Chestnut Free Kale & Blueberry Salad with Walnut Pesto Dressing

Total time30 min

Prep time20 min

Cook time5 min

4.8

(20)

Chestnut Free Kale & Blueberry Salad with Walnut Pesto Dressing

This vibrant salad brings together massaged lacinato kale, juicy fresh blueberries, and crisp red onion in a way that feels both unexpected and completely natural. The real star is the walnut pesto dressing — toasted walnuts blended with fresh basil, garlic, lemon juice, and olive oil create something rich, herby, and bright all at once. Massaging the kale with a pinch of salt is the move that transforms it from tough and bitter to silky and deeply savory, making it genuinely crave-worthy rather than just virtuous. Every ingredient here is straightforward and easy to source, with no tree nuts beyond walnuts, so anyone avoiding chestnuts can dig in without a second thought. The dressing comes together in a blender in under a minute, and the whole salad is ready to serve almost immediately after. It's the kind of dish that looks impressive enough for a dinner party but is honestly simple enough for a Tuesday lunch.

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Ingredients

4 servings

For the salad

1 bunch (about 8 oz) lacinato kale, stems removed, leaves torn into bite-sized pieces
¼ tsp salt
1 cup fresh blueberries
¼ cup red onion, very thinly sliced
¼ cup dry-roasted walnuts, roughly chopped

For the walnut pesto dressing

1 cup fresh basil leaves, loosely packed
¼ cup dry-roasted walnuts
1 clove garlic
2 tbsp lemon juice, freshly squeezed
¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil
2 tbsp water
¼ tsp salt
¼ tsp black pepper
¼ tsp red pepper flakes (optional)

Instructions

1
In a small dry skillet over medium heat, toast the walnuts for the salad (1/4 cup, roughly chopped) and the walnuts for the dressing (1/4 cup) together, stirring frequently, until fragrant and lightly golden, about 3–4 minutes. Watch closely, as they can brown quickly. Remove from heat and let cool for 5 minutes, then separate into the two portions.
2
Place the torn kale leaves in a large mixing bowl and sprinkle with 1/4 tsp salt. Using clean hands, massage the kale firmly for 1–2 minutes until the leaves darken, soften noticeably, and reduce in volume by about half.

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