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This beautiful Kale Apple Salad with Cranberry Goat Cheese is packed with nutrient-rich kale, artisan lettuce, crisp apple slices, tart pomegranate seeds, candied nuts and creamy goat cheese infused with cranberry. Tossed with a simple, yet irresistible harvest apple cider vinaigrette, this salad strikes the perfect balance between wholesome and indulgent, making it an ideal complement to your festive spread.
The holidays are all about bringing together loved ones and indulging in dishes that feel extra special. a fresh, flavorful dish that’s as beautiful as it is delicious, this salad is the perfect addition to your holiday table! Imagine tender kale and lettuce leaves massaged to perfection, combined with honeycrisp apple slices for a refreshing crunch, tangy bursts of pomegranate, creamy cranberry goat cheese, and the sweet, crunchy perfection of candied nuts, delivered in a vibrant and colorful package.
This dish is truly a celebration of wholesome ingredients that feels just a little like indulgence. Filled with bold harvest flavors, it’s not just a salad — it’s a delicious reminder that eating healthy can still be exciting and unexpected.
Everything You Need to Make Kale Apple Salad With Cranberry Goat Cheese
- Kale: You’ll need about two cups of chopped kale for this salad, massaged with olive oil.
- Artisan Lettuce: I love to add a variety of colors and textures to this salad with some artisan lettuce, such as green and red sweet gem or butter lettuce. You can use whatever kind of lettuce you prefer or substitute with more kale instead!
- Honeycrisp Apple: You can use whatever kind of apple you prefer, however in the fall, fresh honeycrisp apples are in season and I like to use them in any way I can!
- Red Onion: A little sliced red onion adds some bite to this salad!
- Pomegranate: There’s nothing I love more than a fresh, juicy pomegranate around the holidays. Some juicy pomegranate seeds at a touch of sweetness and crunch to this salad.
- Candied Nuts: My holiday favorite – I love to add my homemade candied nuts to just about anything! They sweeten up this salad and pair so well with the cranberry goat cheese. Of course, if you don’t want to make your own, you could use store-bought!
- Cranberry Goat Cheese: I used a whole 6-oz log of goat cheese with cranberry and cinnamon (found at Aldi) to add some holiday flair to this salad. I have found that most grocery stores carry cranberry goat cheese in the fall and winter months, but if you can’t find it, plain goat cheese or honey goat cheese would still taste delicious!
- Apple Cider Vinegar, Olive Oil and Honey: This is all you’ll need to make this simple three-ingredient harvest-flavored vinaigrette!
How to Make Kale Apple Salad With Cranberry Goat Cheese
- Add chopped kale and lettuce to a large mixing bowl, cover with olive oil and massage with clean hands until tender.
- To assemble the salad, add apple slices and red onion, followed by pomegranate seeds, candied nuts and goat cheese.
- To make the apple cider vinaigrette, add olive oil, apple cider vinegar and honey to a small container and whisk or shake to combine.
- Cover salad with dressing and serve immediately or refrigerate for up to five days!
Kitchen Essentials
Check out my list of trusty kitchen tools and serve ware that I just keep going back to! For this recipe, I used my favorite cutting board, ruffle pie dish and black servers!
Please let me know if you enjoy this recipe by leaving a rating and comment! If you are looking for more fall-inspired recipes, check out my Roasted Butternut Squash Quinoa Salad or Brown Sugar Baked Brie With Candied Nuts.
Kale Apple Salad With Cranberry Goat Cheese
Ingredients
- 2 cups kale
- 3 cups artisan lettuce
- 1 tsp olive oil
- 1 honeycrisp apple sliced
- 1/2 medium red onion sliced
- 1/2 pomegranate seeds removed
- 1/2 cup candied nuts
- 6 oz cranberry goat cheese sliced or crumbled
For the Vinaigrette
- 1/2 cup olive oil
- 1/3 cup apple cider vinegar
- 1 tbsp honey
Instructions
- Add chopped kale and lettuce to a large mixing bowl, cover with olive oil and massage with clean hands until tender.
- To assemble salad, add apple slices and red onion, followed by pomegranate seeds, candied nuts and goat cheese.
- To make apple cider vinaigrette, add olive oil, apple cider vinegar and honey to a small container and whisk or shake to combine.
- Cover salad with dressing and serve immediately or refrigerate for up to five days!
Homemade Candied Nuts
Ingredients
- 1 egg white
- 1 tbsp water
- 3 cups mixed nuts
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1 tbsp cinnamon
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- sea salt to taste
- 1 tbsp powdered sugar
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
- Add egg white and 1 tbsp of water to a medium mixing bowl and whisk to combine. Add mixed nuts and stir to coat.
- Add sugar, brown sugar, cinnamon, vanilla and sea salt to bowl and combine thoroughly.
- Pour mixture onto a large, well-oiled baking sheet and spread evenly. Bake for 10-15 minutes.
- Remove from oven and stir before cooling to prevent nuts from sticking together.
- Let cool for 10 minutes and gently toss with powdered sugar. Store in an airtight container at room temperature.
