Meghan Markle’s Kale Salad Recipe Will Turn Anyone Into a Believer

Updated: Nov. 24, 2023

Fresh healthy salad with kale, almond, cranberry and quinoa; Shutterstock ID 488662984; Job (TFH, TOH, RD, BNB, CWM, CM): TOH

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Whether or not you're a fan of the royal family or not, you can't flip through a magazine today without seeing Meghan Markle. Before she was a royal, she was a food blogger who wrote about this kale salad!

I’m obsessed with all things Meghan Markle, but definitely not a fan of kale unless it’s hidden from me. Like when it’s ground up in the depths of a chocolate and peanut butter smoothie. When I found out that Meghan (I pretend we’re friends and on a first-name basis with each other) was a lifestyle blogger prior to earning her title as the Duchess of Sussex, I had to check it out and of course, make one of her recipes!

Meghan Markle’s Aegean-Inspired Kale Salad Recipe

Ingredients:

2 bunches of kale
2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil
1/2 lemon, juiced
1/2 shallot, chopped
1 teaspoon Greek thyme honey
1/2 teaspoon of sea salt
1/3 teaspoon of red pepper flakes
1/3 cup of sliced almonds
8-10 dried Turkish dates
2 1/2 oz Parmesan cheese, shaved or coarsely grated

Initial Thoughts

These are not ingredients that are typically found in my pantry or refrigerator, so I was worried that A) I would have trouble locating them in the ‘burbs and B) they would be costly. However, I found out a lot of the items that I didn’t already have would be easy to use in other recipes at home, so they were worth buying. Plus, a lot of these items were at my local Aldi for a fraction of the price of another store. (Read the 5 things you should know before shopping at Aldi.)

Preparing the Salad

Like I said, I’m not kale’s number one fan. I was unsure of how I would prepare it for this salad. Not to worry, though—it was super simple! After removing the kale stems, you cut the bunches into long ribbons. In a bowl, whisk the olive oil, lemon juice, shallots, honey, salt and pepper flakes to make your dressing. You mix the kale and chopped dates into the dressing. I’m allergic to almonds, so they didn’t make it into my salad, but if you’re not allergic, Meghan suggests toasting the almonds over medium heat in a dry pan until they’re golden. Once they’re toasted, add those and the Parmesan cheese and toss the whole thing together.

Convincing Your Taste Buds

I knew it was kale, but I was really excited about the dates and I had already dipped my finger in to taste the dressing, so I knew it would be good. I told myself over and over again that it was regular salad!

Love salads, but can’t get on board with kale? Here are some other recipes you can try and serve with any meal.

The Outcome

Kale is delicious! I’m pretty positive it isn’t going to be something I eat on its own (though this kale and bacon recipe is next on my list). But this is truly a delicious salad. The dressing alone is something I’d love to keep on hand at home for more salads, no matter what leafy green I decide to serve it with.

Kale lover or not, this is a great dish to try, especially when you want to feel more like the stunning Meghan Markle!

More Yummy Kale Recipes

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Carolina Shrimp SoupFresh shrimp from the Carolina coast is one of our favorite foods. We add kale, garlic, red peppers and black-eyed peas to complete this wholesome, filling soup. —Mary Marlowe Leverette, Columbia, South Carolina