Deal with your self to this scrumptious Kale Salad with Cranberries! This tasty salad is loaded with sweet-tart cranberries, crunchy nuts, and essentially the most superb maple dressing … better of all, it is really easy to make!
This put up incorporates affiliate hyperlinks. As an Amazon Affiliate I earn from qualifying purchases.
It is laborious to consider, however we’ve got formally entered the vacation season, and I am fairly certain I’ve plans each week straight from now by the top of the 12 months!
On busy days like these, fast recipes like this scrumptious Kale Salad with Cranberries have turn into my go-to! This yummy salad could not be simpler to make, but it is full of a lot taste.
You’ll love this easy recipe. It includes a beneficiant serving to of tender kale, candy dried cranberries, and crunchy nuts. An incredible Maple French dressing ties all of the flavors collectively.
This delicious salad is particular sufficient for vacation meals, like Thanksgiving or Christmas, but it surely’s simple sufficient to throw collectively any night time of the week. You’ll be able to even make it forward of time for meal prep!
Able to dig in? You may discover all the main points under, so hold studying!
Components
This scrumptious recipe makes use of easy, simple to search out substances. Here is what you may want:
- Kale – Both dinosaur / lacinato or curly kale will work nice for this recipe. I’ve made it with each!
- Cranberries – Dried cranberries (craisins) add a contact of sweetness and an incredible texture.
- Nuts – I included walnuts right here, however pecans or different nuts / seeds will also be used.
- Olive Oil – You may therapeutic massage the kale with a bit olive oil and salt to tenderize the leaves.
- Dressing – A simple-to-make, home made Maple Vinaigrette pulls all of the flavors collectively.
This Kale Cranberry Salad is of course vegetarian, vegan, dairy free, and gluten free, which implies everybody at your desk can take pleasure in it!
You may Additionally Want
To arrange the recipe, you may want a small frying pan to toast the nuts, a small jar or bowl to make the dressing (a mason jar works nice for this), and a big bowl to assemble the salad.
How you can Make Kale Salad with Cranberries
This salad could not be simpler to make! You may discover a detailed recipe card under, however here is an summary of the steps:
- Make dressing. You may begin by getting ready the home made salad dressing. Mix a finely diced shallot with some apple cider vinegar in a jar (or small bowl), then set it apart to flippantly pickle the shallot. Simply earlier than mixing the salad, add the olive oil, maple syrup, salt, and pepper, then shake (or whisk) the whole lot collectively to mix.
- Toast nuts. As soon as you have began the dressing, toast the nuts in a dry skillet till flippantly browned. Be certain that to look at them intently so they do not burn. When the nuts are toasted, take away them from the skillet, then give them a tough chop.
- Put together kale. Subsequent, you may de-stem the kale. When you can take away the stems with a knife, it is simpler (and quicker) to understand the stem under the leaf, then shortly pull your hand up alongside the stem. As soon as you have completed this, discard the stems and chop the leaves into bite-sized items.
- Therapeutic massage kale. Switch the kale to a big bowl, then drizzle it with olive oil and sprinkle it with a bit salt. Stick your fingers into the bowl, then therapeutic massage the oil into the leaves for a couple of minutes. As you do, the kale ought to turn into tender and switch a darkish inexperienced coloration. Do not skip this step … it is the important thing to the recipe’s success!
- Add cranberries, nuts, and dressing. Don’t add all of the dressing without delay. I would suggest beginning with half.
- Combine salad. Use a pair of tongs, or a pair wooden spoons, to toss the whole lot collectively, including simply sufficient dressing to coat the salad (chances are you’ll not want all of it). Be certain that to style the salad earlier than serving and add further salt to style, if wanted.
Time to eat your beautiful Cranberry Kale Salad! Would not it look scrumptious? And belief me, it tastes even higher than it appears!
Variations
Though it is scrumptious as-is, this Kale and Cranberry Salad is definitely customizable! Listed below are some concepts to encourage you:
- Cheese – Add some crumbled feta or goat cheese.
- Nuts + Seeds – Substitute totally different nuts (equivalent to pecans, almonds, pistachios, and many others.) or seeds (pepitas can be delish) for the walnuts.
- Fruits – Stir in a chopped apple or pear, or some halved grapes.
- Veggies – Combine in recent or roasted vegetables. Shredded brussels sprouts or roasted candy potatoes would each be tasty.
- Grains – Flip this salad right into a heartier meal by including cooked quinoa or farro.
- Beans – Give the salad a lift of protein by stirring in a can of drained and rinsed chickpeas.
Serving Options
Serve this Kale Salad with Cranberries for a light-weight lunch or dinner (pair it with crusty bread, Beer Bread, or Garlic Bread) or serve it as a facet dish for nearly any meal. I particularly adore it for fall dinners, whether or not informal weeknights or particular events like Thanksgiving or Christmas.
It additionally goes nice with a bowl of soup! Attempt pairing it with this Celery Soup, 15 Bean Soup, Mushroom Barley Soup, or this homemade Vegetable Soup.
Storage
Retailer leftover salad in an hermetic container in your fridge. It’ll keep recent for about three days, making it good for meal prep and lazy dinners alike!
Associated Recipes
Searching for extra Kale Salad concepts? Attempt one in every of these yummy recipes subsequent:
If you happen to’re a cranberry lover, be certain that to take a look at all of my Cranberry Recipes, too!
Kale Salad with Cranberries
This simple Kale Cranberry Salad is really easy to make and tremendous scrumptious … the right addition to any meal!
Servings: 6 to eight individuals
Energy: 253kcal
Components
For Dressing:
- 1 small shallot, finely diced (about ¼ cup)
- 3 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- ¼ cup additional virgin olive oil
- 1 tablespoon maple syrup
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ⅛ teaspoon pepper
For Salad:
- ½ cup walnuts halves
- 2 giant bunches kale, de-stemmed and chopped (about 8 packed cups)
- 1 tablespoon additional virgin olive oil
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ cup dried cranberries
Directions
Put together Dressing:
-
Mix shallots and vinegar in a small jar (or bowl). Put aside when you put together the remainder of the salad.
-
Simply earlier than serving, add olive oil, maple syrup, salt, and pepper to shallot combination. Cowl jar, then shake till dressing is nicely blended (or whisk collectively, if utilizing a bowl).
-
Style, then season with further salt and pepper, if desired.
Put together Salad:
-
Place walnuts in a small skillet over medium warmth. Cook dinner till nuts are aromatic and golden brown, stirring typically and watching intently (about 5 minutes).
-
Switch nuts to a slicing board, then chop. Set aide.
-
Place kale in a big bowl, then high with olive oil and salt. Use your fingers to therapeutic massage oil and salt into kale for about 2 to three minutes, or till kale is tender and has gotten smaller.
-
Add cranberries, nuts, and about half the dressing to kale. Toss collectively, including extra dressing, if wanted, to coat the salad.
-
Style, then season salad with further salt and pepper, if desired.
-
Serve salad instantly or refrigerate till able to eat. Get pleasure from!
Notes
The salad will serve about 6 to eight individuals as a facet dish, or about 4 as a light-weight lunch or dinner.
Be certain that to take a look at the information earlier than this recipe card for extra suggestions, variations, serving strategies, and associated recipes!
Diet
Energy: 253kcal
