Apple Cranberry Bacon Kale Salad (2024)

This easy kale salad recipe is packed full of hearty nutrients and tastes amazing!

Apple Cranberry Bacon Kale Salad (1)

by Christina Cherrier–Updated Feb 23, 2023

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Apple Cranberry Bacon Kale Salad (2)

© Eatwell101.com

By Christina Cherrier

Updated Feb 23, 2023

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Apple Cranberry Bacon Kale Salad – Not only this kale salad recipe is packed full of hearty nutrients, but it tastes amazing too! Crisp apples, dried cranberries, feta cheese, almonds, and kale come together in this fresh Autumn salad. And the best of all? Toss some crispy bacon in and you are set for life! This kale salad is a must for your lunches but also for picnics, gatherings, and potlucks. Enjoy!

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Ingredients list for theApple Cranberry Bacon Kale Salad

The dressing

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Apple Cranberry Bacon Kale Salad (18)Photo credit: © Eatwell101.com

Directions

1.To make the kale salad: In a large bowl add chopped kale, bacon, apple, almond, feta, and cranberries.

2. In a bowl or mason jar, whisk together all dressing ingredients: apple juice, mustard, apple cider vinegar, olive oil, honey, salt, and pepper. Toss with the apple cranberry baconkale salad immediately before serving. Enjoy!

Apple Cranberry Bacon Kale Salad (19)Photo credit: © Eatwell101.com

Tips for the bacon kale salad

This kale salad recipe features fresh fruit and veggies and a delicious homemade apple cider vinegar and honey dressing, making it perfect as a healthy side dish or light lunch. Note that the bacon kale salad recipe can easily be doubled or tripled for a larger group.

  • This kale salad recipe can be turned vegan, plant-based, and dairy-free, simply omit the cheese and bacon.
  • Try adding poppy seeds to the dressing for a nice depth of flavor.
  • Any type of kale will work here, such as curly kale or lacinato kale.
  • If you have some time available, toast the almonds in a dry pan before chopping them, this will greatly enhance their flavor.

How to soften kale for salad

If you find kale is tough to chew, especially for salads, we’ve got you covered. After washing and patting your kale dry, remove the stem from each kale leaf.Chop the kale leaves into bite-sized pieces, then sprinkle with a small pinch of salt. Pour a few drops of olive oil into your hands and thoroughly massage the kale leaves until they darken in color and get tender. Your kale salad will taste way better!

How to serve the bacon kale salad

This kale salad is very nourishing, you can enjoy on its own, but it is also perfect to pair with all sorts of dinner recipes. Since it has a Fall vibe, it goes particularly well with Fall inspired recipes and other Thanksgiving fares such as roasted turkey breast. But it also truly pairs well with anything!

More salad recipes

  • Healthy Chicken Pasta Salad with Avocado, Tomato, and Basil
  • Healthy Avocado Chicken Salad
  • Apple Feta Spinach Salad

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  • Blythe

    2021-03-30 22:04:53

    Same as Dale. Great salad, but how do we store the dressing.

  • Dale

    2021-01-21 15:05:21

    Excellent salad. How should the dressing be stored?

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Apple Cranberry Bacon Kale Salad (2024)

FAQs

When should you dress a kale salad? ›

Use your hands to toss the greens, massaging/rubbing the vinaigrette into the kale a bit as you toss. Taste and correct the seasoning with salt and pepper. Let the salad sit for at least 10 minutes before serving. Even better—if time allows, cover the salad, and let it sit in the fridge for 30 minutes to an hour.

Is it OK to eat a kale salad everyday? ›

RELATED: Believe It Or Not, Kale Actually Lives Up To All Of Its Hype—Here's Why. Manganiello says you can eat kale every day, just don't overdo it. She recommends one to two servings maximum of kale per day, leaving room for other healthy foods that provide an assortment of nutrients.

Why do you massage kale salad? ›

The point of massaging is to infuse the kale with the lemon juice and oil, and also to break down some of the tough, fibrous characteristics of kale. This makes it easier to chew and digest, and makes for a more tender salad. Season with salt, massage/toss once more, then set aside.

Why is it called Waldorf salad? ›

Waldorf salad is named for the Waldorf-Astoria hotel in New York City, where it was first created for a charity ball given in honor of the St. Mary's Hospital for Children on March 13, 1896.

What are the best apples for apple salad? ›

For salads, you'll want a nice crunchy apple that doesn't brown too quickly when sliced or chopped ghostwriter referat. The best apples for adding to salads are: Honeycrisp, Fuji, Pink Lady, Piñata®, Jazz, Envy, and Empire.

How do you keep apple slices from turning brown in a salad? ›

Keep cut fruits, such as apples, pears, bananas, and peaches from turning brown by: Coating them with an acidic juice such as lemon, orange, or pineapple juice.

How far in advance should I dress kale? ›

The kale leaves must be dressed at least 20 minutes (or up to 6 hours) before serving. We like to use curly kale in this salad because its curly edges help to hold on to the dressing.

How far in advance can you massage kale? ›

Olive oil and vinegar are two examples of ingredients that help break down kale's tough fibers and give it a softer texture. How long does massaged kale last? Massaged kale will last 3-4 days when stored in a sealed container in the fridge.

Can you dress a salad the night before? ›

Put your dressings together in mason jars, then label and store in the fridge. I personally like to dress my salads the day of because your veggies won't get soggy. If you have a tougher green (example kale) you can dress it on prep day.

Should you let kale sit in dressing? ›

Some people like to use both oil and an acidic ingredient, since acid can really help break down the kale. On a similar note, if you are using a dressing with lemon juice or a vinegar, you can skip the step of massaging kale. Just let the salad sit for a half hour in the dressing to soften the kale instead.

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