Why it's perfectly fine to put a lot of dressing on your kale salad
Kale tolerates a generous dressing well, because its leaves are more resistant than those of lettuce or spinach.
A watery salad is usually due to poorly dried leaves, too long a resting period after dressing, or an excess of dressing that softens the leaves and makes them lose their crisp texture.
Kale tolerates a generous amount of dressing well. The dressing improves its texture, softens the leaves, and makes them easier to chew, as well as enhancing their flavor. This means you don't have to worry as much about it wilting or dressing it in advance.
The acid breaks down the cellulose in the leaves, so simply mixing it and letting it sit will give you more tender pieces. Many recipes recommend massaging kale to soften it, but the acid allows you to achieve the same result without that step.
This way, the acidity reduces the need for massaging, saving time and energy. It can even be omitted entirely if the dressing is added in advance and allowed to sit. Furthermore, kale absorbs dressing well and can be prepared ahead of time without spoiling.
Not all varieties are equally hardy. Curly kale and Russian kale are the firmest and can tolerate quite a bit of dressing. Lacinato, or Tuscan kale, is more tender and tolerates somewhat less, so it shouldn't be over-dressed. Tender kale needs more care to avoid over-dressing or dressing it too soon.
With firmer varieties, there's no problem adding plenty of dressing: the cabbage will be softer and you'll avoid the extra time of massaging it. With these varieties, you can dress them without worrying about them becoming soggy.
