Apple Kale Salad Recipe | ChefDeHome.com (2024)

This delicious salad has everything you want from a fall dinner side. Easy to assemble, loaded with fall flavors of Apple, Radicchio and Kale with sweet and sour Apple Cider Vinegar Dressing. It is often on rotation in our fall dinner menu. Gluten Free. Vegan.

For crunch, I roast quick candid pecans for salad. (recipe included) You can also use raw or roasted walnuts.

Apple Kale Salad

You know it's Autumn Season when fresh produce section of food stores is loaded with variety of seasonal apples and different kinds of kale. (my favorite moment) Also, the fresh sweet berries almost disappear. (not-so favorite moment) :-)

Today, I decided to bring to you the flavors of fall with this Kale Salad with Honey Crisp Apples and Radicchio. Salad is dressed in an easy and vibrant Apple Cider Vinegar dressing with maple syrup and tarragon.

Such a delightful combination of flavors! Not only this recipe showcases the bright colors of season but also bursting with sweet and sour flavors. I'm sure you will love it.

What Do You Need For Apple Kale Salad?

There are three main parts of Apple Kale Salad recipe:

1. Salad Vegetables - Honey Crisp Apples, Kale, and Radicchio.
2. Apple Cider Vinegar and Tarragon Dressing
3. Pecans or Walnuts - plain, salt roasted or quick candied (recipe follows)
   

Salad Vegetables:

I used three vegetables: 1) Dino Kale, 2) Honey Crisp Apples, 3) and Radicchio for this salad.

Kale: You can use Dino Kale or combination of kale. Kale greens are sturdy and withstand dressing very well. In fact, as kale sits in dressing, it is marinated and tastes even more delicious.

Apples: Even though Granny Smith apples are popular Salad Apples. I love Honey Crisp Apple in salads even more. These are crisp and tart like Granny Smith but are also sharp sweet like honey. In my opinion, sweet and sour notes of these apples are perfect addition to any Fall Salad.

Radicchio: Radicchio leaves are slightly bitter and offer good contrast to the flavor of sweet apples. But if you don't like bitter vegetables, then go for a mild vegetable of this family such as - endive, cabbage, red cabbage. You can also use two kinds of kale and skip radicchio.

Apple Cider Vinegar Dressing:

This apple cider vinegar dressing recipe is very simple yet packs a punch of flavor. It gives kale the perfect sweet and sharp bite. Kale gets more flavorful as it sits in the dressing. I specially love the flavor of tarragon with sweet maple and apple vinegar. Very festive and fall-inspired.

Here are the ingredients to make Apple Cider Vinegar Dressing:

1. Apple Cider Vinegar
2. Maple Syrup (pure syrup)
3. Olive Oil
4. Tarragon (fresh tarragon herb leaves)
5. Garlic
6. Salt and pepper

To make the dressing:

Add all ingredients in a salad bowl, whisk until oil and vinegar form an emulsion. Add herbs. Taste and adjust salt and pepper.

TIP: If apple cider vinegar is too sour for your liking then try this - Balance the sharpness of Apple Cider Vinegar by using one part vinegar and one part lemon juice. Or You can replace all of apple cider vinegar with one part fresh apple cider (not spiced) and one part lemon juice.

Quick Candied Pecans for Salad:

I'm sharing here a recipe for quick candied pecans. But honestly, I often use plain raw or salt roasted or candied pecans or walnuts for this salad. If you don't like nuts, you can even go for salt roasted pepita seeds.

For Candied Pecans you need:

1. Pecans
2. Powdered Sugar
3. Salt and Pepper

To make candid pecans, preheat oven and line a baking sheet with parchment.

1. Soak pecans in water. Imp:For best results, drain well (using a sieve) to remove most of the water. Pecans should be just wet but without water droplets.
2. Add pecans to the bowl with sugar and pepper. Toss quickly to coat pecans in sugar.
3. Spread on prepared baking sheet.
4. Bake for 8-10 minutes or until pecans are slightly caramelized. Leave aside to cool completely.

TIP:Candied Pecan, stored in air-tight container, are good for 2-3 weeks.

(Note: Please note that the raw pecans or walnuts are lower in calories than roasted/candied pecans. If you watching diet, skip candied pecans and go for raw nuts.)

This Kale Salad is also a healthy, gluten free and vegan salad. Such salads make healthy addition to fall dinner. Plus leftovers are great to pack for lunch.

Friends, bring home the flavor of fall with this delicious, simple and vibrant Apple Kale Salad. This salad has so much to offer! I'm sure you will LOVE the combination of sweet and tart flavor of salad with Apple Cider Vinegar Dressing and crunchy Candied Pecans.

Happy Munching! -Savita x