Description
The Fall Harvest Apple Pecan Kale Salad is a flavorful, nutrient-packed dish designed to highlight the best of autumn’s harvest. It’s a refreshing, hearty salad that combines the bitterness of kale with sweet apples, crunchy toasted pecans, and a tangy vinaigrette. The maple-Dijon vinaigrette brings the entire salad together, adding a balanced sweetness and a touch of tang that perfectly complements the earthy kale and the fruity apples.
Ingredients
🥬 For the Salad:
6 cups kale, stems removed and finely chopped
2 medium apples (Honeycrisp, Fuji, or Gala), thinly sliced
½ cup toasted pecans
½ cup dried cranberries or raisins
¼ cup crumbled feta or goat cheese (optional)
1 small red onion, thinly sliced (optional)
1 tbsp olive oil (for massaging kale)
🍯 For the Maple-Dijon Vinaigrette:
3 tbsp olive oil
2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
1 tbsp pure maple syrup
1 tsp Dijon mustard
Salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions
Prepare the kale:
Place chopped kale in a large bowl.
Drizzle with 1 tbsp olive oil and massage gently for 1–2 minutes until the leaves soften and darken.
Toast the pecans:
In a dry skillet over medium heat, toast pecans for 3–5 minutes until fragrant. Set aside to cool.
Make the vinaigrette:
In a small bowl or jar, whisk together olive oil, apple cider vinegar, maple syrup, Dijon, salt, and pepper.
Assemble the salad:
Add apples, cranberries, toasted pecans, red onion, and cheese to the kale.
Pour the vinaigrette over the salad and toss gently to combine.
Serve:
Best served immediately, but can be stored in the fridge for up to 1 day (add apples last-minute to prevent browning).
Notes
This autumn-inspired salad is a delightful mix of crisp apples, crunchy pecans, and hearty kale. Perfect for a light lunch, a side dish, or a festive fall gathering. Drizzle with a maple vinaigrette for an extra touch of seasonal sweetness.
- Prep Time: 15 mins
- Cook Time: 0 mins
- Category: Salad
- Method: No-cook / Tossing
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl
- Calories: 220
Keywords: Autumn Apple Pecan Salad, Kale Apple Pecan Salad, Maple-Dijon Kale Salad