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    Home » Recipes » Kale Cauliflower Salad with Curry Dressing

    Published: Apr 16, 2020 by Alicia This post may contain affiliate links.

    Kale Cauliflower Salad with Curry Dressing

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
    Cauliflower Kale Salad
    Cauliflower Kale Salad

    This kale cauliflower salad with curry dressing has tons of flavor and is really easy to make for lunch or dinner. Simple roasted cauliflower is combined with a tangy curry dressing, pepitas, and dried cranberries for the least boring salad I've ever had. 

    Kale cauliflower salad topped with seeds on a table with a baking sheet of cauliflower

    Roasted Cauliflower and Kale Salad

    If you've been following me for any amount of time, you know that I absolutely love to travel. Instead of giving each other gifts at Christmas or birthdays, we like to gift experiences or trips. This took a bit hit for us when I was first diagnosed with vestibular migraine, but now I feel as though we were making up for all the time we lost to me not feeling well enough to travel.

    However, this year I was spending my birthday giving myself 3 shots a day for our first IVF cycle - not fun! My first cookbook was about to come out, and I had some trips planned as a part of a "book tour" so I knew life was about to go from painful to busy. I told my husband that once our egg retrieval was finished, I needed (mentally) to get away for a bit. So we looked around for deals and decided to go to Big Sur for the weekend.

    I love Big Sur! It's the perfect mix of casual, relaxing and outdoorsy, but also there's lots of wine. And after you go through an IVF cycle, trust me, you need the wine. 

    Annnnd now I'm turning into one of those bloggers people complain about that won't just give you the (free) recipe and go on and on about their life. To sum it all up, this kale cauliflower salad recipe is one of the overpriced, insanely expensive but so delicious salads we had for a lunch at Sur House. The original one came with yogurt at the bottom, which happens to be one of my biggest migraine triggers. Thankfully they were able to leave it off for me, and it was still delicious! I knew I had to try to recreate it when I returned.

    Ingredients for a kale salad on a cutting board

    Curry Kale Salad Ingredients

    The original kale cauliflower salad had quinoa and golden raisins, but you can customize it to what you have on hand.

    Usually I always store dried cranberries and pepitas in my fridge to have on hand for salads. If you're following a migraine diet, you want to look for sulfite-free cranberries. If you don't see it on the label or as part of the ingredients, they should be good to go. Sulfites are typically used to retain the color of dried fruit, so these may look a bit more dull. I get both my dried cranberries and pepitas at Trader Joe's - they're a good price! But you can also find them on Amazon. 

    Add Quinoa for Protein

    If you're not going to add a protein to this dish like simply cooked chicken or shrimp, I highly recommend cooking some quinoa according to the package directions and adding that in here for some added protein. Sometimes I'll do this as a part of meal prep and just leave it in my fridge for the week.

    Kale being sliced on a cutting board

    A salad spinner with kale

    Massaging Your Kale

    So you may say "Alicia, I hate kale! It's tough, kinda rough to eat, and has a bitter taste to it.". Why yes, yes it does. But have you tried to give it a massage? Like most things that are massaged, myself included, kale tends to get less bitter and more tender. Bon Appetit has a great tutorial here. Basically you just removed the woody stems, chop into large pieces, add a tiny splash of vinegar and some kosher salt, and rub it down. You don't want to over-massage your kale, just enough to where it's just starting to wilt down.

    You may say "Alicia, I don't have time for that!". In that case, just chop your kale into smaller pieces, OR allow it to sit in the curry dressing for a bit before tossing with the roasted cauliflower and toppings.

    Lacinato Kale - A Kale with Many Names

    My preference for this recipe is to use lacinato, also called "dinosaur" or "Tuscan" kale. Why it has so many names, I have no idea. Maybe it's running from the law.

    Lacinato has more flat stems as opposed to the curly kale you see everywhere. It's darker too. I think the flavor is better - a bit less kale-y. The flavor is a little more muted and not as bitter to me. You can usually find this bundled in the vegetable section of most grocery stores, but if not, regular kale will work too.

    Creamy curry dressing being poured onto a kale salad

    Creamy Curry Dressing

    This creamy curry dressing is from one of my previous posts, but it was basically intended for this salad. However you can use it easily in a chicken salad mix or even as a dip. I think the curry dressing compliments the kale well, and works wonderfully with the sweetness of the dried cranberries.

    I hope you enjoy this salad as much as I do! It reminds me of being on vacation every time. And good grief, we could all use a vacation right about now.

    A kale salad topped with cauliflower next to dressing and cranberries

    For more salad recipes:

    Pear Arugula Salad with Maple Vinaigrette
    Steak Salad with Peaches and Goat Cheese
    Roasted Vegetable Salad
    Strawberry Salad with Basil Vinaigrette
    Banh Mi Inspired Burger Salad

     

    A bowl of kale cauliflower salad next to seeds and a baking sheet

    Kale Cauliflower Salad

    This kale salad with roasted cauliflower and creamy curry dressing is the perfect lunch or dinner. Add any protein you like, such as roasted chicken, grilled shrimp, or quinoa. Can be made vegan, if desired.
    5 from 2 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Lunch, Salad
    Cuisine: American
    Diet: Gluten Free, Low Lactose, Vegan, Vegetarian
    Prep Time: 15 minutes
    Cook Time: 20 minutes
    Total Time: 35 minutes
    Servings: 2 people
    Calories: 270kcal
    Author: Alicia

    Ingredients

    • 1 tablespoon olive oil
    • 10 oz cauliflower florets
    • kosher salt and pepper
    • 1 bunch lacinato kale
    • ½ teaspoon distilled white vinegar
    • ⅓ cup pepitas, toasted
    • ¼ cup dried cranberries
    • Creamy Cauliflower Dressing
    US Customary - Metric

    Instructions

    • Preheat oven to 450 degrees F. On a sheet pan, add cauliflower florets and toss with olive oil and a sprinkle of salt and pepper. Roast for 20 minutes, until browned in spots and softened.
    • Meanwhile, remove the thick rib and massage kale with vinegar and a pinch of kosher salt until slightly wilted (or use other tips from the post). Toss with pepitas, cranberries, creamy curry dressing, and cauliflower.

    Notes

    • Massaging your kale (rubbing the leaves between your hands) can soften them if you find them a little to tough or chewy to enjoy. I find letting it soak in the dressing for 10-15 minutes can also help!

    Nutrition

    Calories: 270kcal | Carbohydrates: 32g | Protein: 12g | Fat: 14g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Sodium: 95mg | Potassium: 1173mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 13g | Vitamin A: 13487IU | Vitamin C: 230mg | Calcium: 234mg | Iron: 4mg
    Tried this Recipe? Tag me Today!Mention @thedizzycook or tag #thedizzycook!

     

     

     

     

    « How I Weaned Off Migraine Medication
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    About Alicia

    Alicia is a vestibular migraine advocate and the bestselling author of The Dizzy Cook: Managing Migraine with More Than 90 Comforting Recipes and Lifestyle Tips. Her articles and recipes have been featured by Healthline, Parade, mindbodygreen, Today, Good Morning Texas, the Vestibular Disorders Association, and the American Migraine Foundation. Read More

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Jamie says

      October 15, 2020 at 10:01 pm

      5 stars
      Love this salad!! I really enjoy salads with the twist of roasted veggies thrown in. This salad has great flavor, and works well as either a side salad or a main dish with a protein added. I've added salmon and chicken and they both go really well with the curry dressing (which is to die for!!)

      Reply
      • Alicia says

        October 20, 2020 at 1:43 pm

        Thanks, Jamie!!

        Reply
    2. Lucy says

      August 27, 2020 at 4:48 pm

      5 stars
      Thoroughly enjoyed making and eating this (and more than I expected when considering the healthy ingredients list ????) very tasty and not something I’ve tried anything like before! Def one cant wait to make again and to surprise/show off to other people’ too!

      Reply

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    Recipe Rating




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    Meet the Cook! I’m Alicia, cookbook author and recipe developer. I was diagnosed with Chronic Vestibular Migraine in 2016 - a diagnosis that changed my life. I’ve gone from bedridden to extremely active by implementing migraine diet, incorporating key supplements, and making lifestyle changes. The Dizzy Cook is a collection of my delicious recipes that everyone will love, and tips for anyone that struggles with migraine attacks.

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    Meet the Cook! I’m Alicia, cookbook author and recipe developer. I was diagnosed with Chronic Vestibular Migraine in 2016 - a diagnosis that changed my life. I’ve gone from bedridden to extremely active by implementing migraine diet, incorporating key supplements, and making lifestyle changes. The Dizzy Cook is a collection of my delicious recipes that everyone will love, and tips for anyone that struggles with migraine attacks.

    About The Dizzy Cook

    Popular Recipes

    • Creamy Boursin Pasta
    • Beef Stew Recipe without Wine
    • Lazy Lasagna
    • No Tomato Chili (Texas-Style)
    • Anti-Inflammatory Smoothie
    • Air Fryer Flank Steak

    Get New Posts via Email

    Subscribe for new recipes, tips, and discounts.

    Favorite Healthy Recipes

    • Stir Fry Without Soy Sauce
    • Beef Protein Bowl
    • Mediterranean Baked Halibut
    • Dutch Oven Pot Roast (Wine-Free)
    • Baked Chicken Kabobs
    • Chicken and Brown Rice Soup

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