kale apple salad

Last Updated on October 10, 2023

Have a taste of bright and sunny summer all packed in a bowl with our mocked-around easy kale salad recipe!

A healthy and filling kale radicchio salad made with chopped kale, sliced strawberries, and snowpea sprouts, then tossed in a tangy-sweet dressing that’s easy to whisk up and packed with flavor.

kale apple salad

If you’re looking for the best kale salad recipe to serve then follow us into the kitchen and let us guide you. 

Best Kale Salad Recipe- Why You’ll Love This Recipe

kale quinoa salad
  • It’s easy to make. You can whip this salad and dressing in minutes.
  • This green salad can be a meal on its own or a great side dish.
  • The dressing has a lemony, tangy-sweet taste that everyone will love. amazing for balancing flavors with savory or meaty dishes.
  • This salad not only tastes phenomenal but it can also aid you in losing weight among other health benefits!

Easy Kale Salad Ingredients

kale and quinoa salad
  • 2 cups packed kale (stem removed and torn into bite-size) – this will be the base for our salad. It’s a green leafy vegetable that has a crisp and clean taste.
  • 2 cups packed radicchio (thinly sliced) – Another leafy veggie that adds a nice red color to our salad.
  • 10 pcs fresh strawberries (thinly sliced) – You probably never thought of putting strawberries in your salad. But man, you need to trust me this time! It has a tangy-sweet taste that everybody loves.
  • 1 cup snowpea sprouts (cut into 1-2 inches length) – To round things out we add microgreens. These little stalks have a mild earthy taste that compliments the other ingredients.

Best Kale Salad Dressing Recipe

ingredient list

This dressing is really easy to make. It has a tangy-sweet taste that brings our salad to life. It also has a velvety mouth feel from the olive oil which helps coat the salad and our mouths with its amazing flavors.

  • 3 tbsp apple cider vinegar
  • 1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1/2 tbsp yellow mustard
  • 1 tbsp maple syrup
  • 1 pc freshly squeezed lime juice
  • 1 pc zest of lime
  • 1/2 tsp minced garlic
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/8 tsp black pepper

How To Make Kale Salad Recipe

lemon kale salad
  1. In a separate bowl (or a jar), mix the apple cider vinegar, olive oil, yellow mustard, maple syrup, lime juice, zest of lime, and minced garlic, Season with a pinch of salt and pepper. Whisk or shake them together until well combined.
  2. Gather the kale, strawberries, radicchio, and snowpeas. clean them with running water. and drain them properly on a colander or use a salad spinner. place them in a large bowl and toss them together.
  3. Taste the dressing and adjust the seasoning if necessary.
  4. Chill the salad and dressing in the fridge until it is time to serve. Spoon the desired amount of dressing on the salad and toss together to coat the vegetables. Serve portions on separate plates and enjoy!

Health Benefits Of Kale Recipes

best kale salad

Speaking of health benefits, salads are known to provide good nutrition. It can help you shed those unwanted pounds among other things. 

Kale is non-starchy vegetable leaves that are high in iron and calcium, and also rich in antioxidants that can improve your overall immune system, reduce aging, and prevent certain diseases and health problems.

Radicchio is another leafy vegetable that’s also a great source of antioxidants. It is also packed with vitamin K, which helps build strong bones, and fiber, which aids easy digestion.

Strawberries provide a good amount of vitamin C which helps improve your immune system.

Snowpea sprouts are also a great addition to this salad. They provide a good amount of micronutrients that help with inflammation, skin health, and other benefits to your overall health.

(Source: Healthline)

Different Kinds of Kale

There are 7 kinds of kale that are commonly used as garnishes or as ingredients in dishes such as salads and stir-fries.

They are a versatile kind of leafy vegetable that not only tastes great but is highly nutritious as well. Let’s look at the different kinds.

Curly kale is the common one you see in the supermarket or grocery. It has a pale to deep green color, and frilly leaves and can be used in salads, sauteed dishes, and soups.

So far the most versatile variety. It can be mixed in any dish.

Tuscan kale has a blue-green color, slender leaves, and long stems. It is commonly used in soups or stews.

Perfect for those cold rainy or winter nights.

Ornamental or salad savoy is usually used as a display or garnish. It has coarse leaves that can still be eaten. This is great for parties that need a table setting. 

Red Russian or ragged Jack is a kind of kale that has deep blue-green to purple-red leaves that look like overgrown oak leaves.

Usually used in salads, this raw kale has a semi-sweet flavor and tender leaves.

Chinese kale can be substituted for broccoli. This variety is commonly used in stir-fries or steamed. Mix these with beef, mushrooms, onions, and peppers and you have an easy stir fry that’s better than takeout!

Siberian kale has gray-green colored leaves and is usually used in stir-fries, sauteed dishes, and steamed.

Redbor kale is known for its amazing reddish-purple leaves. They are usually used as edible garnishes for exquisite dishes as they add color and vibrance.

Tips, Variations, and Substitutions

kale salad

Toasted Almonds – can add a pleasant crunch to your salad. You can sprinkle sliced almonds or crushed ones. if you prefer. Almonds also add a nutty flavor to the salad and make it heartier and more filling.

Lemon juice from fresh lemons can be added or substituted for cider vinegar. Lemon juice adds a fruity -sweet-sour taste to the dressing for our salad. Mix this with the olive oil to form the base of the dressing.

Vegan Parmesan cheese can be added for a cheesy-nutty taste. Sprinkle a desired amount on top of the salad to help season the dish.

Dried cranberries are a great addition to the recipe. Aside from almonds, dried cranberries add another dimension to the dish. While almonds add a crunchy texture, these dried fruits add a sweet-sour taste that compliments our dressing.

Dijon mustard will add spice to the salad. Mix this in the dressing instead of the yellow mustard. It will add a spicy, savory taste.

Kosher salt can be used instead of regular table salt. This kind of salt hasn’t been iodized which tends to have a bitter aftertaste. Kosher salt has a salty clean taste.

Storage Tips

Keep the dressing and salad in separate containers with a tight lid and store them in the fridge.

Keeping them separate will prevent the salad from wilting and will make the dressing last longer.

Keeping leftover kale salad covered will also prevent odors and other flavors from contaminating the dish that might be lingering in your fridge.

kale crunch salad

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

1. WHAT IS KALE SALAD MADE OF?

This salad has simple ingredients. Kale is the base of the dish and is mixed with snowpeas, sliced strawberries, and radicchio. You can look up the variations to add more.

2. IS RAW KALE GOOD FOR SALADS?

Normally you don’t cook the ingredients for a salad dish.

3. DOES KALE NEED TO BE COOKED FOR SALADS?

If you find the kale to be bitter, you can massage the leaves before using them. Massaging them for 2 to 3 minutes makes the leaves tender, and more palatable to eat.

MORE SALAD RECIPES TO TRY

kale apple salad

Best Kale Salad with Strawberries

Elevate your salad game with the best kale and strawberry combination. This healthy and delicious recipe will leave you craving for more!
5 from 3 votes
Print Rate
Prep Time: 25 minutes
Total Time: 25 minutes
Servings: 4 people
Calories: 196kcal
Author: SHU-CHUN

Ingredients

  • 2 cup kale packed, stem removed and torn into bite-size
  • 2 cup radicchio packed, thinly sliced
  • 1 cup snow pea sprouts packed, cut into 1-2 inches length
  • 10 pc fresh strawberries medium-sized, sliced

Kale Salad Dressing