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    Home » Recipes » Salad Recipes

    Kale Salad with Cranberries, Apples and Feta

    Published: Nov 13, 2022 by Samantha Ferraro · This post may contain affiliate links · 3 Comments

    Jump to Recipe

    If there was a salad I could eat every single day, it would be this kale salad with dried cranberries. The trick is to massage the maple Dijon dressing into the fibrous kale greens to really soften the leaves. Then toss in crisp apples, salty feta, toasted almonds and sweet cranberries to bring all the flavors together.

    Kale apple salad with crumbled feta cheese and toasted almonds.

    Kale Salad with Dried Cranberries

    I have been on a kale kick to use up the rest of my harvest from our garden. Usually I'll saute kale for a simple kale pasta or stuff it between buttered phyllo for borekas, but this time I was crazing a hearty and flavorful fall'ish salad.

    Shredded kale is massaged with a slightly sweet and acidic maple Dijon dressing and tossed with tart dried cranberries, salty feta and savory almonds.

    For added sweetness and crunch, sliced apples are added in and the combination of the salty feta, creamy dressing, crisp apples and savory almonds is outstanding.

    Ingredients

    Ingredients for the kale apple salad with dried cranberries.

    Lacinato Kale: Also called dino kale is a more tender kale compared to curly kale.

    Feta Cheese: Look for feta that is in blocks and in brine, which will be creamier than the pre crumbled options.

    Sliced Almonds: Sliced or slivered almonds that are lightly toasted give great crunch to the salad.

    Dried Cranberries: Give the salad a touch of sweetness. If dried cranberries are not available, look for dried cherries or golden raisins.

    Apple: A sweet crisp apple, such as honey crisp pr pink lady works great for the salad.

    Olive Oil: Use a good quality extra virgin olive oil for the vinaigrette.

    Apple Cider Vinegar: This vinegar is a bit sweeter and light and compliments the kale and fresh apple.

    Dijon Mustard: A little Dijon mustard helps emulsify the vinaigrette and gives a savory layer of flavor.

    Maple Syrup: Use a good quality real maple syrup for the vinaigrette, which gives the salad a lovely warm sweetness.

    Instructions

    Prep the kale

    1. Using both hands, strip the leaves off the stem.
    2. Discard the thick stem and slice through the leaves, making thin ribbons.
    One leaf of fino kale on a cutting board.
    Remove the dino kale leaves from the stem.
    Remove the leaves from the kale stem.
    Once the leaves are removed from the dino kale, discard the thick stem.
    Sliced and shredded dino kale on a cutting board.

    Massage the Kale with the Vinaigrette

    The trick to a tender kale salad is massaging the kale, which helps to tenderize the fibrous leaves.

    1. Place shredded kale into a large bowl and drizzle some of the vinaigrette onto the laves.
    2. With clean hands, massage the dressing into the leaves, so all of the leaves are evenly coated and begin to soften.
    Add the shredded dino kale to a large bowl.
    Add maple vinaigrette to the shredded kale before massaging it.
    Massage the vinaigrette into the kale to tenderize the leaves.

    Assemble the Salad

    1. Add sliced almonds, dried cranberries, crumbled feta and sliced apples and toss to combine.
    2. Drizzle more maple vinaigrette if desired.
    Add the shredded dino kale to a large bowl.
    Add the sliced almonds to the shredded kale in a large bowl.
    Add dried cranberries to kale and apple salad in a bowl.
    Crumbled feta cheese is added to the kale salad, along with dried cranberries and almonds.
    To the kale and feta salad, add sliced apples.
    Toss the kale and cranberry salad together in a large bowl.

    Do you need to massage kale for a salad?

    You don't need to massage kale, but massage helps tenderize the leaves and is highly recommended.

    Can you make kale salad ahead of time?

    Kale salads hold up very well thanks to the fibrous leaves and can be made up to 1 day ahead of time.

    How long do kale salads last?

    Kale salad with dressing can last up to 2 days in the refrigerator.

    What kind of dressing goes with kale salad?

    You can use any kind of dressing for the kale salad, but a persona favorite is a maple dijon vinaigrette with apple cider vinegar.

    Kale apple salad with maple vinaigrette and dried cranberries.

    A Few Tips

    • Maple dressing yields to about ½ cup. Save extra and place in the fridge for later use, it will last at least 5 days.
    • If you would like to make this vegan or dairy free, omit the feta cheese.
    • To prep ahead: assemble kale, almonds cranberries and leave the sliced apples separate until just before serving.
    • You can also store the sliced apples in a bowl filled with cold water and a few drops of lemon juice to keep the apples fresh.
    • To toast sliced almonds, place in a dry skillet over low-medium heat and use a spatula to move the nuts around until just golden brown and you can smell a nutty aroma. As soon as they change color, remove and set aside.

    Here are a Few other Kale Recipes to Try

    • Round Borekas Stuffed with Cheese and Greens
    • Kale Tabbouleh with Pomegranate
    • Kale Falafel
    • Shakshuka with Kale and Feta
    Serve the kale cranberry salad on a platter with crumbled feta cheese and apples.

    Kale Salad with Dried Cranberries Apples and Feta

    Samantha Ferraro

    LittleFerraroKitchen.com

    Kale salad is tossed with a slightly sweet maple Dijon dressing, dried cranberries, creamy feta, apples and toasted almonds.
    5 from 5 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 15 mins
    Cook Time 5 mins
    Total Time 20 mins
    Course Dinner, Main Course, Salad, Side Dish
    Cuisine American
    Servings 4 servings
    Calories 580 kcal

    Ingredients
     
     

    Maple Dijon Dressing

    • ½ cup olive oil
    • ¼ cup apple cider vinegar
    • 1 tablespoon maple syrup
    • 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
    • ½ teaspoon Kosher salt
    • Ground black pepper

    Kale Salad

    • 1 large bunch of kale stems removed and shredded
    • 1 apple cut into matchsticks
    • ½ cup dried cranberries
    • ½ cup sliced toasted almonds
    • 4 ounces feta cut into ½ inch cubes

    Instructions
     

    • Start by making the maple dressing and add all the dressing ingredients to a mason jar and shake for 30 seconds until dressing is emulsified. You can also do this in a bowl and whisk everything together. Set aside.
    • Add shredded kale to a large bowl and pour a few tablespoons of the dressing onto the kale. Using clean hands, massage the dressing into the kale, breaking up the leaves a bit to really work the dressing in. The greens should be lightly and evenly coated with the dressing.
    • Add the sliced apple, dried cranberries, almonds and feta and give everything a good toss.
    • Serve kale salad and garnish with extra almonds or feta if desired.

    Video

    Notes

    Maple dressing yields to about ½ cup. Save extra and place in the fridge for later use, it will last at least 5 days.
    If you would like to make this vegan or dairy free, omit the feta cheese.
    To prep ahead: assemble kale, almonds cranberries and leave the sliced apples seperate until just before serving.
    You can also store the sliced apples in a bowl filled with cold water and. a few drops of lemon juice to keep the apples fresh.
    To toast sliced almonds, place in a dry skillet over low-medium heat and use a spatula to move the nuts around until just golden brown and you can smell a nutty aroma. As soon as they change color, remove and set aside.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 580kcalCarbohydrates: 31gProtein: 11gFat: 48gSaturated Fat: 9gPolyunsaturated Fat: 7gMonounsaturated Fat: 30gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 25mgSodium: 658mgPotassium: 378mgFiber: 6gSugar: 20gVitamin A: 1571IUVitamin C: 19mgCalcium: 253mgIron: 2mg
    Keyword kale salad with cranberries
    Did you make this recipe?Let us know by leaving a comment and 5 star rating!

    More Salad Recipes

    • Pearled couscous with colorful roasted vegetables.
      Israeli Couscous Salad with Roasted Vegetables
    • Kale salad with roasted beets and citrus with orange segments off to the side.
      Winter Kale Salad with Radicchio and Roasted Beets
    • Parmesan Shaved Brussels Sprouts Salad with Pistachios
      Parmesan Brussels Sprouts Salad with Pistachios
    • This colorful summer fruit caprese salad is arranged in a wide bowl and is full of sliced peaches and nectarines, quartered strawberries and sweet orange cherry tomatoes. The caprese salad is topped with roughly torn fresh mozzarella cheese, basil leaves and a good drizzle of extra virgin olive oil and vinegar.
      Summer Fruit Caprese Salad

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    Comments

    1. Katey says

      November 27, 2022 at 11:25 pm

      5 stars
      What a great combination of flavors! Perfect Thanksgiving salad. Even my brother-in-law, who I thought for sure wouldn’t even try it, ate a big serving.

      Reply
      • Samantha Ferraro says

        November 28, 2022 at 9:58 am

        WOW, thank you so much for the mail. So glad the Kale salad was a hit.

        Reply
    2. Wonderful cook says

      December 01, 2022 at 12:08 am

      5 stars
      I made this last night and it was super good! This is now my go-to salad. Nutritious and delicious. Thanks for sharing!

      Reply

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