Kale Salad with Apple Cider Vinaigrette

When the body craves a nutritious meal, try this crunchy kale salad tossed in a bright apple cider vinegar dressing. Each serving contains a healthy mix of chopped greens, fruits, nuts, and creamy goat cheese.

A colorful bowl of kale salad is a nutrient-rich meal that’s easy to make. This staple superfood can be a bit intimidating to prepare but don’t worry. I’ll show you my simple tips for breaking down the curly leaves and taming the bitter notes.

The rough texture of these leafy greens is ideal for pairing with vinaigrettes. I toss them with a sweet and tangy apple cider vinegar dressing to balance their sharp flavors. This recipe includes crisp apples, creamy avocado, and crunchy pecans. It’s a satisfying side dish, but you can always add a protein of your choice and make it an entree salad.

Kale selection

There are various types of kale, and each one delivers a unique taste and texture. For this recipe, I recommend using either green or purple curly kale. The wavy leaves are tender compared to the more rubbery lacinato or Tuscan varieties. The rough surface also holds onto the dressing, effectively coating each slice. 

Baby kale is also a good substitute for their smaller leaves, and they have a milder taste. However, trim off the long stems and don’t massage the leaves since you won’t be chopping and rinsing off the bitter compounds.

Cutting the leaves

Kale comes in long bushy stalks that need to be broken down. I use a chef’s knife to separate the leaves from the tough center stem, making it easier to chew. Cut them into ½-inch thick slices. We want the leaves to be identifiable but not so large that it takes longer than a few seconds to chew in the mouth.

Massage the leaves

Kale is one vegetable that gets the spa treatment. It’s known for its bitter taste, which becomes more apparent once you start chewing. That’s because it contains sulfur-containing compounds called isothiocyanates, that releases when ruptured. I find you can tame these undesirable flavors in two ways.

This first is to briefly massage the leaves, coaxing out those undesirable compounds, then rinse the chopped leaves to remove a good portion of them. This technique leaves less of the taste in your mouth. The second is to mask it with ingredients that contain fat for coating, salt, and sweeteners for balance. That’s where adding a homemade dressing can help, making the eating experience much more enjoyable.

Make a dressing

To add brightness to the salad, I pair it with an apple cider vinegar dressing. This type of vinegar has a soft, savory flavor that doesn’t overpower the greens. Freshly squeezed lemon juice and zest provide a nice citrus note. Dijon mustard offers a hint of spiciness and helps emulsify the dressing, slowing down the liquid and fat separation. 

Using a sweetener like honey is key to balancing the bitterness of the greens. Its flavor lingers so that the taste perception of the kale isn’t as strong. Olive oil adds thickness to the dressing while coating some of the tongue receptors to block undesirable flavors. 

Mix-in a variety of textures

A mixture of fruits, nuts, and cheese makes the salad more interesting and nutritious. Chunks of sweet and tart apples like Gala, Fuji, or Honeycrisp are my top pick. However, you can use other types of apples like Granny Smith if you enjoy a more sour bite. 

Dried cranberries add a pop of sweetness. Chopped pecans add an enjoyable short crunch, although walnuts and almonds are also good picks. The salad needs creaminess- diced avocados, and tangy goat cheese deliver that texture to complete the dish.

What to serve this with

• Grilled shrimp or pan-seared salmon if you are feeling fancy
• Slice baked chicken breast or tenders for a lean option
• Chop up carne asada steak into cubes and serve on top