25 December 2014

Baby Kale Grapefruit Pomegranate Salad

Baby Kale Grapefruit Pomegranate Salad / www.delightfulrepast.com

Are you in a salad rut? I tend to get in a salad rut, putting together the same (for the most part) ingredients over and over. Then one day I realized two of my favorite fruits, grapefruit and pomegranate, were in season and decided to team them up with a new-to-me salad green, baby kale. 

The regular "adult" kale is perfectly wonderful, and what I always buy, but I thought Baby kale, okay, I'll bite. 

This is so simple, a very short recipe. The three simple ingredients mingle their contrasting colors, tastes and textures in the bowl with a splash of good olive oil cut with the juice captured when dicing the grapefruit.

Like my Chard and Kale Winter Salad, it can be made--and dressed--ahead, so it's the perfect salad to take to potlucks. 
The baby kale might be closer to lettuce than "adult" kale is, but it won't wilt like lettuce when dressed ahead of time.


Baby Kale-Grapefruit-Pomegranate Salad / www.delightfulrepast.com

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Baby Kale Grapefruit Pomegranate Salad


(Makes 4 to 6 servings)

The Salad

1 5-ounce container baby kale
1 large grapefruit
1 medium pomegranate


The Dressing

Juice captured when dicing the grapefruit
About 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

1 Wash the baby kale and spin it dry. Even though the container it comes in will tell you it's been washed three times and is ready to use, wash it. Put it in a bowl.

2 Wash the grapefruit. Even though you're not going to eat the peel, wash it. Cut off the top and bottom. Following the curve of the fruit, cut off the peel and pith. Cut the peeled grapefruit into rings and then into bite-size pieces. Do this on a plate rather than a cutting board so you can capture all the juice. Add the grapefruit pieces to the kale in the bowl. Pour the juice into a glass measuring cup.

3 Wash the pomegranate (even though you are most definitely not going to eat the peel). Open the pomegranate and remove all the arils. Do this carefully so the red juice doesn't fly everywhere and stain everything in sight. Add to the salad bowl.

4 Whisk some extra virgin olive oil into the grapefruit juice. Taste it. I like it just the way it is, but you might want to add about 1/8 teaspoon each salt and coarsely ground black pepper or whatever you like. Pour it over the salad and toss it around a little. Put a lid on it and refrigerate until dinner time. 

Jean

28 comments:

Richard Sheppard said...

We have kale growing in our backyard right now. This looks like a great way to use it up. My wife likes to bake kale in the oven for "Kale chips" but I can't say I'm a fan. This looks like a much better idea!

Jean | DelightfulRepast.com said...

Apologies to your wife, but I'm not a fan of kale chips either! I think you'll like this salad better!

Cranberry Morning said...

I just bought a bag of kale chips that are 'ready to cook.' I suppose I'm committed now. This sounds like a wonderful and different salad. I need to go on YouTube and find out the right way to get arils out of a pomegranate. I make a real mess doing it. Thanks for this recipe, Jean. Merry Christmas!

Jean | DelightfulRepast.com said...

Thanks, Judy! I've opened pomegranates about every way that's been invented and can tell you, they are all at least a little bit messy. I thought I was being pretty neat this time and still managed to get a few drops sprayed onto the front of my shirt. Hope you had a wonderful day!

Angie's Recipes said...

I am a HUGE fan of kale. This is a simple yet delightful and beautiful salad, Jean.
Merry Christmas!
Angie

Pom Pom said...

Simple and tasty looking!

Jean | DelightfulRepast.com said...

Angie, thank you! I think of you as the queen of salads!

Jean | DelightfulRepast.com said...

Thanks, Pom Pom. Once in a while I do make something simple! :D

Linda Kay said...

I'm getting to like kale a bit, and know it is really good for you. This looks really yummy.

Jean | DelightfulRepast.com said...

Thanks, Linda! You'll find the baby kale is a lot easier to love!

Hootin Anni said...

Y'know I have never had kale...but the idea of with pomegranate just hasta be good!!!

Jean | DelightfulRepast.com said...

Anni, if you can't find the baby kale, you can use the regular kale. Just slice it in thin shreds and plan on letting it marinate in the salad for at least a few hours before dinner.

John's Island said...

Hi, You have a wonderful blog here. I'll take any help I can find to improve my cuisine preparation. :-) I'll be back! Thank you for your kind comments on my blog. Please come back often. John

Jean | DelightfulRepast.com said...

Thanks so much, John! I think we all need to shake things up in the kitchen, not make and eat the same thing all the time. Hope you'll find lots of Delightful things to try!

Thomas "Sully" Sullivan said...

I’d like to make it clear that I’ve never eaten adults let alone babies, even after reading Jonathan Swift’s “A Modest Proposal.” Only you, Jeani, with your firm grasp on etiquette could persuade me to – um…cannibalize this adventurous recipe. And in keeping with the holiday spirit I shall henceforth serve my fellow man…with pomegranates. Merry Christmas and happy new year!

Jean | DelightfulRepast.com said...

Sully, thanks. You've reminded me of an episode of Twilight Zone called "To Serve Man," in which the earthlings eventually figured out ... well, I won't give it away.

Sippity Sup said...

We are blessed in CA to have not one but two fruits in seasonal. Hope your holiday was great. I'll be away for 3 weeks, but will try and check in while I'm in S. America. GREG

Jean | DelightfulRepast.com said...

Thanks, Greg. I hope you have a fabulous time in South America!

Amy at love made my home said...

I hope you had a happy Christmas! xx

TONY said...

What a creative idea. Well done Jean.
A belated Happy Christmas and a Joyous New Year from us all here in Wimbledon. While California is sunny and warm it is damp and chilly here!!!!!!
ON A SAD NOTE:
I am sure you like us were sorry to hear that Joe Cocker died the other day. He was one of the greats!!!!

Jean | DelightfulRepast.com said...

Amy, thank you! And I hope you have a fabulous 2015!

Jean | DelightfulRepast.com said...

Thank you, Tony. And, yes, I was saddened by the news about Joe Cocker. My husband really liked him, too. YouTube has his version of Unchain My Heart from a concert.

Maureen | Orgasmic Chef said...

That's so pretty. It's summer here so the other day I made a very similar salad but instead of the grapefruit I used watermelon.

I added some pomegranate to a salad last night and I didn't put an apron on before the whacking began. I now have a lovely speckled shirt. :)

Jean | DelightfulRepast.com said...

Oh, Maureen :D I know all about the "speckled shirt" problem! I learned very early in life to wear an old ragged something when dealing with pomegranates, but sometimes you think "I'll be really careful ..." Ha!

April J Harris said...

What a lovely, fresh salad, Jean. It's perfect for a fresh, healthy start in the New Year. Thank you for sharing it with us at the Hearth and Soul hop.

Jean | DelightfulRepast.com said...

April, thank you so much! Happy to "hop!"

Helen @ Fuss Free Flavours said...

This is a lovely salad, and the perfect antidote to all the Christmas and New Year rich food. I love kale and do eat it most days.

Jean | DelightfulRepast.com said...

Helen, thank you. Yes, I do think it makes a nice "light" change. I really need to eat salads more often.