Massaged Kale Salad

Level up your salad game using massaged kale! 

If you are wanting to level up your salad game, then you need to hop on the massaged kale train! This leafy green is absolutely packed with vitamins like A, C, and K, fiber forward, antioxidants and a powerful anti-inflammatory food. But if you are not familiar with eating kale, it can be a tough food to swallow - no pun intended! 

Luckily for you, using the massaging technique, will have you eating and loving the vegetable in no time. 

Kale, being a cruciferous veggie, has a rough texture by nature so to help physically break down the kale to make it easier to digest, we use the massaging method. 

Massaging prior to eating is like pre-digesting the kale. All you have to do is give your kale some love by using your hands. 

We do this by massaging oil + salt + lemon juice in the kale to help break down the tough, fibrous content in the kale. The kale will visually change before your eyes into a vibrant green and will feel softer in texture. 

A bonus about using this method is that it will stay in the refrigerator for a good week even after massaging - unlike other more delicate leafy greens which tend to wilt and become soggy after chopping. Kale will keep its soft but chewy texture without becoming mushy. 

That is why, in my new cookbook: The Nourished Cookbook, I show you many ways in how you can add massaged kale into your nourish bowls! It’s a great non-starchy carbohydrate source to batch cook and to pair with so many other base meals! Here are some other massaged kale salad recipes on the blog: Fall Harvest Grain Bowl, Summer Burger Salad, Winter Pear Salad with Citrus Dijon Vinaigrette, and Butternut Squash, Kale, and White Bean Lasagna Soup.

If you try this recipe, let us know! Leave a comment, rate it, and don’t forget to tag a photo to #fromtherootsblog on Instagram. We love seeing what you come up with!

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Level up your salad game using massaged kale! 

Servings: 4-6 | Prep time: 10 min | Cook time: N/A

Ingredients 

• 4 cups or 3 handfuls of organic raw kale

• 1-2 tsp olive or avocado oil

• Juice of ½ lemon

• 1 tsp sea salt

Directions

1. Wash kale thoroughly to remove dirt and de-stem kale leaves. Transfer to a large bowl. Add in the lemon juice and salt. Lightly pour oil onto your hands to coat.

2. Using a massaging action (similar to kneading bread dough), start to tear the leaves apart and massage. Continue massaging for about 2-5 minutes or until the kale turns a vibrant green and the leaves are soft. 

Notes

• Can be used as a side dish, a salad base, or as a topping of your choice for a complete meal in a bowl. 

Chicken Zoodle Soup

Chicken zoodle soup is filled with winter harvest vegetables, healthy fats, and sustaining ingredients that will keep you full and filled with all the good feels during this winter season! 

 How cute is my baby boy in this winter storm we had a few weeks back!?

As this may be Rory's first introductory post, he is a pure breed Pembroke welsh corgi and just turned three years old in January! Rory is a very sweet and active boy and definitely keeps us on our toes! Even though he could barely see past the snow flurries, he absolutely loves the winter. If only his love for winter could rub off on me! This ties into another thing that you will learn about me ...

Hello, my name is Candace... and I am not a soup fan! Phew, there I said it!

If I go out to eat or plan out my meals for the week, I am not thinking about soup. Instead, I am thinking about salads, tacos, grain bowls, sandwiches -- you name it! But during these bitterly cold months, I am searching for anything hot and comforting for the body. This soup is filled with winter harvest vegetables, healthy fats, and sustaining ingredients that will keep you full and filled with all the good feels during this winter season!

This soup is inspired by the traditional chicken noodle soup with upgrades that are catered to gluten free, dairy free and low carb lovers. The soup may be a healthier take on the traditional, but it certainly does not lack in flavor and heartiness.

Chicken zoodle soup is a crowd pleaser; the aroma is HEAVENLY when you simmer this bad boy. It’s also super versatile! Feel free to add more veggies, or omit chicken if you want to go vegan. You could also change the protein to a plant-based protein with chickpeas or tofu.

If you try this recipe, let us know! Leave a comment, rate it, and don’t forget to tag a photo with #fromtherootsblog on Instagram. We love seeing what you come up with!

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Chicken zoodle soup is filled with winter harvest vegetables, healthy fats, and sustaining ingredients that will keep you full and filled with all the good feels during this winter season! 

INGREDIENTS

• 1 lb boneless skinless chicken breast

• 3 carrots (sliced)

• 3 celery stalks (sliced)

• 3 cloves garlic

• 1 yellow onion

• 2 large zucchini (spiralized)

• 1 cup frozen peas

• 2 cups each organic low sodium chicken and veggie stock

• 2 cups canned coconut milk

• 1/2 lemon

• 1 handful Italian parsley

• 1 tbsp coconut oil

Seasonings

• 1 tsp celery salt

• 1 tsp crushed rosemary

• 1 tsp thyme

• 1/2 tsp smoked paprika

• 2 bay leaves

• S & P

DIRECTIONS

1. Heat coconut oil in a large pot or dutch oven over medium-high heat.

2. Season chicken breasts with S&P and add chicken to pot. Sear for about 5 minutes per side. Set aside to rest.

3. Saute minced garlic and chopped onion and cook until translucent.

4. Add carrots, celery, and peas and cook for about 5 minutes

5. Shred or dice chicken and add back to the pot.

6. Add both stocks and coconut milk along with the seasonings.

7. Turn the heat down to low-medium heat to let simmer for about 20-25 minutes with the lid on. During this time, you can spiralize the zucchini.

8. Take out the bay leaves and add the spiralized zucchini and parsley. Simmer on low for 5 minutes.

9. Squeeze in lemon and it's ready!