Kale Fingerling Potato Salad

5 from 4 votes

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For the feature ingredient in this salad, I include a sheet pan of roasted potatoes. Rather than relegating these spuds to a side dish, toss them with hearty greens in a big kale fingerling potato salad with creamy, vegan lemon tahini dressing.

Roasted fingerling potato and kale salad in a bowl.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

It’s another way to eat roasted potatoes. I know I can’t be the only one who would put roasted potatoes on their list of favorite comfort foods and eat them right off the pan. By adding them to a salad, you can elevate them into a main dish and turn them into a meal.

The dressing involves tahini. Usually a vinegar and oil person, lately when I make salad dressing I’ve been adding tahini. This is a great way to make a healthy version of a creamy dressing.

The salad is a different take on traditional potato salads. Instead of potatoes for the base, greens are the starting point of this salad. That doesn’t mean it’s short on potatoes. Think of it more like an equal balance of potatoes and greens.

What Are Fingerling Potatoes?

With varieties such as Russian Banana, Rose Finn Apple, French Fingerling, Purple Peruvian and Swedish Peanut, these potatoes come in different colors from yellow to red to purple. What they do have in common is that they are small compared to russet potatoes.

The skin on fingerling potatoes is thin, so there’s no need to peel them before you roast them. You can eat them with their skins. They are easy to find at farmer’s markets and the grocery.

The Ingredients

Ingredients including potatoes, kale, onions, herbs, olive oil, tahini, sesame seeds and onions.

This is what you need:

  • Potatoes: It is up to you how many different kinds of fingerling potatoes you roast for the salad. They are often sold in bags that are a mix. Look for fresh potatoes that do not have any sprouts.
  • Kale: You can use lacinato kale (also known as dino kale) or curly green kale. Since the potatoes are heavier, do not substitute with delicate salad greens like arugula or baby spinach because the leaves will get crushed.
  • Red onions add a sharp accent to the salad. It’s important to finely dice them, so they blend in with the rest of the ingredients. You can substitute with sliced scallions.
  • Parsley and chives: Do not skip adding fresh herbs to the salad. Chives are wonderful with potatoes, and parsley gives the salad even more herby flavor.
  • Sesame seeds are nutty with subtle crunch for texture.
  • Tahini: Made from sesame seed paste, tahini is what gives the dressing that creamy consistency.
  • Lemon juice in the dressing is bright and citrusy, which lifts the roasted flavors of the potatoes and the strong earthy taste of the kale.
  • Olive oil: Use extra virgin olive oil to roast the potatoes and in the dressing.
  • Salt & pepper season the dressing and the potatoes before they roast.

How To Make This Kale Fingerling Potato Salad

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.

1. Toss the potatoes with olive oil, salt and pepper on a baking sheet. Spread out the potatoes, putting them cut side down. Roast the potatoes until they are golden brown and crisp at the edges, about 40-45 minutes.

2. Assemble the salad. Combine the potatoes, kale, onions, chives, parsley and sesame seeds in a big bowl.

Fingerling potatoes on a sheet pan. Salad assembled in a bowl.

3. Make the dressing by whisking together the tahini, lemon juice, olive oil, salt and pepper in another bowl.

4. Drizzle the dressing into the salad. Toss everything to lightly dress the greens and potatoes. Once you plate the salad, you can spoon on more dressing as desired. If you want to massage the dressing into the leaves, do this with just the kale in the bowl and then add everything else.

Tahini dressing in a bowl. Dressing drizzled over salad and tossed together.

Serving

As mentioned, this kale potato salad is a good option for a main dish for lunch or for dinner. You can add a protein such as tofu or roasted chicken, depending if you want to keep the salad vegan.

Leftovers & Storing

This salad is best eaten right after the potatoes are roasted because they will be at their crispest on the outsides. If you do have leftovers, you can store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator up to 3 days. Keep the dressing in a separate jar.

Try not to toss the portion of the salad you are planning to save in the dressing. Kale is very sturdy compared to other lettuces, but it and the potatoes will become softer the longer you store the salad.

FAQs

Do you need to peel fingerling potatoes?

The skin on fingerling potatoes is very thin, and it is perfectly edible. You do not need to peel these potatoes before roasting them.

What is the best way to cook fingerling potatoes?

Roasting fingerling potatoes is the best way to cook them. You can slice them in half lengthwise or dice them. Then roast them in 400-degree F oven. Halved potatoes will take 40-45 minutes to roast, and diced potatoes will take 30-35 minutes.

How do you know when fingerling potatoes have finished roasting?

The potatoes will be golden brown and crisp on the outside and tender in the middle. You should be able to easily pierce them with a paring knife.

More Kale Salad Recipes

Kale Apple Salad
Sweet Potato Kale Salad
Brussels Sprout Kale Pear Salad
Kale Mandarin Orange Salad
Roasted Cauliflower Salad
Beet Orange Kale Salad
Fall Harvest Salad
Kale Quinoa Salad

More Roasted Potato Recipes

Smashed Roasted Potatoes
Roasted Asparagus Potato Salad
Rosemary Roasted Potatoes
Garlic Herb Roasted Fingerling Potatoes

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Roasted Fingerling Potato Kale Salad

5 from 4 votes
Prep: 15 minutes
Cook: 45 minutes
Total: 1 hour
Servings: 4
With lemon tahini dressing, sesame seeds and fresh herbs, this kale fingerling potato salad has way more greens than the traditional potato salad.

Ingredients 

For salad

  • 1 pound fingerling potatoes, halved lengthwise
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 bunch lacinato kale, ribs removed, leaves chopped
  • 1/3 cup finely diced red onions
  • 1 tablespoon minced chives
  • 1 tablespoon chopped parsley
  • 1 tablespoon sesame seeds

For dressing

  • 2 tablespoons tahini
  • Juice of 1 lemon
  • 1/4 cup olive oil
  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper

Instructions 

  • Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
  • On a sheet pan, toss the potatoes with 1 tablespoon olive oil, 1 teaspoon kosher salt and 1/2 teaspoon black pepper. Arrange them in a single later, cut side down.
  • Roast the potatoes until they are golden brown and the skin has wrinkled, about 40-45 minutes.
  • Combine the potatoes, kale, onions, chives, parsley and sesame seeds in a large bowl.
  • For the dressing, whisk together the tahini, lemon juice, olive oil, salt and pepper in a small bowl.
  • Drizzle the dressing into the salad, tossing to combine.

Notes

You can use either lacinato kale or curly green kale for the salad.
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge up to 3 days. Keep the dressing in a separate jar. The potatoes will lose their crisp edges. Try to not toss the entire salad in the dressing if you are planning to save some of it.

Nutrition

Calories: 328kcal | Carbohydrates: 28g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 23g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 14g | Sodium: 919mg | Potassium: 809mg | Fiber: 7g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 6874IU | Vitamin C: 95mg | Calcium: 227mg | Iron: 3mg

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

Additional Info

Course: Salad
Cuisine: Mediterranean
Did you make this recipe?Mention @lastingredient on Instagram and tag it #lastingredient!

Originally published March 25, 2019. Updated: December 19, 2022.


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Hi, I'm Paige.

Welcome to Last Ingredient where you will find simple seasonal recipes with plenty of fruits and vegetables, all for the home cook.

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1 Comment

  1. 5 stars
    So simple and so delicious! I added some garlic to the tahini dressing for some kick and it was *chefs kiss*! I love this yummy and uncomplicated recipe