

Light, lemony, packed with protein and nutritious kale, this is a main-dish salad that satisfies for dinner or lunch the next day, if there are any leftovers.
I first put this on the blog in 2012, when there were kale salads everywhere we turned. It was as if the world discovered kale that year. Hey wait, was kale the Time Magazine cover subject that year? Nah, but it probably should have been.
Over the years, I have grown lots of varieties on kale in my Southern California back yard vegetable garden. Back in 2012 it was Redbor; this year it is dinosaur kale (aka lacinato, or Cavolo Nero, or black, or Tuscan. So many names for such a delicious, tender variety.).
And so I’ve been perfecting this beguiling salad each year — a few changes here and there each time, until Lemony Garbanzo Kale Salad with Tuna is the best it can be!
As a main dish salad packed with protein and green goodness, it takes a star turn at dinner. Leftovers make an encore for lunch the next day, for whoever gets up early enough to snag them for the lunch tote.
My daughter, who I have nicknamed Krazy for Kale, is addicted to this. “Mom, always, ALWAYS have this in the refrigerator,” she intoned one night as she was packing her lunch with it for the next day.
Of all the addictions in the world, to have your teenager besotted with kale salad ranks right up there as most coveted. EVER!
How to make Lemony Garbanzo Kale Salad with Tuna
Of course, it’s easy. You put it all in a big bowl and toss!
1. Assemble your ingredients. For this salad, a very high quality tuna is in order. I have made it with canned tuna (the kind that is almost mush when you open the can) and while it is OK, it is not ideal. These days I prefer tuna fillets that have been packed into jars. And we’re using the oil for dressing, so choose a variety packed in olive oil.
2. Put the drained garbanzos (I used a canned, low-sodium version, but suit yourself) and tuna with oil right into the bowl.
3. Toss in all the other ingredients.
4. You don’t have to grow your own kale for this recipe, but I’m here to tell you kale can be easy to grow! Above is Tuscan kale from my veggie garden this year. Ignore the weeds…they don’t take up too much space! Below the recipe you can see a picture of a prior year, when I grew Redbor kale in the front parkway. I’m proud of my green thumb, and encourage you all to grow kale, as well. But use whatever kale variety you have in your garden, or from the market. It’s all good.
Light, lemony, packed with protein and nutritious kale, this is a main-dish salad that satisfies for dinner or lunch the next day, if you have leftovers.
Ingredients
- 1 (15- or 16-ounce) can garbanzo beans, rinsed and drained
- 1 (6-ounce) jar tuna in olive oil (I used Tonnino Tuna Fillets with Garlic in Olive Oil; you will use the oil, so don't drain it)
- 3 tablespoons red onion, sliced paper thin and chopped
- 3-7 large leaves kale (I used dinosaur kale here, but have also used Redbor kale; stem removed and leaves cut in a chiffonade)
- 1 large garlic clove, pressed
- 1 lemon (you will use 1 teaspoon zest and 2 tablespoons juice from it)
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2-3 tablespoons fresh basil cut in a chiffonade
- 2-3 tablespoons fresh mint cut in a chiffonade
- Freshly ground pepper
- A pinch of EACH of the following:
- --Ground ginger
- --Dry mustard
- --Dried oregano
- --Dried thyme
- --Kosher salt (taste salad before adding)
Directions
- In a large bowl, add garbanzos, tuna with its oil (the oil will be part of the dressing), onion, kale, garlic, 1 teaspoon lemon zest, 2 tablespoons lemon juice, olive oil, basil, mint, pepper and all dried spices. Stir and toss to mix well. Taste and add salt if needed. (The tuna and garbanzos will likely have salt in them, so taste before adding more.)
- Allow to rest for at least half an hour before serving (better for 1-2 hours, so herbs can marry).
- If you wish to serve immediately, you can massage the oil and lemon juice into the cut kale leaves for a minute or so to soften them (if they are tough), then add all the rest of the ingredients and stir to combine. You can soften the kale either by hand massaging it (for instant consumption), or by letting time do the trick.
- Serves 2-3 (lunch or main dish for dinner).
Notes
Timing: This salad holds up very well in the refrigerator for several days. In fact, I recommend making it at least 2-4 hours before you want to eat it, so all the flavors mix and mingle!
Variations: Try making a wrap out of it the next day for lunch. Wrap in tortilla or soft lavash.
Pin the image below to save this recipe to your Pinterest board.
Just for fun, here are some images from the original recipe post July 15, 2012
And here’s my Redbor kale growing in my front parkway. They eventually looked like small trees! How pretty is that purple?
What do you put in YOUR kale salad? Tell me in the comments below.
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This was originally published on ShockinglyDelicious.com July 15, 2012 and has been refreshed, updated, and republished today.
Disclosure: Tuna was sent for recipe creation by Cedar Bay Grilling Company/Tonnino Tuna. You can follow them on Facebook and Instagram if you like! And pick up the tuna at Whole Foods, or other fine stores.
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Oooh this looks so so delicious!!I cannot wait to have it for my lunch :)Thanks for sharing!
I love all the additions to kale (except the tuna since I really don´t like fish), and want to try this! Perfect meal for summer!
This sounds like a great combo and I love the idea of it in a wrap too!! Great #SundaySupper addition!
Kale and tuna sounds so good together!
I’ve been waiting for this recipe ever since you posted a teaser pic on Facebook! Had raw kale salad for the first time this year and am excited to try your recipe!
Amy,
I have a handful of other kale salads on my site as well. You will like those, too!
What an awesome salad! It incorporates such awesome flavors!
I need to borrow your green thumb! Our tomatoes & vegetables aren’t too happy this year. I really need to dive into the kale craze. Thanks for the inspiration!
Oh, as far as I’m concerned – every year can be the year of kale. It’s one of my favorite things. And this salad sounds AMAZING! I love everything you’ve put in it…I must try it!
Looks delicious! I’d love a bit and now I’m craving some kale. Great recipe for beating the heat!
How great is it that your daughter loves kale? This sounds like the perfect salad and I actually have some Meyer Lemon EVOO in the pantry right now. I’ll definitely be trying this one!
Holy guacamole this salad has all my favorite things in it! Perfect! Thank you so much for sharing!
xoxo,
Cheri
Oh I love tuna and garbanzo beans. Kale just makes it perfect! What a fantastic recipe! 🙂
This flavor combination sounds so good! I would love to try!
I was waiting for this recipe Dorothy! I’ve never had the kale raw but I can’t wait to try it! Thanks for sharing this one!
Patti,
Raw kale is fantastic, if you treat it right. I have several other raw kale salads on the site you might also like!
Fantastic salad! I love everything about it. Love kale, tuna, and garbanzo beans. Yummy!
This is the kind of recipe that I love! I can’t wait to try it! Thank you so much for sharing it during #SundaySupper!
Love Kale and this a great way to use it. Combined with the garbanzo this salad is bursting with nutrients & fiber! Love it ! Will definately make this one 🙂
I am in love with this salad! Thank you so much for participating in this week’s #SundaySupper!
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