit adds just the right amount of balance.  Creamy goat cheese and fresh avocado slices add the necessary good fats for kale citrus salad to be healthy and filling.  While a sprinkle of fresh basil adds a final umphf of fresh sweet herb flavor!

Need more delicious spring salads in your life?  Get inspired with these beauties!

Print
kale citrus salad in a serving bowl

Kale Citrus Salad with Grilled Lemon Basil Dressing


★★★★★

5 from 6 reviews

  • Author: Lauren
  • Prep Time: 25 minutes
  • Cook Time: 10 minutes
  • Total Time: 35 minutes
  • Yield: 4 servings 1x
Print Recipe
Pin Recipe

Description

Get ready for fresh flavors in this Kale Citrus Salad!  Juicy grapefruit and blood oranges, lemon dressing massaged into chopped kale with creamy goat cheese, savory shallots, and sweet honey drizzle.


Scale

Ingredients

Grilled Meyer Lemon Basil Dressing

  • 3 tablespoons lemon juice (from 2 grilled meyer lemons)
  • 1 clove garlic
  • 1 teapsoon dijon mustard
  • 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons honey
  • 1 tablespoon water
  • pinch of salt
  • pinch of white pepper
  • 2 large basil leaves, torn

Kale Citrus Salad with Lemon Basil Dressing

  • 1 large head tuscan kale
  • 2 blood oranges
  • 1 grapefruit
  • 2 shallots, cut in 1/4″ half moon slices
  • 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
  • pinch of kosher salt
  • 1 avocado, thinly sliced
  • 4 basil leaves, chiffonade
  • 3 ounces goat cheese, crumbled
  • 2 teaspoons honey

Instructions

Grilled Meyer Lemon Dressing

  1. Heat a grill pan, or regular grill, over high heat.  Slice each Meyer lemon in half and place flesh side down on the grill pan.  Grill until soft, warm and dark grill lines appear on the flesh of the lemon, 3 to 5 minutes.
  2. Combine the grilled lemon juice, garlic, dijon, olive oil, honey, water, basil, salt and pepper in a food processor or high sided dish.  Using the food processor or hand blender, pulse to mince ingredients then blend until the olive oil is emulsified (doesn’t separate from lemon juice.)

Kale Citrus Salad with Lemon Basil Dressing

  1. Remove the large stem from each of the kale leaves, chop into bite sized pieces, wash and dry thoroughly.  Coat the leaves with the dressing, massaging it into the kale.
  2. Cut off the ends of the blood orange and grapefruit.  Standing the citrus on end, cut the rind off as close to the flesh of fruit as possible.  Slice into 1/4″ rounds and scatter over the kale.
  3. In a small sauce pan melt the butter over medium high heat.  Add the shallots, season with salt and saute until coated with the butter.  Cook for 5 minutes until browned and slightly crispy.  Scatter over the salad and add thinly sliced avocado.
  4. Lay the basil leaves on top of each other and roll from one side to the other.  Slice thinly with the knife.  Crumble the goat cheese over the salad, then sprinkle the basil and drizzle with honey.

  • Category: salad
  • Cuisine: american

Keywords: kale citrus salad, winter citrus, sweet and savory salad, spring salads

Did you make this recipe?

Tag @hungerthirstplay on Instagram and hashtag it #hungerthirstplay

Recipe Card powered by

 

 

79shares
  • Share3
  • Tweet
  • Pin76
  • Yummly

Filed Under: Hunger, Salads

Previous Post: « Friday Four
Next Post: Earl Grey Lavender Bourbon Punch »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Jenni LeBaron says

    March 14, 2019 at 11:16 pm

    I love a good citrus salad. The blood oranges that are in season right now are one of my favorite things to add into both sweet and savory dishes. The goat cheese and avocado really balance out the tartness here too!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
  2. Carrie | Clean Eating Kitchen says

    March 15, 2019 at 9:55 am

    This looks like such a delicious and fresh salad! Love the addition of goats cheese which works so well with all that citrus!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
  3. Veena Azmanov says

    March 15, 2019 at 12:40 pm

    This salad looks delicious and full of brightness. Love the tinge all the ingredients add to this salad. From the sweetness of the honey to the lemon juice in it. Everything seems simple and delicious

    Reply
  4. Amy says

    March 16, 2019 at 10:36 pm

    What a unique and yummy-looking salad — I’m really loving all the fresh flavors you’ve got going on here! And it’s quite the showstopper, too! Those gorgeous photos have my mouth totally watering. 🙂

    ★★★★★

    Reply
  5. Marisa Franca Stewart says

    March 17, 2019 at 8:39 am

    This salad looks wonderful. I love the sweetness of the citrus and the bitter bite of the kale. I’m really starting to crave fresh salads. It’s been such a long winter the lightness of citrus and greens is certainly appealing. We may not have snow on our grill but the temp is still bitterly cold. Hurry spring. Will be making your recipe soon.

    ★★★★★

    Reply
  6. Nicoletta De Angelis Nardelli says

    March 17, 2019 at 10:42 am

    Nice flavors that are able to transport us to spring right away! The colors are so pretty, and that dressing sounds awesome!

    Reply
  7. Tammy says

    March 17, 2019 at 3:40 pm

    What a gorgeous salad! I’m getting lots of spring vibes from this with those beautiful citrus fruits. I love kale salads so I’m def going to make this!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
  8. Jessica (Swanky Recipes) says

    March 17, 2019 at 4:17 pm

    I am so excited spring is on its way because not only does that mean warmer weather, but spring holidays! I’m already planning out my menus and this salad is beautiful! I love all the fresh flavors and colors plus the ingredient list sounds amazing together!

    Reply
  9. Charity says

    March 17, 2019 at 7:55 pm

    Yes please! I’m ready for all things light and bright like spring! That lemon basil dressing sounds fantastic!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
  10. Julie says

    March 17, 2019 at 11:52 pm

    This salad is so beautiful!!! I have yet to successfully find any blood oranges this season and it is killing me; I’m buying out the whole store when I finally find them so I will have plenty left to make this salad!

    Reply
  11. Natalie says

    March 18, 2019 at 6:48 am

    That salad looks so beautiful. I absolutely love the flavors and that dressing sounds so good. Love the addition of Dijon mustard btw 🙂 I will definitely make this salad soon. I’m having a guest this weekend and I will impress them with this recipe.

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

★☆ ★☆ ★☆ ★☆ ★☆

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Primary Sidebar

Oh, Hey you!

Gah! So happy you're here. I'm Lauren, welcome to Hunger Thirst Play! On this particular piece of Internet real estate you'll find seasonally inspired recipes from my New England kitchen. A born and bred Massachusetts girl, I believe a well balanced life involves apple picking, summers at the beach, and iced coffee in the dead of winter. Read More…

Connect with me!

  • Bloglovin
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

Categories

Gingerbread Week Recipes!

Fluffy baked gingerbread doughnuts

Fluffy Baked Gingerbread Doughnuts

overhead photo of gingerbread eggnog

Creamy Gingerbread Eggnog

collage of gingerbread recipes

28 Warm and Cozy Gingerbread Recipes

Gingerbread Martini FI

Spicy + Sweet Gingerbread Martini

Gingerbread Banana Motivation Muffins

Gingerbread Banana Motivation Muffins

31 Super Festive Gingerbread Recipes

31 Super Festive Gingerbread Recipes

Fall Recipe Inspiration

Overhead photo of roasted thanksgiving turkey

Orange Sage Turkey Brine

Autumn Inspired Pot Luck with Autumn Glory Apples

Fall Inspired Pot Luck with Autumn Glory Apples

Reaching for a glass of pumpkin shandy

Apple Cider Pumpkin Shandy

overhead angle of creamy Vegan Butternut Squash Soup

Creamy Vegan Butternut Squash Soup

Forkful of marsala cream sauce covered ravioli

Marsala Cream Sauce with Butternut Ravioli

Creative Holiday Sides Using Cooking Wine

HUNGER THIRST PLAY IS A PARTICIPANT IN THE AMAZON SERVICES LLC ASSOCIATES PROGRAM, AN AFFILIATE ADVERTISING PROGRAM DESIGNED TO PROVIDE A MEANS FOR SITES TO EARN ADVERTISING FEES BY ADVERTISING AND LINKING TO AMAZON.COM. AS AN AMAZON ASSOCIATE I EARN FROM QUALIFYING PURCHASES.

”Copyright© 2019 · Hunger Thirst Play · Privacy Policy