Kale Orange Cranberry Salad Recipe (2024)

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This Orange Cranberry Kale Salad is super-fast to make, loaded with nutritional goodness, and absolutely delicious!

Kale Orange Cranberry Salad Recipe (1)

All hail the kale!!!🙌

I’ve wanted to say that on the blog for a really long time!😄 And since this recipe puts the beautiful green goddess front and center, I thought it was hail-worthy.👌

Did kale even exist 10 years ago? All I know is one day I was happily eating my spinach salad and then out of nowhere - poof, it appeared. And I’ve been tossing, juicing, baking, and growing it ever since.

Kale Orange Cranberry Salad Recipe (2)

I really like how substantial Kale is. It’s so hearty that it stands up to acidic juices and dressings, plus the element of heat when baked or added to soup. It’s also really filling so you never feel hungry after eating it.

Kale is also really easy to grow. And because it’s so hearty it can withstand temperatures as low as 25 degrees. It can even continue to grow if it’s covered in snow!❄️

I planted Red Russian kale in my garden during the Fallof 2015 and I’ve had kale growing ever since. I just leave it there and let it go to seed, it basically replants itself and continues to grow, even in the Boston winters.🌿Crazy - right!?

Kale Orange Cranberry Salad Recipe (3)Kale Orange Cranberry Salad Recipe (4)
Fall 2015: Kale in the garden... & Spring 2016: stillgrowing after a Boston winter!💪

Now you know why I “hail the kale,” huh!??🙌

And if all of that is not enough, there’s still so much more…

Kale is one of the healthiest and most nutritious plant foods around. For real.👍

Here are just a few of the health benefits of Kale:

  • One cup of kale, contains just 33 calories, provides a day's worth of vitamin C, twice the recommended daily intake of vitamin A, and nearly seven times the recommended amount of vitamin K. As well as decent amount of minerals and healthy fatty acids.
  • Eating kale can lower the risk of 5 different cancers: bladder, breast, colon, ovary, and prostate.
  • Kale provides comprehensive support for the body's detoxification system.
  • Kale is great for your eyes! With high levels of lutein and zeaxanthin, it can lower risk of macular degeneration and cataracts.
  • Kale can lower your cholesterol whether it’s raw or cooked, which may reduce the risk of heart disease.
  • Kale could also aid in weight loss. Because it’s so low in calories, but so fibrous and hearty it should keep you filling full.

If you didn't already know it, I’m sure you would now agree that Kale is king!

And so is this salad I made with it!!👇 Holla!✌️

Kale Orange Cranberry Salad Recipe (5)

A super-easy Kale Salad Recipe!

This Kale Orange Cranberry Salad takes 5 minutes to make and it’s highly addictive. After 4 portions the B man had to cut himself off from eating it (so much for it making you feel full!). LOL😂

Trust me B is the exception – he is an eating machine, and has the stomach capacity of an elephant.🐘

Kale Orange Cranberry Salad Recipe (6)

This salad is so easy to prepare: You wash and dry the kale leaves. Then remove the stem and tear into small pieces. Zest one orange. Mix together the dressing which has fresh orange juice, cranberry juice, olive oil, honey or maple syrup and some salt and pepper.

Then toast some sliced almonds for 5 minutes on 350. Toss it all together and let it sit for 5 minutes so the leaves wilt just a bit. Sprinkle on the orange zest and enjoy!🍴

Kale Orange Cranberry Salad Recipe (7)

Boom.💥 Super flavorful, and super delicious!!! All hail the Kale Orange Cranberry Salad!!!💚

Yield: 5 people

Kale Orange Cranberry Salad

Kale Orange Cranberry Salad Recipe (8)

Super-fast to make, loaded with nutritional goodness, and absolutely delicious!

Prep Time5 minutes

Total Time5 minutes

Ingredients

For The Salad:

  • ½ cup sliced almonds
  • 1 bunch of kale, washed, stems removed, torn into 2-inch pieces
  • 1 cup dried cranberries
  • zest from one orange

For The Dressing:

  • 3 tablespoons orange juice
  • 3 tablespoons cranberry juice
  • 3 tablespoons white balsamic vinegar,, or apple cider vinegar
  • 1 teaspoon honey or pure maple syrup
  • ⅛ teaspoon salt
  • ⅛ teaspoon pepper

Instructions

  1. Place almonds on small baking sheet and toast at 350 until slightly browned, about 3-5 minutes (watch them closely so they don't burn!). Meanwhile, zest the orange, rinse, dry, and tear the kale into 2-inch pieces.
  2. Juice the orange into a small bowl or salad dressing shaker, then add the other dressing ingredients and combine thoroughly.
  3. In a large serving bowl, combine kale, almonds, and cranberries. Toss with the salad dressing until well-coated
  4. Finish the salad with orange zest and serve.

Notes

If you can find them, you can buy almonds already sliced & toasted!

Nutrition Information

Yield

5

Serving Size

8 ounces

Amount Per ServingCalories 161Total Fat 6gUnsaturated Fat 0gSodium 67mgCarbohydrates 26gFiber 2gSugar 19gProtein 2g

Looking for more salad recipes?

Warm Cauliflower Spinach Salad With Pancetta:

Chicken Satay Zoodle Salad:

Kale Orange Cranberry Salad Recipe (2024)

FAQs

How long can you keep kale salad in the fridge? ›

Typical shelf life: Generally, kale can last in the fridge for about five to seven days. The key is to store it correctly to maintain its crispness and nutrients. Impact of temperature and humidity: Kale prefers a cool and slightly humid environment, so the crisper drawer in your fridge is ideal.

Can you eat kale raw in a salad? ›

Often labeled as a superfood, kale is one of the healthiest and most nutrient-dense foods you can eat. This leafy green comes in a variety of colors, shapes, and textures. It's often eaten raw in salads and smoothies but can also be enjoyed steamed, sautéed, boiled, or baked.

Does kale get soggy with dressing? ›

Does kale get soggy after adding dressing? No! That's the beauty of kale. You can prep this simple kale salad up to an hour before serving it and it will still be crunchy and delicious.

Does lemon make kale less bitter? ›

Adding salt and squeezing lemon make a big difference by removing bitterness. Adding some spicy or sweet flavors may help tame the strong flavor of bitter kale.

What causes bitterness in kale? ›

Much like in onions and garlic, kale's bitterness is only formed when the vegetable is sliced, chopped, massaged, or chewed. When cells in a leaf of kale are intact, an enzyme called myrosinase and sulfur-containing compound glucosinolate are separated from one another.

How far in advance should you dress a kale salad? ›

Kale salad can be made ahead – prep it the night before and pack it in lunches the next day. Unlike tossed salad, I love how leftover kale salad (even with dressing) can be kept in the fridge without getting soggy!

Can you eat 10 day old kale? ›

Like all produce, kale's shelf-life depends on how you store it. Raw kale will last up to a week in the refrigerator and about six months in the freezer. Cooked kale, meanwhile, will only keep for three to five days in the fridge.

Can you eat kale stems? ›

You can definitely eat kale stems! Sure, they're not the tastiest. Or easiest to eat. But, they're packed with nutrition and can add some valuable green to a stir fry, grain bowl, or frittata.

Is it OK to eat a kale salad everyday? ›

Is it OK to eat kale every day? As kale contains a variety of nutrients, a person can consume it regularly as part of a balanced diet. However, some people may need to limit how much kale they consume. These include people taking beta blockers and blood thinners, as well as people with kidney disease.

Which kale is best for salad? ›

Any type of kale will work here. I especially like to use curly kale, but feel free to swap in Tuscan kale (aka lacinato kale) if you prefer. Extra-virgin olive oil and fresh lemon juice – You'll massage them into the raw kale to help the leaves soften.

Is kale good for high blood pressure? ›

Some foods can help lower blood pressure naturally, and kale is one of them. Because it contains high levels of magnesium, calcium, and potassium, along with other vitamins and fiber all working together, kale can help lower blood pressure.

What is the best way to soften kale for salad? ›

How to Massage Kale. Our go-to method: Add chopped kale to a large bowl and top with lemon juice and olive oil. Use clean hands to massage for about 3 minutes to soften the leaves and infuse the leaves with the oil and lemon. A pinch of salt added near the end of massaging adds even more flavor.

Why do you massage kale salad? ›

Kale is fibrous and can be difficult to munch compared to other greens like romaine lettuce or spinach. The rubbing, kneading motion helps to tenderize the veg and make it easier to chew and digest. Try this for raw kale you are going to be serving or eating right away.

How do you cook kale so it's not tough? ›

Instead, after you've washed the leaves, leave them damp. The water that clings to the leaves will create steam when you toss them in the hot skillet. As the kale cooks, you'll cover the skillet for a few minutes; that steam will help wilt and break down the kale perfectly.

How do you sweeten bitter kale? ›

Add Sweet to Kale: Sweet foods go well with kale because they counter its rather bitter taste. Serve curly kale up as a salad with simple ingredients like a blood orange, mango and slivered almonds or apple, feta and toasted walnuts or cook kale up with caramelized onion.

How do you get the bitter taste out of salad? ›

Add Vinaigrette, Emphasis on "Vinegar"

Acidity can really bring a pleasant flavor out of bitter greens. If they're being used for a salad, it's good to add a vinaigrette with plenty of acidity to brighten it up. If you are sauteing, add some vinegar or citrus to the greens to finish them off.

How to counteract bitterness? ›

Sweetness: From sugar, honey, fruits or otherwise, sweetness will counteract bitter and sour flavours. It can also be used to cut down the heat of a particularly spicy meal. Saltiness: Salt plays two very important roles in flavouring a dish. Firstly, it balances against bitterness.

What kills the bitterness of greens? ›

The foods that help reduce bitterness are: Salt while cooking and/or while eating (like on bitter salad greens) Sweet or Spicy. Sour or Acids like lemon or vinegar.

References

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