• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Recipe Index
  • About
  • Subscribe
  • Contact

Kitchen Konfidence

menu icon
go to homepage
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • Recipe Index
  • About
  • Subscribe
  • Contact
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • RSS
  • ×
    Home / Recipes / Course / Salad / Kale Salad with Miso-Lemon Vinaigrette

    58 March 19, 2015 Easy

    Kale Salad with Miso-Lemon Vinaigrette

    Jump to Recipe

    Kale is still frequently on the menu at my house, and this Kale Salad with Miso-Lemon Vinaigrette is my latest creation.

    This post may contain affiliate links.

    Kale Salad with Miso Lemon Vinaigrette

    Made with miso, lemon juice, honey, sesame oil, rice wine vinegar, olive oil, salt and pepper, this Miso-Lemon Vinaigrette is simple to prepare, but still packed with flavor.  It’s salty.  It’s tart.  It’s bright.   And it’ll make you go “Oh my!” after just one taste.  I’ve paired this bold dressing with an equally full-flavored green: kale.  Prepared like my Raw Kale Salad, the chopped kale gets tossed with several spoonfuls of vinaigrette, then sits for a short while until tender.  A final sprinkling of chopped, roasted pistachios and flaky sea salt add crunch and contrast.

    Miso-Lemon Vinaigrette has become one of our weekly standards, because it pairs so well with many other things.  The sauce is on the thinner side, so it packs a big flavor punch without adding too much heft.  I like to drizzle it on all sorts of salads, roasted vegetables and seafood.  Bonus!  The vinaigrette is made with mainly fridge and pantry staples.  You can keep most ingredients on hand, and then pick up fresh lemons as needed.  Continue reading for the recipe.

    Miso Lemon Vinaigrette Ingredients

    For this recipe, you’ll want to use white (shiro) or yellow (shinshu) miso.  These two miso varieties are more on the mild side, and they’ll lend an earthy, saltiness to the vinaigrette.  In particular, I used white miso here (pictured above).  I’ve always got a big package of white miso sitting in the fridge.  It’s so versatile!  Use it for sauces, soups, appetizers, roasted vegetables or chicken.  Miso keeps forever in the fridge too.

    Kale

    Miso Lemon Vinaigrette

    I’ve used lacinato kale here, but any kale variety would work well.  Just make sure the leaves are firm and without spots, tears and holes.  If your kale has gone limp in the fridge, rinse with cold water and wrap in a paper towel.  Let the kale sit in the fridge overnight, and it should spring back to life.

    Kale Salad

    Kale Salad with Miso Lemon Vinaigrette
    4.84 from 12 votes
    Print

    Kale Salad with Miso-Lemon Vinaigrette

    Servings 4 salads
    Author Brandon Matzek

    Ingredients

    For the Miso-Lemon Vinaigrette:

    • 2 tablespoons white (shiro) miso
    • 1 tablespoon honey
    • 1 tablespoon sesame oil
    • 2 tablespoons rice wine vinegar
    • 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
    • 3 tablespoons olive oil
    • Kosher salt
    • Freshly ground black pepper

    For the Kale Salad:

    • 2 bunches lacinato (dino, black) kale, stems discarded and leaves chopped into bite-sized pieces
    • 1/4 cup unsalted, roasted pistachios, chopped
    • Flaky sea salt

    Instructions

    1. Add miso, honey, sesame oil, vinegar and lemon juice to a medium bowl, whisking to combine. In a slow, steady stream, whisk in olive oil until emulsified. Season to taste with kosher salt and black pepper.
    2. Place chopped kale in a large bowl, and drizzle over some of the vinaigrette. Using your hands, work the vinaigrette throughout the greens, tossing and massaging as needed. The leaves should be glistening with vinaigrette, not swimming in it. Let the salad sit at room temperature for 15 - 20 minutes until the kale leaves are tender. Transfer any unused vinaigrette into a clean container, and store in the fridge.

    To serve, divide dressed greens between 4 salad plates, and top with chopped pistachios and a sprinkling of flaky sea salt. Enjoy immediately!

    Here are some other healthy salad recipes on Kitchen Konfidence:

    Roasted Carrot, Fennel and Blood Orange Salad

    Roasted Carrot, Fennel and Blood Orange Salad

    Marinated Flank Steak Salad with Feta and Arugula

    Flank Steak Salad with Feta and Arugula

    Grilled Kale Salad

    Grilled Kale Caesar with Torn Croutons

    White Bean, Fennel and Chorizo Salad in a Jar

    Salad in a Jar

    Raw Kale Salad

    Raw Kale Salad

    58
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • WhatsApp
    • Email

    Categories: Easy

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Averie @ Averie Cooks says

      March 19, 2015 at 9:45 am

      I just made kale chips last night and stunk up my house 🙂 Probably should have gone with this kale salad instead! Looks like a winner!

      Reply
      • Brandon Matzek says

        March 19, 2015 at 10:40 am

        Haha kale chips are stinky, but delicious!!

        Reply
    2. J.S. @ Sun Diego Eats says

      March 19, 2015 at 10:30 am

      This is awesome I make something similar to bring into work for lunch but with gochujang as well! Always have miso and gochujang lurking in the fridge, both last foreeevvverrrr.

      Reply
      • Brandon Matzek says

        March 19, 2015 at 10:41 am

        I’ll have to add some gochujang to my next batch. Thanks for the tip!

        Reply
    3. Debra says

      March 20, 2015 at 9:37 am

      Love us some kale salad. I have a dressing that has a splash of soy. Imagining how good this one is.

      Reply
      • Brandon Matzek says

        March 20, 2015 at 11:58 am

        That sounds like a good addition!

        Reply
    4. Kacey @ The Cookie Writer says

      March 20, 2015 at 10:09 pm

      Kale is a favourite of mine, and surprisingly of my salad-hating husband! I may be able to convince him to try this salad since he loves miso so much!

      Reply
      • Brandon Matzek says

        March 21, 2015 at 1:37 pm

        Excellent! Let me know if he (and you!) like it 🙂

        Reply
    5. Katherine says

      March 20, 2015 at 10:13 pm

      This looks great! I can’t wait til it warms up and I can get back into eating my salads.

      Reply
      • Brandon Matzek says

        March 21, 2015 at 1:37 pm

        Thanks Katherine!

        Reply
    6. Stephanie Stuart says

      March 20, 2015 at 11:07 pm

      5 stars
      Oh I hope I can find this miso in the store! Looking forward to making this kale salad!

      Reply
      • Brandon Matzek says

        March 21, 2015 at 1:38 pm

        Miso has become more readily available in most grocery stores. Check by the tofu!

        Reply
    7. cristina says

      March 20, 2015 at 11:12 pm

      Brandon, you make beautiful salads. I like that kale variety and will be on the lookout for it. I haven’t worked with miso before and am tempted to do so – any recommendations where to find a good stock/brand? Happy Spring, neighbor! 🙂

      Reply
      • Brandon Matzek says

        March 21, 2015 at 1:40 pm

        Thanks Cristina! Trader Joe’s sometimes has miso and it’s always in stock at Whole Foods and Asian markets. I looks for the brands that are non-GMO. Happy Spring!!

        Reply
    8. Arman @ thebigmansworld says

      March 21, 2015 at 1:23 am

      Just started to really enjoy kale and this recipe sounds delicious- The miso/lemon combination sounds epic mate!

      Reply
      • Brandon Matzek says

        March 21, 2015 at 1:40 pm

        Thanks Arman!

        Reply
    9. Naomi Teeter says

      March 21, 2015 at 5:08 am

      I’ll eat this salad for the pistachios. 😉 In all seriousness, it looks like a beautiful, simple salad. Thanks for sharing!

      Reply
      • Brandon Matzek says

        March 21, 2015 at 1:41 pm

        Thanks so much Naomi!

        Reply
    10. kristy @ the wicked noodle says

      March 21, 2015 at 5:48 am

      Love that kale tip for bringing kale back to life! I juice with kale a lot so I buy it in bulk which means it does wilt on me occasionally. I’ll try your method for sure! And the salad and its dressing sound to-die-for!!

      Reply
      • Brandon Matzek says

        March 21, 2015 at 1:41 pm

        It works every time!

        Reply
    11. heather @french press says

      March 21, 2015 at 9:12 am

      this salad sounds delicious, but I LOVE your tip for wilted Kale, I always end up finding some hidden in my veggie bin, and it usually gets fed to the chickens.

      Reply
      • Brandon Matzek says

        March 21, 2015 at 1:41 pm

        Thanks Heather :)!

        Reply
    12. Susan | LunaCafe says

      March 21, 2015 at 9:29 pm

      5 stars
      This dressing sounds amazing. I always have more kale in the fridge than I can use. Can’t wait to try this salad.

      Reply
      • Brandon Matzek says

        March 21, 2015 at 9:51 pm

        Thanks Susan! Definitely give this a try 🙂

        Reply
    13. BriGeeski says

      March 23, 2015 at 9:12 am

      5 stars
      Looks delicious Brandon! I love any salad with a Lemon Vinaigrette. I’ll have to try this with the miso. Thanks for the recipe!

      Reply
      • Brandon Matzek says

        March 23, 2015 at 12:06 pm

        Thanks Bri! I’m also a fan of lemon vinaigrettes. I’ve always got lemons on my kitchen counter 🙂

        Reply
    14. Alana says

      March 23, 2015 at 9:18 am

      HOLY YES to all the things. Dino kale is my favorite kale and I always include it in my salad whenever I can. High five to miso in the fridge at all times cause it really is so versatile. Cannot wait to make this vinaigrette!!

      Reply
      • Brandon Matzek says

        March 23, 2015 at 12:08 pm

        It’s my fav as well! I also like the Red Russian variety when making kale chips. Thanks :)!!

        Reply
    15. susan @ the wimpy vegetarian says

      March 23, 2015 at 10:09 am

      What a fantastic salad dressing. I have some yellow miso in the fridge right now and plan to make this for lunch with some Asian greens I have on hand. I’ll also try it with kale, but want to use it with what I have. I don’t want to wait long enough to head to the store. Your other salads look wonderful too – and LOVE your photography!

      Reply
      • Brandon Matzek says

        March 23, 2015 at 12:09 pm

        Thanks Susan and let me know how you like the dressing!

        Reply
    16. Meagan @ A Zesty Bite says

      March 23, 2015 at 10:58 am

      This is absolutely gorgeous and so refreshing.

      Reply
      • Brandon Matzek says

        March 23, 2015 at 12:10 pm

        Thanks Meagan!

        Reply
    17. Victoria says

      March 23, 2015 at 11:27 am

      That miso-lemon vinaigrette sounds amazing!!

      Reply
      • Brandon Matzek says

        March 23, 2015 at 3:24 pm

        Thanks Victoria!

        Reply
    18. Sippitysup says

      March 24, 2015 at 10:01 am

      That miso dressing looks magical! GREG

      Reply
      • Brandon Matzek says

        March 25, 2015 at 9:24 am

        Thanks Greg!

        Reply
    19. Brian @ A Thought For Food says

      March 25, 2015 at 10:11 am

      I’m so glad you’ve gotten hooked on miso. I can only imagine how wonderful this kale salad is massaged with some lemony umami goodness. And I love how many possibilities there are for this salad. Could probably top it with grilled shrimp or meat or even an assortment of veggies.

      Reply
      • Brandon Matzek says

        March 25, 2015 at 12:10 pm

        Yes!!! I love the grilled shrimp idea. Or perhaps marinated tofu?

        Reply
    20. Laura says

      March 30, 2015 at 8:32 am

      Yummmm!! I love miso in dressings, and especially over kale. This salad looks delightful. Thanks for sharing:)

      Reply
      • Brandon Matzek says

        April 7, 2015 at 2:09 pm

        Thanks Laura!!

        Reply
    21. Caroline says

      November 17, 2015 at 4:44 pm

      THIS IS THE BEST SALAD DRESSING I’VE EVER HAD!!! Seriously, I licked the bowl clean to get every last drop! I can’t wait to test out more of your recipes – this one makes me want to have a healthy kale salad everyday!

      Reply
      • Brandon Matzek says

        November 21, 2015 at 12:31 pm

        Thanks Caroline!!! So glad you enjoyed the recipe.

        Reply
    22. JM says

      December 15, 2015 at 12:38 pm

      5 stars
      I’ve made this vinaigrette a dozen times now, and it’s a definitely household favorite. SO fabulous with a simple kale salad, and love how it amps up any veggie dish. We enjoyed it last night with kale, Israeli couscous, roasted delicata squash, dried dates, and toasted slivered almonds – yum! Thanks for an epic recipe!

      Reply
      • Brandon Matzek says

        December 31, 2015 at 1:40 pm

        Thanks JM!!! So glad you like the recipe 🙂

        Reply
    23. Christina Troitino says

      June 7, 2016 at 8:36 am

      5 stars
      Made this dressing for my BF last night and he FLIPPED! It is perfection–thanks for sharing!

      Reply
      • Brandon Matzek says

        June 20, 2016 at 7:05 pm

        YAS! So glad to hear that 🙂 Thanks for sharing Christina.

        Reply
    24. Jennifer says

      July 28, 2016 at 6:31 pm

      5 stars
      This salad was off the hook delish! I followed the recipe exactly down to the pistachios (wonderful). Even my picky 5 yr old was loving it.
      I want to try chopping it more, warming it with quinoa or farro, some chewy grain. Yum.
      Thanks!

      Reply
      • Brandon Matzek says

        July 29, 2016 at 12:27 pm

        Amazing!!! Thanks for sharing results. I love the sound of that warm salad too. Let me know how it turns out.

        Reply
    25. Bekah says

      June 2, 2017 at 2:01 pm

      This looks delicious and healthy. Is this the kind of salad that tastes better the next day or is it best to eat it then and there? Thanks!

      Reply
      • Brandon Matzek says

        June 5, 2017 at 3:23 pm

        Thanks Bekah! This salad is good right after you make it, and it also holds up the next day! Just add the pistachios right before serving. They will get a bit soggy if left with the greens overnight. Enjoy!

        Reply
    26. Sam says

      April 22, 2018 at 2:35 pm

      5 stars
      Along with your raw kale salad, this salad is one of my favorites. Everyone loves the dressing and I’ve had numerous people ask me for the recipe.

      Thanks for posting it!

      Reply
      • Brandon Matzek says

        October 1, 2018 at 10:45 am

        So happy to hear that! Thanks for sharing Sam 🙂

        Reply

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

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

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
    Brandon and Federico

    I'm Brandon: food explorer, recipe curator, cocktail shaker, dessert lover. Kitchen Konfidence is how I document my time spent in my favorite space, the kitchen. Read More…


    Popular Posts

    • Pork Ribs on the Grill
    • Sriracha Aioli Recipe
    • Zucchini Pizza Recipe
    • Jorge’s Green Chilaquiles Recipe

    GET THIS FREE 40-PAGE ECOOKBOOK! SIGN UP BELOW

    ebook cover 2021

    Subscribe Here


    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    Kitchen Konfidence

    • About
    • Contact
    • Privacy Policy
    • Copyright & Licensing
    • Download my E-Book!
    • See All Recipes

    Subscribe

    • Sign Up! for weekly emails.

    Get Social!

    Kitchen Konfidence 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.

    All Content & Images © 2021 Kitchen Konfidence