Tuscan Kale Salad with Warm Bacon Dressing
This hearty lacinato kale salad combines deep blue-green leaves with crisp red onion, sweet dried apricots, crunchy blanched almonds, and strips of red bell pepper. Its sturdy greens make it a satisfying change from lettuce salads, well suited to serving as a colorful side dish or a light lunch.
- Prep20 mins
- Cook10 mins
- Serves6
- DifficultyEasy
easyChef Pro health score
Calculated from USDA-referenced nutrient data for the ingredients in Tuscan Kale Salad with Warm Bacon Dressing, not estimated by an AI model. The same recipe returns the same score every time.
- Glycemic ImpactFair
- 52 / 100
- Carb quality, not quantity. Higher is better.
- Nutritional DensityPoor
- 37 / 100
- Nutrients per calorie. Higher is better.
- Energy DensityGood
- 91 / 100
- Calories by weight. Higher means more food for fewer calories.
- NOVA Unprocessed or minimally processed
- 1 / 4
- Processing level, 1 (whole) to 4 (ultra-processed). Lower is better.
How it scores for each health goal
The same recipe scores differently against different goals, because the goal changes the calculation rather than filtering a list. Set your goal in easyChef Pro and every recipe is scored against it.
- 79
- Heart Health
- 80
- Metabolic
- 48
- Digestive
- 44
- Inflammatory
- 47
- Performance
- 61
- General Wellness
- 1
Wash kale in cold water and pat dry with paper towels. Using a sharp knife, remove the stems and coarse veins, and chop the kale into bite-sized pieces. Place the chopped kale and red onion slices in a large salad bowl, and set aside.
- 2
For the dressing, cook the bacon in a skillet over medium heat until browned and crispy, 5 to 7 minutes. Remove the bacon from the skillet, chop it, and reserve.
- 3
Add olive oil to the bacon drippings in the same skillet. Heat the combined drippings and olive oil over medium heat until hot. Stir in the minced garlic and cook for about 30 seconds.
- 4
Remove the skillet from the heat and stir in the balsamic vinegar, Dijon mustard, salt and pepper to taste, and red pepper flakes to taste.
- 5
Pour the mixture over the kale and onion slices, and stir until well coated with the hot dressing. Add the chopped apricots, blanched slivered almonds, and red bell pepper strips.
- 6
Give the salad a final toss and garnish with the reserved chopped bacon.
- 7
Heat the combined drippings and olive oil over medium heat until hot.
- 8
Stir in the minced garlic and cook for about 30 seconds.
- 9
Take the skillet off the heat and stir in the balsamic vinegar, Dijon mustard, salt and pepper to taste, and red pepper flakes to taste.
- 10
Pour the mixture over the torn kale and onion slices, and stir until they are well coated with the hot dressing.
- 11
Add the chopped apricots, blanched slivered almonds, and red bell pepper strips.
- 12
Give the salad a final toss and garnish with the reserved chopped bacon.
- Calories 170.77 kcal Moderate 9%
- Protein 7.14 g Moderate 14%
- Carbohydrate 26.58 g 10%
- Total Fat 5.89 g Moderate 8%
- Saturated Fat 0.35 g Low Source 2%
- Trans Fat 0.0 g Low Source 0%
- Cholesterol 0.0 mg Low Source 0%
- Sodium 48.17 mg Low Source 2%
- Dietary Fiber 5.72 g Good Source 20%
- Total Sugars 9.89 g --
- Added Sugars 0.0 g Low Source 0%
- Calcium 177.71 mg Moderate 14%
- Iron 2.85 mg Moderate 16%
- Potassium 242.23 mg Low Source 5%
- Vitamin A 588.47 mcg Good Source 65%
- Vitamin C 156.0 mg Good Source 173%
- Vitamin D 0.0 mcg Low Source 0%
Values are per serving. Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000-calorie diet.
- Tree Nuts 🌰
- Mustard
- Garlic 🧄
- Onions 🧅
- Alcohol 🚫🍷
About This Recipe
Tuscan Kale Salad with Warm Bacon Dressing is an Italian side dish recipe made with 13 ingredients. It takes about 30 mins, serves 6, and is rated easy. Key ingredients include Bacon, Balsamic Vinegar, Black Pepper, and Dijon Mustard. Each serving provides about 170.77 kcal, and is a good source of fiber.
Recipe Questions
- What is Tuscan Kale Salad with Warm Bacon Dressing?
- It is an Italian salad recipe made with 13 ingredients, usually served for side dish or dinner or lunch or salad.
- What is Tuscan Kale Salad with Warm Bacon Dressing made of?
- The main ingredients are Bacon, Balsamic Vinegar, Black Pepper, Dijon Mustard, Dried Apricot. The full list of 13 is above.
- How long does it take to make Tuscan Kale Salad with Warm Bacon Dressing?
- About 30 mins in total: 20 mins to prepare and 10 mins to cook.
- How many calories are in one serving?
- One serving provides about 170.77 kcal. The full nutrition breakdown is above.
- Is Tuscan Kale Salad with Warm Bacon Dressing easy to make?
- This recipe is rated easy, with 13 ingredients and 12 steps.
- Is Tuscan Kale Salad with Warm Bacon Dressing healthy?
- Tuscan Kale Salad with Warm Bacon Dressing has an easyChef Pro health score of 57/100. Per serving, it provides 170.77 calories and 7.14 g of protein, or 14% of the Daily Value. It is a good source of dietary fiber, vitamin A and vitamin C. It contains Tree Nuts, Mustard, Garlic, Onions and Alcohol, so it may not be suitable for people with those allergies or dietary restrictions. Whether it fits your goals depends on your complete meal plan and nutritional needs. Remix it in easyChef Pro to adjust the ingredients and generate fresh nutrition and scores.
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The calculation evaluates nutrients, calorie density, processing level, and how well the food supports your selected health goal. Protein, fiber, vitamins, minerals and other beneficial nutrients can strengthen the score. High amounts of sodium, saturated fat, added sugar and other nutrients may lower it.
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