If you’re in need of a quick and delicious salad that can be easily customized, look no further than this Zesty Kale Salad with Cranberry, Walnut, and Feta. Packed with nutritious kale, tangy dried cranberries, crunchy walnuts, and creamy feta cheese, it’s a delightful mix of flavors and textures. To bring it all together, a light lemon vinaigrette adds the perfect tangy,sweet, and savory touch. Enjoy this vibrant and satisfying salad that’s ready in minutes!
You can enjoy this nutritious salad as a standalone dish, over greens, or with your preferred toppings. It’s not only quick and budget-friendly but also incredibly healthy. Kale is packed with essential vitamins like A, C, and K, along with beneficial minerals such as calcium and potassium. The addition of cranberries, walnuts, and feta provides extra antioxidants, healthy fats, and protein. You don’t need to worry about breaking the bank to savor this nutrient-rich meal since it features readily accessible and affordable ingredients.
There are countless ways to enjoy this recipe, making it an instant favorite that you’ll want to try time and time again. Get creative with various add-ins like chickpeas, avocado, chicken, or shrimp to add some heartiness to the dish. If kale isn’t your thing, feel free to switch it up with other greens of your choice. For some extra texture, consider adding shaved Parmesan, croutons, or roasted veggies. The beauty of this salad lies in its versatility – serve it as a side dish or a light entree all year round. You can even toss it over pasta for a unique twist that suits your personal palate.
Why You’ll Love This Zesty Kale Salad
This Kale Salad with Cranberry, Walnut, and Feta is:
- Quick and easy to make. You can have this colorful salad on the table in 10 minutes or less
- Made with ingredients that are readily available year-round, so you can enjoy it anytime
- Tossed in a light, tangy vinaigrette that adds flavor without too many calories
- Extremely versatile. Feel free to customize it by:
- Adding your favorite salad ingredients like apples, pomegranate, or squash
- Using different greens like spinach, arugula, or romaine
- Topping it with shaved Parmesan, croutons, or roasted veggies
- Serving it as a side dish, light entree, or even over pasta
With so many variations, you can make this zesty Kale Salad with Cranberry, Walnut, and Feta your own. It’s a quick, healthy, and delicious addition to any meal.
More Reasons to Love This Salad
- It’s nutrient-dense. Kale is packed with vitamins A, C, and K as well as minerals like calcium and potassium. The cranberries, walnuts, and feta add extra antioxidants, healthy fats, and protein.
- It’s budget-friendly. The main ingredients – kale, dried cranberries, walnuts, and feta – are all relatively inexpensive. This salad comes together easily without breaking the bank.
- It’s endlessly adaptable. Feel free to play around with different add-ins like chickpeas, avocado, chicken, or shrimp to make it a heartier meal. Swap out the kale for other greens if you prefer. Make it your own!
So for a quick, healthy, and customizable salad that won’t drain your wallet, give this zesty kale cranberry walnut salad a try. It’s sure to become a staple in your home.
Easy to Assemble
This salad comes together in just 10 minutes! Simply massage the kale, toss with the prepared vinaigrette, cranberries, walnuts, and feta, and dinner is served. With just a few ingredients and minimal prep, you’ll have this colorful salad on the table in no time.
Satisfying Crunch
The texture combination of this salad is irresistible. The kale provides earthy greens, the cranberries and walnuts offer sweet and nutty crunch, while the feta gives a creamy, salty bite. Every forkful is a party of flavors and textures in your mouth!
Make It a Meal
While delicious on its own, this salad can easily be turned into a heartier meal. Top it with cooked chicken, shrimp, or chickpeas for extra protein. Mix in avocado, roasted veggies, or quinoa for additional heft. Drizzle with an extra squeeze of lemon and a sprinkling of Parmesan cheese for extra richness.
Storing the Zesty Kale Salad
To keep this salad fresh and crunchy, it’s best to add the dressing right before serving. However, you can prep the components in advance:
- Store the cleaned and chopped kale in an airtight container lined with paper towels. This helps absorb extra moisture to prevent sogginess.
- Make the dressing up to 5 days ahead and store it in a mason jar or container with a tight-fitting lid.
- Keep delicate add-ins like cranberries, walnuts, and feta separate in the fridge until ready to use.
When ready to eat, simply:
- Toss the kale with a squeeze of lemon or lime juice to revive it.
- Shake up the dressing to re-emulsify.
- Add in desired amounts of cranberries, walnuts, feta, and any other mix-ins.
- Drizzle over the kale and toss well to coat evenly. Enjoy immediately for maximum crunch and flavor!
Proper storage keeps the salad crisp and vibrant for several days. Assemble just before eating for the freshest taste.
Ingredients for the Kale Salad with Cranberry, Walnut, and Feta:
Salad
| Ingredient | Quantity |
|---|---|
| Kale | 1 bunch, stems removed and finely chopped |
| Dried cranberries | 1/2 cup, chopped |
| Walnuts | 1/2 cup, chopped |
| Feta cheese | 1/2 cup, chopped |
| Salt | 1/4 teaspoon |
Dressing
| Ingredient | Quantity |
|---|---|
| Lemon juice | 2 tablespoons |
| Lemon zest | From 1 lemon |
| Olive oil | 1/4 cup |
| Apple cider vinegar | 1/4 cup |
| Honey | 1 tablespoon |
| Fresh pepper | 1/4 teaspoon |
To make this salad dressing, it’s best to use quality ingredients like extra virgin olive oil and acidic vinegar for emulsification. Store-bought dressings often have preservatives and added sugar. For a healthy homemade dressing, use a 2:1 ratio of oil to acid and experiment with herbs, spices, citrus, and other flavors. You can double or triple the batch and store it in the fridge for up to a week. This kale salad pairs nicely with grilled meats or veggies. Build an at-home salad bar with prepped greens and toppings for easy assembly. With homemade dressing and customized add-ins, you can look forward to salad every day!
Here is a sample substitution table for the Zesty Kale Salad with Cranberry, Walnut, and Feta recipe:
| Ingredient | Substitution |
|---|---|
| Kale | Spinach, arugula, mixed greens |
| Dried cranberries | Dried cherries, raisins, chopped apples |
| Walnuts | Pecans, sliced almonds, pumpkin seeds |
| Feta cheese | Goat cheese, parmesan, shredded mozzarella |
| Apple cider vinegar | Red wine vinegar, white wine vinegar, lemon juice |
| Olive oil | Avocado oil, walnut oil, grapeseed oil |
This table provides some ideas for substituting ingredients in the Kale Salad with Cranberry, Walnut, and Feta and dressing. You can customize it based on personal taste, diet needs, or what you have on hand. The key is to maintain the balance of flavors and textures while using healthy, high-quality ingredients. Play around with different add-ins like chickpeas, beets, or roasted veggies too. With so many possibilities, you can create your own signature version of this versatile kale salad!
Step-by-Step Process:
Directions
Prepare the dressing
- In a jar (e.g. mason jar), put all the dressing ingredients – olive oil, lemon zest, lemon juice, apple cider vinegar, honey, and pepper
- Close the lid and shake for one or two minutes until the mixture is emulsified
- Prepare the salad
Salad:
- Remove the stalks from the kale (keep them for Caldo Verde)
- Roll the kale into a sausage or cigar shape and slice finely into discs and then cut the discs in half
- Place the kale in a mixing bowl and add the salt. Massage the kale for 30 seconds to 1 minute. The kale will go dark green, become glossy, and will smell like grass
- Add the dressing and toss the kale until it is evenly coated
- Add the cranberries, walnuts, grated lemon rind, and feta cheese
- Toss a second time to distribute the ingredients
- Transfer to a serving dish and serve immediately or place in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to 4 days.
For more inspiration for this Kale Salad with Cranberry, Walnut, and Feta, visit this site.
Zesty Kale Salad with Cranberry, Walnut and Feta
Course: SaladsCuisine: Western, ModernDifficulty: Easy4
servings20
minutes192
kcal20
minutesLooking for a salad that comes together in minutes, bursts with flavor, and can be customized in endless ways? This Zesty Kale Salad with Cranberries, Walnuts, and Feta is sure to satisfy. Made with nutrient-dense kale, tart, dried cranberries, crunchy walnuts, and creamy feta, it’s a party on your plate! The light lemon vinaigrette ties everything together for a tangy, sweet, and savory flavor combo. Whether you serve it on its own, over greens, or topped with your favorite add-ins, this salad makes for a quick, healthy, and budget-friendly meal or side. With so many variations, you’ll want to make this versatile recipe again and again.
Ingredients
- Salad
1 bunch kale, stems removed and finely chopped
1/2 cup dried cranberries, chopped
1/2 cup walnuts, chopped
1/2 cup feta cheese, chopped
1/4 teaspoon salt
- Dressing
2 tablespoons lemon juice
lemon zest from 1 lemon
1/4 cup olive oil
1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
1 tablespoon honey
1/4 teaspoon fresh pepper
Directions
- Prepare the dressing
- In a jar (e.g. mason jar), put all the dressing ingredients – olive oil, lemon zest, lemon juice, apple cider vinegar, honey, and pepper
- Close the lid and shake for one or two minutes until the mixture is emulsified
- Prepare the salad
- Remove the stalks from the kale
- Roll the kale into a sausage or cigar shape and slice finely into discs and then cut the discs in half
- Place the kale in a mixing bowl and add the salt. Massage the kale for 30 seconds to 1 minute. The kale will go dark green, become glossy, and will smell like grass
- Add the dressing and toss the kale until it is evenly coated
- Add the cranberries, walnuts, grated lemon rind, and feta cheese
- Toss a second time to distribute the ingredients
- Transfer to a serving dish and serve immediately or place in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to 4 days.
Notes
- If the dressing is too tart, add more honey
- If the dressing is too sweet, add more lemon juice
- Use pecans instead of walnuts
- Massage the kale in oil after the salt toss and do not add the dressing if you are preparing a couple of days in advance. Toss in the dressing just before serving.
