Simple Kale Salad with Cranberries
This Kale Salad with Cranberries is my go-to when I need a light side to pair with cozy Fall dishes or for a Thanksgiving spread! It's so easy to throw together at the last minute or prep ahead of time with chopped kale, toasted pecans, dried cranberries, pumpkin seeds, goat cheese, and the most delicious maple vinaigrette.
Servings: 6 servings
Ingredients
- ½ cup olive oil
- ¼ cup apple cider vinegar
- 3 tablespoons pure maple syrup
- 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
- ⅛ teaspoon salt
- 1 bunch kale stems removed, finely chopped
- 4 ounces goat cheese crumbled
- ½ cup roasted pecans chopped
- ¼ cup dried cranberries
- ¼ cup roasted and salted pumpkin seeds
Instructions
- Add the olive oil, apple cider vinegar, maple syrup, mustard, and salt to a 16-ounce mason jar. Shake for 10-20 seconds, or until well mixed.½ cup olive oil, ¼ cup apple cider vinegar, 3 tablespoons pure maple syrup, 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard, ⅛ teaspoon salt
- Pour the dressing over the kale in a large bowl, massaging the dressing into the greens. Let rest for 15 minutes.1 bunch kale
- Mix in the goat cheese, pecans, cranberries, and pumpkin seeds.4 ounces goat cheese, ½ cup roasted pecans, ¼ cup dried cranberries, ¼ cup roasted and salted pumpkin seeds
Notes
- Kale: Make sure to buy fresh kale, remove the tough stem, chop into small 1/2" pieces, massage well, and let rest for 15 minutes for the most tender, flavorful leaves.
- Goat cheese: Feta cheese, blue cheese, or even Parmesan may be substituted.
- Prep-Ahead: Make the dressing up to 3 days in advance and store in the refrigerator. The kale can be chopped and the pecans roasted up to 24 hours in advance.
- Storage: The salad will last for up to 2 days in the refrigerator once tossed. The kale will become wilted after that.
Nutrition
Calories: 341kcal | Carbohydrates: 13g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 30g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 5g | Monounsaturated Fat: 18g | Trans Fat: 0.002g | Cholesterol: 9mg | Sodium: 152mg | Potassium: 119mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 10g | Vitamin A: 385IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 53mg | Iron: 1mg
