A simple combination of sweet and savory, green and crunchy all at the same time. Warm kale salad with cranberries and walnuts. Warm salads are satisfying as we head into fall and a great way to get more greens into your diet. Serve as a side dish to roast chicken, as a bed for roast salmon or atop quinoa for a bowl.
Here's a favorite side dish for roast chicken and salmon in the fall. The flavor combinations are really super. Hope you enjoy.
Ingredient Tips
Kale
Kale - This sturdy, leafy green is a nutritional powerhouse. It’s one vegetable you should add to your grocery list and this warm kale salad makes it easy to enjoy. It's quick to prepare, super healthy, and of course, it tastes great. My husband was happily surprised. More vegetables is a good thing!
While you can buy bags of pre-chopped kale at many markets, they don't cut out the tough center rib. Skip the bags and spend a few minutes chopping your own. The result is better.
Cut the center ribs out of the kale leaves, and then cut the leaves crosswise into thin ribbons. Alternatively, hold a leaf in one hand and with the other, strip off the leafy part from the center rib by pulling from the end.
For two people, you’ll need one large bunch of kale. It might seem like a lot, but kale shrinks up as most vegetable too because of their high water content. Do two bundles of kale for 4 people.
Vinegar and Fruit
Vinegar - Use a Balsamic vinegar, sherry vinegar, or a fancy fruit-flavored vinegar. I have lots of fun, flavored vinegars in my pantry to create interesting vinaigrettes. I’ve used a dark cherry balsamic and a fig balsamic. Try something fun and flavorful.
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For the cranberries, look for sulfite-free.
Instructions
Pre-cook the chopped kale ribbons by steaming or blanching for about 2 minutes. Drain and use right away or cool, refrigerate and for use a few days later.
To complete the dish, cook shallot in olive oil with garlic for a minute. Add the dried cranberries, walnuts and vinegar, cook for a minute, then add the kale. Toss and cook for a minute or two until the greens are coated and warm. That’s it.
Prep Ahead Tips
Prepping ahead saves time when you get home, everyone is hungry and you need a quick dinner. To prep this warm kale salad ahead, do the following:
- Wash, stem and chop the kale leaves
- Chop walnuts and measure out
- Measure out the cranberries
- Chop the shallot
- Cover everything and refrigerate the kale and shallot until cooking time
- Place the rest of the ingredients ready to go near the stove
Kale Nutrition
Kale is a nutritional giant among vegetables, a true superfood. It provides antioxidant and anti-inflammatory nutrients, micronutrients and has been shown to help prevent a number of cancers. It's a good source of iron, fiber, calcium, healthy omega-3 fats and is a detoxifier (good for our livers).
📖 Recipe
Warm Kale Salad with Dried Cranberries and Walnuts
Ingredients
- 2 bunches organic kale Tuscan, Lacinato or Dinosaur
- 1 medium shallot
- 2 teaspoons salt used for boiling water
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 large garlic cloves chopped fine
- ¼ cup chopped walnuts
- ¼ cup dried cranberries
- 1 tablespoon Balsamic vinegar
- A sprinkle of sea salt and ground black pepper
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Instructions
- Bring a large pot (5 quart/liter) of water to a boil while you are trimming the kale leaves and slicing the shallot. Trim the ribs out of the center of the kale leaves, then cut the leaves crosswise into ribbons. Slice the peeled shallot crosswise into thin rings.
- When water boils, add 2 teaspoons salt, then drop the kale leaves into the water and cook for 2 minutes (called blanching). Drain well through a sieve and place kale on a clean kitchen towel. Alternatively you can steam your kale for 2-3 minutes, then proceed with the recipe.
- In a medium saute or fry pan (3 or 4 quart), heat the olive oil over medium low heat until warm. Add the shallot rings, then the garlic. Cook for 1-2 minutes, stirring until softened. Be careful not to let them burn. Add the cranberries, walnuts and vinegar. Stir and cook for a minute, then add the cooked kale. Toss the kale ribbons to coat and warm, season up with salt and pepper, then serve.
Notes
- Wash, stem and chop the kale leaves
- Chop walnuts and measure out
- Measure out the cranberries
- Chop the shallot
- Cover everything and refrigerate the kale and shallot until cooking time
- Place the rest of the ingredients ready to go near the stove
Donna says
Throw some spinach in to the mix-awesome!
Sally Cameron says
Sounds like a good idea Donna, but spinach gives off a lot of water. If you try it please report back on how it worked for you.
dessertfortwo says
So gorgeous! That Tuscan black kale is my favorite kind of kale. Love love love it 🙂 Have you ever massaged Tuscan kale ribbons with avocado, cayenne and lemon juice? Way better than it sounds. It takes on a creamy banana-y flavor after massaging. I sound like a crazy person now, so I'll leave... 😉
Sally says
Nope, have not tried that! My favorite kind of kale too.
Lisa says
Made it for dinner tonight. I ate the whole thing as my meal. Delicious!
Julia | JuliasAlbum.com says
Beautiful salad! Love cooked onions, blanched kale, and all the other stuff.
Angie@Angie's Recipes says
I could have this everyday!
Madonna/aka/Ms. Lemon says
Ok, kale is going on my shopping list.