Raw Collard Greens Salad

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This simple raw collard green salad is made with olive oil, apple cider vinegar, sun-dried tomatoes, onion and garlic. It comes together quickly and is the perfect side salad for fall and winter.

I know what you’re thinking. Raw collards… in a salad? Not so sure about that.

I honestly felt the same way when I found this recipe, but then I remembered how much I like to use raw collard greens as wraps (like with my hummus collard wraps) and thought I’d give it a try. So glad I did, because it actually turned out great! Just like with marinated kale salads, the oil wilts the greens and makes them more palatable – perfect as a base for a salad.

Collard greens are a classic southern staple that are typically cooked with some type of meat like smoked turkey, bacon or pork. And it’s funny because even though this collard greens salad is raw and vegan the sun-dried tomatoes look like “bacon” bits so it still has the look of regular ol’ soul food.

A serving bowl containing raw collard greens salad with salad servers.

Collard Greens 101

Collard greens are a type of leafy green vegetable in the cruciferous family along with kale, arugula, swiss chard, broccoli, cabbage and brussels sprouts. Collards have large, dark green leaves that are smooth with light-colored veins. They have a neutral taste with some slight bitterness, similar to kale and spinach.

Like all leafy greens, collards are packed with nutrition! They’re an excellent source of vitamins A, C, and K, as well as manganese and fiber. They also contain small amounts of calcium, iron and folate. These dark leafy greens are also a good source of antioxidants, which can help protect against cell damage and certain diseases.

Ingredients measured out to make Raw Collard Greens Salad: red pepper flakes, pepper, onion, olive oil, collard greens, sun-dried tomatoes, apple cider vinegar, salt and garlic.

Ingredients Needed

  • collard greens – the star of the show! Look for collards that have dark green leaves that aren’t wilted. Avoid collard greens that have yellow or brown leaves, as these are signs that the greens are not fresh. It is also important to check the stems of the collard greens to make sure they are not mushy.
  • olive oil – we’re massaging the collards in olive oil, which helps to break down the cell structure of the collards so it becomes tender, less bitter, more palatable and easier to digest. I recommend using extra virgin olive oil for the best results, but regular olive oil or avocado oil are also good options.
  • apple cider vinegar – combined with the sun-dried tomatoes and onions to create a dressing/marinade. Feel free to use any vinegar you have on hand, but I love apple cider vinegar because it’s a light vinegar with a slightly sweet flavor. It is also lower in acidity than other types of vinegar, so it will not overwhelm the flavors of the other ingredients in the salad.
  • sun-dried tomatoes – adds some nice texture and a ton of flavor to this salad. The sun-dried tomatoes replace the bacon that can typically be found in collard greens salads.
  • onion – I prefer using red onion for this salad. They add a nice zesty flavor and a pop of color. That said feel free to use yellow onions if that’s all you have on hand.
  • garlic – raw garlic has a strong, pungent flavor that can really add a kick to a salad. It is also a natural antibiotic and can help boost your immune system.
  • red pepper flakes – just a pinch for some heat! Feel free to skip this if you’re not a spicy person.
  • sea salt & black pepper – brings together all the flavors of the salad.
Collage of 9 photos showing how to make a collard green salad: cutting the collard greens, massaging the greens with oil and salt and then topping with a sun-dried tomato dressing.

How to Make

Start by de-stemming and chopping the collard greens. Place the chopped collard greens into a large bowl and pour olive oil with a sprinkle of salt. Massage the oil and salt into the greens with your hands until well coated.

Whisk together apple cider vinegar, sun-dried tomatoes, onions, garlic, red pepper flakes and ground pepper. You can also add the ingredients to a jar and blend by shaking. Pour the dressing over the collard greens and let marinate in the refrigerator for at least 3-4 hours, but overnight is best.

Serve when ready with your favorite meal, or as is.

A plate of raw collard greens salad.

Hot to Cut Collard Greens

The easiest way to cut collard greens is to first de-stem them by folding the leaves in half lengthwise along the stem with the darker green side down. Pull up the stem until it comes off and you’re left mostly with leaves. An easy way to chop them is to stack a few leaves, roll them up into a cigar shape, and cut through the collard cylinder, making strips. Easy peasy!

A serving bowl containing raw collard greens salad.

What to Serve With Collard Greens Salad

This salad is so great because of how versatile it is. You can either add more ingredients to it for a hearty salad, eat it as is for something light and refreshing or enjoy it as a side salad with your favorite meal.

A serving bowl containing raw collard greens salad.

How to Store Leftovers

Store any leftovers in an airtight sealed container for up to 5 days in the refrigerator. The longer it sits the more flavorful it will become as the flavors all meld together.

More Collard Greens Recipes

More Simple Salad Recipes

Be sure to check out all of the salad recipes on EBF!

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4.74 from 30 votes

Raw Collard Greens Salad

This simple raw collard green salad is made with olive oil, apple cider vinegar, sun-dried tomatoes, onion and garlic. It comes together quickly and is the perfect side salad for fall and winter.
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Rest Time: 4 hours
Total Time: 4 hours 15 minutes
Servings: 4

Ingredients  

  • 1 large bunch collard greens, washed
  • cup olive oil
  • ¼ teaspoon sea salt
  • ¼ cup apple cider vinegar
  • 6-8 sun-dried tomatoes, chopped
  • cup red onion, chopped
  • 2-3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper

Instructions 

  • De-stem and chop the collard greens. An easy way to de-stem collard greens is by folding them in half lengthwise along the stem with the darker green side down and then pull up the stem until it comes off and you’re left mostly with leaf. An easy way to chop the collards is to stack a few leaves, roll them up into a cigar shape and cut the through the collard cylinder, making strips.
    Collard greens rolled into a cigar shape for easy chopping.
  • Place strips in a large bowl. Pour olive oil on collard strips and sprinkle on salt. Massage the oil and salt into the strips with your hands until all pieces are well coated.
    Hands massaging oil into chopped collard greens.
  • Whisk together apple cider vinegar, sun-dried tomatoes, onions, garlic, red pepper flakes and ground pepper.
    Dressing mixed together in a bowl with a whisk.
  • Pour apple cider vinegar dressing over the collard green strips. Let marinate in the refrigerator for at least 3-4 hours, but overnight is best.
    Dressing added to bowl with massaged collard greens.

Notes

  • Adapted from The Daily Raw Cafe

Nutrition

Serving: 1/4 of recipe | Calories: 145kcal | Carbohydrates: 16g | Protein: 7g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Sodium: 207mg | Potassium: 402mg | Fiber: 9g | Sugar: 3g

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Additional Info

Course: Salad
Cuisine: American
Keyword: raw collard greens salad
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About Brittany

Hey there, I’m Brittany, the creator of Eating Bird Food, cookbook author, health coach and mama of two littles. Here you’ll find quick and easy recipes that make healthy fun and enjoyable for you and your family!

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Recipe Rating




37 Comments

  1. Well if it’s anything like kale… you KNOW I’d love this 😉 And the sun dried tomatoes sound delicious in there!! (Who needs bacon?! haha)

    Have a GREAT thanksgiving!!!

  2. Definitely giving this a try! After moving to Alabama for my dietetic internship in August I have been buying GIANT bunches of collard greens for cheap and eating them in salads. This will be a nice change. Thanks for the recipe!

  3. Thanks. now i know how to eat them raw. Actually wasn’t sure i COULD eat them raw……I will substitute lemon juice for the vinegar but the recipe is great!

  4. 5 stars
    I will give this a try soon – can hardly wait! Thanks for the tip re don’t bring on place. I will apply that to work and not bring it there, either.

  5. I made this for my family for Christmas dinner, and they surprisingly loved it! I think they were scared of raw collards before this. Thanks for a great recipe.

  6. I just stumbled across this recipe and made it yesterday. It is ridiculously delicious! I was a little heavy-handed with the chili pepper flakes, which made it very spicy, but I like it that way. Thanks for the recipe!

  7. 5 stars
    As an Alabamian with a family that grew up on stewed collards, this raw recipe is surprisingly similar to the cooked dish. Flavor-wise, it’s nearly identical, even without the smoked pork product. I will most certainly be eating this again.

  8. 5 stars
    Vowed to never massage greens. Boy am I glad I did. This is my new favorite recipe for collards or any other green.

    1. Yay! So glad this recipe was a hit, Pat! Thanks for coming back to leave a review. I really appreciate it.

  9. 5 stars
    I adore your garlicky kale salad- used to make huge batches of it for church and it got eaten quick. So when I put in massaged collards and saw your EBF, I was HOOKED. Didn’t have any ACV but did have rice wine vinegar. Didn’t have hours for it to marinate. It was EXCEPTIONAL! Happy to start the CSA season off right, less afraid of one more vegetable. Thank you Brittany!

    1. Aw yay! I’m so glad this recipe was a success, Sarah. Thanks so much for trying it and coming back to leave a review. It means the world to me!

    1. Aw yay! I love hearing this! I’m so glad this recipe has been a hit, Alma! Thanks for the review and star rating. i really appreciate it!

  10. So delicious! I used the three cloves garlic, only 1/4 tsp crushed red pepper, no black pepper and Bragg’s Organic apple cider vinegar! Marinated over night. Out of this world delicious. I immediately added this recipe to my recipe book!! So glad to know I can use collards as a salad!! Wow!!thank you!!

    1. Ah yay! So happy to this collard greens salad was a success, Bonnie. Thanks so much for making it and coming back to leave a review. It means the world to me!

    1. YAY! I am excited to hear that you are loving this recipe, Tracy. Serving it with brown rice is such a great idea. Thank you for sharing your review + star rating, I so appreciate it.

  11. 5 stars
    The salad was delightful. I added feta cheese and cucumber as well.
    It also makes for a pretty presentation, I wish I was able to upload a picture.

    1. Yum! Those additions sounds delicious, Robbie. I am excited to hear that you are enjoying this salad. Thank you for coming back and sharing your review + star rating, I appreciate it!

  12. I can’t wait to try this recipe! Thank you so much for sharing. For the sundried tomatoes, are you using the ones packed in oil?

  13. Am I reading this right in that you use less olive oil (1/8 cup) than vinegar (1/4 cup)? It’s usually the other way around so I wanted to check