Kale Carrot Almond Sesame Bowl (Printable)
Crunchy shaved kale and carrot bowl with toasted almonds and creamy sesame tahini dressing.
# What You’ll Need:
→ Vegetables
01 - 1 large bunch kale, stems removed, leaves thinly sliced (about 6 cups)
02 - 2 large carrots, peeled and shaved into ribbons
03 - 1 small red bell pepper, thinly sliced
04 - 2 scallions, thinly sliced
→ Nuts and Seeds
05 - 1/2 cup raw almonds, roughly chopped
06 - 2 tablespoons sesame seeds
→ Sesame Dressing
07 - 3 tablespoons tahini (sesame paste)
08 - 2 tablespoons toasted sesame oil
09 - 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
10 - 1 tablespoon soy sauce (use tamari for gluten-free)
11 - 1 tablespoon honey or maple syrup
12 - 2 tablespoons water
13 - 1 clove garlic, finely minced
14 - 1 teaspoon freshly grated ginger
15 - Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
→ Garnishes
16 - 1 tablespoon chopped fresh cilantro (optional)
17 - 1 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds (optional)
# How-To Steps:
01 - In a dry skillet over medium heat, toast the chopped almonds and 2 tablespoons sesame seeds, stirring frequently, until golden and fragrant, about 3 to 4 minutes. Remove from heat and set aside to cool.
02 - Place the shaved kale in a large salad bowl. Add a pinch of salt and massage the leaves with your hands for 1 to 2 minutes until slightly softened. Add the carrot ribbons, bell pepper slices, and scallions to the bowl.
03 - In a small bowl, whisk together the tahini, toasted sesame oil, rice vinegar, soy sauce, honey (or maple syrup), water, garlic, ginger, and black pepper until smooth and creamy. Adjust consistency with additional water if needed.
04 - Pour the dressing over the prepared vegetables and toss thoroughly to coat evenly. Add the toasted almonds and sesame seeds, tossing again to combine.
05 - Sprinkle with chopped fresh cilantro and extra toasted sesame seeds if desired. Serve immediately.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- The sesame dressing is the kind of thing you will want to put on everything from roasted vegetables to plain rice.
- Massaging the kale sounds fussy but it transforms tough leaves into something tender and almost buttery.
02 -
- Do not skip the massaging step because untreated raw kale will fight back and ruin the whole eating experience.
- Toasted nuts go from perfect to burnt in seconds, so stand by the stove and do not walk away even for a moment.
03 -
- If your tahini is stiff and hard to stir, microwave it for fifteen seconds to loosen it before measuring.
- Use a vegetable peeler to shave the carrots instead of a julienne tool because the wide ribbons hold the dressing better and look gorgeous on the plate.