Kale Apple Salad with Warm Pumpkin Vinaigrette
This Kale Apple Salad is tossed with pecans, pepitas, and dried cranberries, then drizzled with a warm, dairy-free pumpkin vinaigrette. A hearty fall side or starter!
Servings: 4
Calories: 251kcal
Ingredients
Salad
- 1 bunch curly kale chopped into small bite size pieces
- ⅓ cup raw pecans chopped
- ⅓ cup raw pepitas shelled pumpkin seeds
- ¼ cup dried cranberries
- 2 apples sliced
Dressing - makes about 1 ½ cups
- ⅓ cup pure pumpkin puree
- ¼ cup apple cider vinegar
- 1 tablespoon pure maple syrup
- 1 teaspoon shallot minced
- ½ teaspoon salt or to taste
- ¼ teaspoon pepper or to taste
- ¼ cup + 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
Instructions
- Combine pumpkin puree, vinegar, maple syrup, shallot, salt and pepper in a small sauce pot. Mix well.
- Slowly drizzle in the olive oil, whisking continuously.
- Heat on the stove over medium-low for a few minutes to warm, whisking often.
- While the dressing is warming, put all of your salad ingredients into a large bowl and toss well to combine.
- When dressing is warmed through, take off heat and pour over salad. (You don't have to use all of the dressing. Use as much or as little dressing as you like. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for a couple days). Toss everything together to combine.
Notes
Store dressing and salad separately if you have leftovers, so the kale doesn't get soggy sitting in the vinaigrette ove
Chop the kale small. Bite-size pieces make the salad easier to eat and help the warm dressing coat everything evenly.
Don't feel locked into exact measurements on the mix-ins. More nuts, less fruit, or vice versa, this salad is very forgiving.
Warm the dressing gently. Medium-low heat is enough; you're just looking to loosen and warm it through, not simmer it.
Nutrition
Calories: 251kcal | Carbohydrates: 30g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 15g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 9g | Sodium: 307mg | Potassium: 151mg | Fiber: 6g | Sugar: 18g | Vitamin A: 5800IU | Vitamin C: 38.8mg | Calcium: 80mg | Iron: 1.3mg