Description
A vibrant and refreshing kale salad featuring crisp apples, sweet dried cherries, and crunchy toasted almonds, all tossed in a zesty dressing made with olive oil, red wine vinegar, and fresh orange juice. Finished with a sprinkle of crumbly feta cheese, this salad offers a perfect balance of flavors and textures for a healthy and delicious meal or side dish.
Ingredients
Scale
Dressing
- 1/2 cup olive oil
- 1/4 cup red wine vinegar
- 1/4 cup freshly squeezed orange juice
- 2 tablespoons minced shallot
- Kosher salt, to taste
- Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Salad
- 2 large bunches of kale, ribs removed and roughly chopped
- 1 apple, thinly sliced
- 1/2 cup dried cherries
- 1/2 cup toasted sliced almonds
- 1/4 cup crumbled feta cheese
Instructions
- Prepare the dressing: In a medium bowl, whisk together the olive oil, red wine vinegar, freshly squeezed orange juice, and minced shallot until well combined. Season the dressing with kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste.
- Assemble the salad: In a large bowl, combine the roughly chopped kale, thinly sliced apple, dried cherries, and toasted sliced almonds. Toss these ingredients together to evenly distribute them.
- Toss with dressing and serve: Pour the prepared dressing over the kale mixture and toss thoroughly to coat all ingredients evenly. Finally, sprinkle the crumbled feta cheese on top as a flavorful garnish before serving.
Notes
- For best results, massage the kale with a little salt before assembling the salad to soften the leaves.
- Use a tart apple like Granny Smith to balance the sweetness of the dried cherries.
- Toast the almonds in a dry skillet over medium heat until golden and fragrant for enhanced flavor.
- This salad can be prepared a few hours in advance, but add the feta cheese just before serving to keep it fresh.
- To add extra protein, consider adding grilled chicken or chickpeas.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 minutes
- Category: Salad
- Method: No-Cook
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: kale salad, apple salad, toasted almonds, dried cherries, feta cheese, healthy salad, vegetarian salad, easy salad recipe
