Better Than Trader Joe’s Kale and Edamame Bistro Salad

by Dorothy Reinhold on May 17, 2012


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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.

Trader Joe's Kale & Edamame Bistro Salad | ShockinglyDelicious.comIn 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!Better Than Trader Joes's Kale and Edamame Bistro Salad | ShockinglyDelicious.com

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

  1. Add all dressing ingredients to a large salad bowl and whisk until combined.
  2. 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.
  3. Toss salad well to combine, and garnish with cherry tomatoes.
  4. 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 5 stars:  ★★★★★ 

Here’s what it looks like when a reader made it

Kale salad with tomatoes on top in a white bowl photo by Katherine WangKatherine 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!”

Tagged as: basil, cherry tomatoes, chickpeas, copycat, Craisins, cranberries, edamame, garbanzo beans, kale, kale salad, lemon juice, Meyer lemons, mint, olive oil, Trader Joe's, Tuscan kale

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