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This is the tale of the teenager who became besotted with Trader Joe’s prepared, packaged Kale and Edamame Bistro Salad, and the mom who was going broke buying them for her, at $4 a pop.
It’s a simple story, involving a grown woman fully aware that of all the addictions in the world, a love of kale salad was, shall we admit, the best possible one to have. Ever.
In fact, rather than calling it an addiction, the mom might better term it a good eating habit, and leave it at that.
But the wallet doesn’t lie, and $12 a week in packaged kale salads was just not, uh, cutting it (pause for a polite laugh).
Not to mention the plastics involved in the individual packaging, and the special trip to TJ’s, etc. And the fact that the teenager, who knows what she likes, doesn’t really like the lemon dressing that comes packaged with the salad, so discards it like so much useless detritus.
So the mom, a kale lover herself and handy with a knife, set out to not only duplicate the TJ’s salad, but while she was at it, better it. She chiffonaded Tuscan kale, not only because she likes saying the word chiffonade, but because it helps to tenderize kale to cut the pieces smaller. She chiffonaded (again!) fresh mint and basil to give the salad a fragrance and a lift, she tossed in Craisins for a sweet touch, carrot shreds for color, and garbanzos and edamame for protein and texture. And she dressed it simply, in lemon juice and olive oil, with a pinch o’ this and that to bring it all together.
Voila, my darling teenager. Your better, cheaper, prettier, more ecologically sound salad awaits!
Recipe: Kale, Cranberry, Chickpea, Edamame Salad (aka Better than Trader Joe’s Kale Salad)
Summary: Refreshing raw kale salad sweetened with cranberries, enlivened with basil and mint, and nutritionally amped up with edamame and chickpeas, for a super side or entree salad. This version is even better than the Trader Joe’s Kale and Edamame Bistro Salad!
Ingredients
Dressing
- 3 tablespoons Meyer lemon juice
- 4 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 garlic clove, finely minced or crushed
- 3/4 teaspoon dried Italian herb blend
- 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
Salad
- 4 cups finely chopped Tuscan kale, ribs removed (this is about 4 ounces of kale)
- 1 (15-ounce) can chickpeas, rinsed and drained
- 2/3 cup dried cranberries (such as Craisins) soaked in boiling water to hydrate
- 1 cup edamame beans, cooked and cooled
- Mint
- Basil
- A few carrot shreds (if you have them, for color)
- Garnish: Cherry Tomatoes
Instructions
- Add all dressing ingredients to a large salad bowl and whisk until combined.
- Into the bowl throw the kale (which you have cut into a chiffonade size), chickpeas, cranberries and edamame. Mince a handful of mint and a handful of basil leaves and toss them in, along with some carrot shreds, if available.
- Toss salad well to combine, and garnish with cherry tomatoes.
- Serves 6 as a side salad, or 2-3 as a main dish for kooky kale-lovers.
Quick notes
Nuts: The TJ’s salad has slivered almonds in it, as well. I didn’t put any in because this salad holds up well in the refrigerator as leftovers (dressed), and I didn’t want the nuts to become soggy. If you like them, feel free to sprinkle it with slivered almonds at serving time. If you don’t like them, don’t. See? These decisions are simple!
Preparation time: 15 minutes (chopping)
Cooking time: 5 minutes (to hydrate the cranberries)
Diet type: Vegetarian
Number of servings (yield): 6 as a side salad, 2-3 as a main dish salad
Culinary tradition: USA (General)
My rating
Here’s what it looks like when a reader made it
Katherine Wang made this, and said her family really liked it. “Used hazelnut instead of almonds due to food allergies. Easy to make. Will make again!”
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I found this recipe from FitSugar. Needless to say I made this salad immediately and it is delicious. I’m excited to see how it tastes tomorrow after it’s been marinating in the lemon dressing.
Amanda,
So glad! I love this one!
I found your recipe because I picked one of TJ’s salads up for lunch on my way into work today. It sounded delicious. Looked healthy enough. But as I was shaking it to spread the dressing around, I saw it’s actually 500 calories when you add the dressing and 300 (!!!) of those are from fat. So you can imagine how excited I was when I saw that you use a vinaigrette to dress your version. I can’t wait to try your the recipe!
Yep, this is lunch today. I don’t have any endamame but I do have everything else. What a great story. I wish someone hadn’t told me that kale was a super food; now I get to feel noble about loving it!
I made this and added fresh blueberries, chopped red onion, sunflower seeds, sliced almonds, and sliced cashews
Tanye,
Your additions sound great!
I just made this tonight and it was delicious.
I added some finely diced red onion and also sprinkled feta cheese on top.
Great salad.
Jeanette,
Love your additions! Glad you enjoyed it!
this salad has me giddy! I adore the crap outta kale and made into a salad = good. always good. 🙂
thank you for sharing with Fresh Foods Wednesday – hope to see you back next week!
p.s. if you don’t mind linking back to us in your post, that would be wonderful darling…xo!
Thank you couldn’t remember ingredients of original and this post was so helpful. Just made this – added TJ’s shaved dry toasted almonds and a very small amount of minced shallots which really took it up a notch. Never would have thought of the mint on my own. Thanks much.
Made this twice and it’s just amazing! Hubby even devours it and asked to make it again. Thanks for sharing!
Ashlea,
Twice, huh? That sounds like me!
Made this for dinner – did not have almonds but tossed in some pignoli nuts for crunch. Loved it – thanks!!
Lisa,
I’m a big fan of toasted pine nuts! Great idea.
Great story, great recipe, great photo. Bravo to you! I like your flexibility–carrot shreds if you have them, slivered almonds if you want. If I don’t care about duplicating Trader Joe’s, do you think it would still be good with romaine added (since it’s cheaper than kale)?
Faye,
I absolutely think you can sub crisp romaine if you have it! Go for it.
Sounds delicious., Love the combination of flavors!
Love the story behind this (totally) better than Trader Joe’s salad 🙂
Thank you, Priscilla!
Kale-i-cious!
I just saw this on RecipeNewZ. Wonderful salad. I love Trader Joe’s, and if you say it’s even better, then it’s a must try :-). Thanks for sharing!
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