• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Home
  • Recipes
    • Main Dish
    • Middle Eastern Recipes
    • Healthy Recipes
    • Desserts
    • Vegan
    • Vegetarian
    • Kid Friendly
    • Pasta Dishes
    • Appetizers
    • Air Fried
    • Beverages
    • Breakfast
    • Dips
    • International Recipes
    • Ramadan
    • Low Carb
    • Instant Pot Meals
    • Salads
    • Sandwiches
    • Gluten Free
    • Soups
    • Tips and Tricks
    • Spices
    • Side Dishes
    • Sauces
    • Fish
  • LIFESTYLE
    • Parenting
    • Travel
  • Shop
  • Work With Us
  • About Me

TasteGreatFoodie logo

menu icon
go to homepage
search icon
Homepage link
  • Home
  • Recipes
  • Parenting
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
  • Shop
  • Work With Us
  • Contact
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • ×

    Home » Salads

    December 13, 2022

    Houston’s Kale Salad Copycat Recipe 

    This post may contain affiliate links at no additional cost to you.
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    Jump to Recipe

    If you enjoy Houston’s Kale Salad, this copycat recipe will not disappoint. This salad is loaded with fresh herbs, has a homemade dressing, and is gluten-free and vegetarian-friendly, making it the ideal crowd-pleaser. It’s a fantastic base for steak, rotisserie chicken, shrimp, or beans.


    Crunchy Emerald Kale Salad

    a bowl of kale salad loaded with kale and fresh veggies and topped with some tortilla
    Enjoy this kale salad recipe for lunch or as a side with any meal.

    If you’ve never been to Houston’s, let me tell you, “You’re missing out.” Houston’s is one of my favorite restaurants, known for their house-made burgers and delectable salads. Houston’s, like most good things in life, isn’t cheap, and their Emerald Kale Salad is no exception.

    This is one of the reasons I decided to make my own version of Houston’s that I could do in the comfort of my own home. And, guess what? It tasted just like the real deal!


    Houston’s Kale Salad  

    Kale is one of the most nutrient-dense foods on the planet, with so many benefits that we should incorporate it into our diet on a regular basis.

    This salad combines crunchy kale, herbaceous aromatics, salty parmesan cheese, and a tangy homemade dressing to create a flavor explosion. I promise you won’t regret making this salad.

    The salad’s other healthy ingredients complement the almost Asian-inspired salad dressing in an unexpected way.

    The flavors blend so well that it’s difficult to pinpoint specific ingredients. This kale salad is ideal as an entrée salad, but it also goes well with grilled or smoked meats.

    And if you happen to be a kale lover, like me, you must try my other kale salad recipes: Fantastic Kale Dijon Salad, Kale Salad with Caramelized Onions, and Citrus Vinaigrette Strawberry Mango Kale Salad.


    Feel Good Kale Salad

    A bowl of Houston's Kale Salad Copycat Recipe packed with vitamins
    Packed with vitamins but more importantly, packed with flavor, this will make you a kale lover!

    Why You Should Add Kale to Your Diet

    Kale, is now more popular than ever. Though kale has been on dinner plates since Roman times, it has now become, this superfood is now more popular than ever.

    Kale, which contains even more nutrients than spinach, promotes healthy hair, skin, and bones while also lowering the risk of diabetes, cancer, high blood pressure, and asthma.


    Do You Need to Massage Kale?

    The reason why massaging kale is so important is simple: When compared to other greens such as romaine lettuce or spinach, kale is quite tough and fibrous, making it difficult to chew.

    It becomes more tender by massaging it for as little as 2–3 minutes with a little oil and/or lemon juice, making it easier to chew and digest.

    Other reasons are to reduce the vegetable’s bitterness and to infuse more flavor into the kale before adding the dressing.


    Fresh, Delicious, and Packed with Flavor

    The crunch of the crunch of the raw kale leaves is divine! You’ll keep asking for more!

    Curly or Tuscan?

    In most of our kale salads, we use curly kale. It is more common and less expensive than tuscan kale. However, you can use whatever kale you want in your kale salad.

    In general, baby kale does not require massage because it is already tender enough.


    Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):

    Is it better to eat kale raw or cooked?

    Kale, like all vegetables, loses nutrients when cooked, so it is best eaten raw.

    Which is better, spinach or kale?

    Kale and spinach are both nutrient-dense vegetables with numerous health benefits. It’s impossible to choose between the two because some nutrients are more abundant in spinach while others are more abundant in kale.
    Enjoy the different flavors and textures of spinach and kale in your diet.

    Is it good to eat kale every day?

    Though kale is one of the most nutrient dense foods on the planet, and is amazing resource of essential vitamins, it’s not recommended to eat it every day.  So, instead of eating kale every day, mix it up with other greens to ensure you’re getting a more rounded selection of nutrients.


    Simply Divine

    Full of fresh ingredients with lots of flavor and crunch, this kale salad will become your favorite.
    Full of fresh ingredients with lots of flavor and crunch, this healthy meal will become your favorite.

    Top Tips

    • Before drizzling the dressing over your salad, taste it. Adjust as desired; if you prefer a sweeter dressing, add another tablespoon of honey. Add another tablespoon of rice vinegar if you prefer a more acidic dressing.
    • It’s better to massage the kale before adding it to the salad. Massaging it makes it tender and reduces its bitterness.
    • Store leftover dressing in a small jar in the fridge for up to two weeks.
    • You can add some fresh mint, green cabbage, and green onions to your salad if you like. You can also add some chopped peanuts for a more crunchy taste.
    • Use fresh kale to make this salad. Make sure the leaves are not wilted and have a bright green color.

    Houston’s Kale Salad Ingredients

    Dressing

    • olive oil
    • rice vinegar
    • lemon juice
    • honey
    • black pepper
    • mustard powder
    • Worcestershire sauce
    • soy sauce
    • garlic powder

    Salad

    • curly kale, removed off of the stem
    • romaine lettuce, chopped
    • shaved carrots
    • cilantro leaves, off the stem
    • fresh grated parmesan cheese, for garnish (optional)
    • Tortilla strips, for garnish

    Steps to Prep Houston’s Kale Salad

    First, in a jar, add all of the dressing ingredients and shake or mix very well using a spoon. You can choose to blend all the ingredients in a blender.

    Next, wash and remove the kale from the stems. Roughly chop them, or using your hands, you can twist and cut them that way. Then massage the kale using your hands and palms by squeezing and rubbing it.

    After that, place in a large bowl, then add the chopped romaine lettuce, shaved carrots, and cilantro.

    Finally, pour the dressing over the salad greens and mix. I love the dressing to soak into the salad for about 10 minutes so flavors infuse and kale softens.

    When ready to enjoy, top with parmesan cheese and tortilla strips.


    Pin It!

    Houston's Kale Salad Copycat Recipe  made with fresh ingredients that will soon become your favorite
    This kale salad will not disappoint!

    More Salads You Must Try:

    • Kale Salad with Caramelized Onions
    • Fantastic Kale Dijon Salad
    • Citrus Vinaigrette Strawberry Mango Kale Salad
    • Egg Salad with Mustard Dressing
    • Roasted Eggplant with Burrata Salad Recipe
    • Greek Salad with Marinated and Grilled Chicken Recipe
    • Refreshing Cucumber Salad
    • TikTok’s Viral Green Goddess Salad
    • BEST Fattoush Salad with Dressing
    • Lebanese Tabouli Salad Recipe (Tabbouleh)

    kale salad houstons copycat salad

    Houston’s Copycat Kale Salad

    Lama
    If you enjoy Houston's Kale salad, this Copycat recipe will not disappoint. This salad is loaded with fresh herbs, has a homemade dressing, and is gluten-free and vegetarian-friendly, making it the ideal crowd-pleaser!
    No ratings yet
    Print Recipe Comment Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 20 mins
    Course Salad
    Cuisine American

    Ingredients
      

    Dressing

    • ¾ cup olive oil
    • ¼ cup rice vinegar
    • 2 tablespoons lemon juice
    • 1 tablespoon honey
    • 2 teaspoons black pepper
    • 1 tablespoon mustard powder
    • 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
    • 2 tablespoons soy sauce
    • 2 teaspoons garlic powder

    Salad

    • 5-6 stems curly kale (remove the stem)
    • 1½ cups romaine lettuce chopped
    • ½ cup shaved carrots
    • ½ cup cilantro leaves off the stem
    • ¼ cup fresh grated parmesan cheese for garnish (optional)
    • Tortilla chips for garnish

    Instructions
     

    • In a jar add all of the dressing ingredients and shake or mix very well using a spoon. You can choose to blend all the ingredients in a blender.
    • Wash and remove the kale off the stems. Roughly chop or using your hangs you can twist and cut them that way. Then massage the kale using hands and palm by squeezing and rubbing them.
    • Place in a large bowl the add the chopped romaine lettuce, shaved carrots, and cilantro.
    • Pour the dressing over the salad greens and mix. I love the dressing to soak into the salad for about 10 minutes so flavors infuse and kale softens.
    • When ready to enjoy top with parmesan cheese and tortilla strips.

    Notes

    Helpful Tips:
    • Before drizzling the dressing over your salad, taste it. Adjust as desired; if you prefer a sweeter dressing, add another tablespoon of honey. Add another tablespoon of rice vinegar if you prefer a more acidic dressing.
    • It’s better to massage the kale before adding it to the salad. Massaging it makes it tender and reduces its bitterness.
    • Store leftover dressing in a small jar in the fridge for up to two weeks.
    • You can add some fresh mint, green cabbage, and green onions to your salad if you like. You can also add some chopped peanuts for a more crunchy taste.
    • Use fresh kale to make this salad. Make sure the leaves are not wilted and have a bright green color.
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
    close

    LET'S STAY IN TOUCH!

    SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER

    We don’t spam! Read our Privacy Policy for more info.

    Hey there! Be sure to check your inbox or spam folder to confirm your subscription so we can stay in touch!

    Reader Interactions

    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

    I'm Lama, welcome to my blog where you will find simple and diverse recipes your entire family will enjoy. My passion for cooking began after I got married when I challenged myself to prepare Thanksgiving dinner. With the help of my mom over the phone, I was so proud it turned out successful! Today, I share my passion across many social platforms like Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest! I am honored to connect with you through the recipes I prepare! about me!

    Recipes You Might Want To Try

    Ten Minute All-Purpose Dough

    Ten Minute All-Purpose Dough

    Gigi Hadid’s Viral Pasta Recipe (without the vodka)

    Footer

    Vegan Recipes

    fajita seasoning
    10 must try vegetarian dishes
    Traditional Vietnamese Spring Rolls
    easiest pasta dishes
    dairy free dessert recipes
    Footer Tastegreatfoodie recipe blog of diverse ed dishes from middle-eastern cuisines, vegan, desserts, hummus, dips, dough, dairy free, air fried, no bake and many more delicious recipes

    Copyright © 2023 TASTEGREATFOODIE

    • Email
    • Print
    • WhatsApp
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Pinterest
    • LinkedIn
    • Yummly

    Terms and Conditions - Privacy Policy