Kale Salad with Cranberries Recipe
Plain old salads get a refreshing update in this Chopped Kale Salad with Cranberries. The unique flavor combination of fresh oranges, cranberries, goat cheese, and pecans with crisp kale create a delightful dish you can enjoy year round.
Prep Time15 minutes mins
Cook Time5 minutes mins
Total Time20 minutes mins
Course: Salad
Cuisine: American
Servings: 6 servings
- 1 bunch kale finely chopped
- ½ cup toasted pecans coarsely chopped
- 2 Tbsp. pumpkin seeds
- ¼ cup cranberries dried
- ¼ cup sweet onion finely chopped
- 2 oz. goat cheese optional
Toast Pecans: Preheat oven to 400℉. Place coarsely chopped pecans on a parchment paper lined baking sheet and roast in oven for 4-5 minutes, or until fragrant.*
½ cup toasted pecans
Make the Dressing: Combine all maple orange vinaigrette ingredients in a 16-oz. mason jar and shake for 1-2 minutes, or until well combined. You can also make it in a mini food processor or high-speed blender.
1 Tbsp. orange juice, 1 Tbsp. orange zest, 1 Tbsp. maple syrup, ¼ cup olive oil, ⅛ tsp. salt, 1 Tbsp. apple cider vinegar
Assemble the Salad: Before serving combine the kale and maple-orange vinaigrette. Toss to completely coat the kale with the salad dressing and let sit for 10-20 minutes to soften the kale. Just before serving top with toasted pecans, pumpkin seeds, cranberries, onions, and goat cheese in a large serving bowl and toss to combine. 1 bunch kale, 2 Tbsp. pumpkin seeds, ¼ cup cranberries, 2 oz. goat cheese, ¼ cup sweet onion
Prep-Ahead Instructions:
Chop your kale up to 24 hours in advance. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator until ready to use. Make the maple orange vinaigrette up to 3 days in advance. Store in the refrigerator and pop it in the processor or blender for a minute before using. Toast the pecans up to a few days in advance. Store them in a Ziplock bag at room temperature.
Storage Directions:
Keep all the parts of this salad separate or everything will get soggy.
Recipe Tips:
- Meal prep. It's easy to make the parts of this salad early, just wait until serving to throw it together.
- DIY. Make your own dressing and toast your pecans to save time and money.
- Pay attention. Grab cranberries with less added sugar for a healthier option.
- Serve it up. This delicious kale salad is perfect for a holiday dinner or date night, but you can enjoy it anytime.
Calories: 208kcal | Carbohydrates: 6g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 19g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 4mg | Sodium: 79mg | Potassium: 130mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 1055IU | Vitamin C: 17mg | Calcium: 42mg | Iron: 1mg