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Fresh Harvest Kale Salad Recipe with Apple Cranberry and Maple Pecans

fresh harvest kale salad - featured image
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A quick and easy fall salad combining hearty kale, tart apples, sweet dried cranberries, and crunchy maple-glazed pecans, tossed in a bright and tangy dressing.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 6 cups curly kale leaves, washed and chopped
  • 1 medium apple (Honeycrisp or Fuji), thinly sliced
  • 1/2 cup dried cranberries
  • 1 cup pecans (halves preferred)
  • 2 tablespoons pure maple syrup
  • 1 tablespoon unsalted butter, melted
  • Pinch of sea salt
  • 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
  • 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon honey
  • 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Instructions

  1. Rinse kale leaves thoroughly, remove tough stems, chop into bite-size pieces (about 6 cups), and place in a large bowl. Massage kale with hands for 2-3 minutes until leaves darken and soften.
  2. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). In a small bowl, whisk melted butter, maple syrup, and sea salt. Toss pecans in mixture until well coated. Spread on parchment-lined baking sheet and roast for 8-10 minutes, stirring halfway, until golden and fragrant. Let cool completely.
  3. Core and thinly slice the apple. Optionally toss slices in lemon juice mixed with water to prevent browning.
  4. In a small bowl or jar, combine apple cider vinegar, olive oil, honey, Dijon mustard, salt, and pepper. Whisk or shake until dressing emulsifies and is smooth.
  5. Add apple slices and dried cranberries to the massaged kale. Pour dressing over and toss gently but thoroughly to coat.
  6. Sprinkle cooled maple pecans on top just before serving to maintain crunch.

Notes

Massage the kale to soften and reduce bitterness. Roast pecans with maple syrup for a sweet crunchy texture. Add pecans last to keep them crisp. Letting the dressed kale sit 10-15 minutes before adding pecans mellows flavors. Store leftover salad without pecans in fridge up to 2 days; keep pecans separate.

Nutrition

Keywords: kale salad, fall salad, apple cranberry salad, maple pecans, healthy salad, quick salad, easy salad, seasonal salad

Find it online: https://emmaoven.com/fresh-harvest-kale-salad-recipe-with-apple-cranberry-and-maple-pecans-easy-and-perfect-for-fall/