Spring Kale Salad for Thanksgiving!
Spring Kale Salad for Thanksgiving. So I ask myself, Spring Kale Salad in November? Sure, why not? We have seen Christmas in July and decorations already in stores before Halloween, so why not post a spring kale salad in November, right?
Spring Kale Salad is made with fresh kale leaves, dried cherries, and Fuji apples. Then it’s tossed with a lemon vinaigrette and topped with shaved Pecorino Romano cheese. It’s a tasty salad that can be made early in the day, and it’s ready to be served for dinner.
This spring kale salad will turn out perfectly because dressed kale salads will hold for 12 to 24 hours, staying crisp and fresh.
With Thanksgiving on everyone’s minds these days, I ‘m starting to plan the menu, are you?
My family will never let me change the menu for Thanksgiving, but I like to add a new dish now and then, and this year it will be this spring kale salad to enjoy at the end of our meal.
This salad boasts crispy kale greens, with a tangy-lemon vinaigrette in every bite. Also, there is a delicious balance and contrast when you add in some tart dark cherries and sweet Fuji apples. And, no need to add any salt; the pecorino cheese adds so much flavor while it’s not overpowering.
I love the fact that I can make this dish in advance and refrigerate it while we prepare the other dishes for Thanksgiving. And, that’s great!
I think my family won’t mind if I add a fresh salad like this one to our Thanksgiving table.
And, if there are leftovers? I won’t mind that either, as I will be eating kale salad again for lunch the next day!
….Enjoy!
SOME COOK’S NOTES and TIPS:
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These days, most supermarkets have packages of already chopped kale making it even more convenient. And, you will only need to rinse, spin and fish out any large, thick stems.
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Keep in mind, you can use any red or green apples with this salad.
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If you plan to make this salad one day ahead, you may want to keep the whole apples in the fridge (to keep them cold), and only chop them just before you serve the salad. That way they will stay fresh and crisp without browning or getting soggy.
*Full Recipe Card Below!
Ingredients Needed for Spring Kale Salad:
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9 cups (packed) or (6 ounces) green kale leaves, stems discarded, thinly sliced
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2 to 3 small organic Fuji or green apples, chopped
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3/4 cup dried cherries or cranberries
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freshly ground black pepper to taste
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4 Tbsp. Extra-Virgin olive oil
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Juice of 2 large lemons
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1 garlic clove- minced
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shaved, chopped, or shredded Pecorino Romano Cheese
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optional: 1/2 cup slivered almonds
DIRECTIONS for Spring Kale Salad for Thanksgiving:
In a small mixing bowl, whisk olive oil, lemon juice, black pepper, and minced garlic.
Place kale, dried cherries, and apples into a large mixing bowl pour in lemon vinaigrette and toss until leaves are well coated. Transfer to a serving bowl, and top with small shavings of Pecorino Romano cheese and slivered almonds. Cover with clear wrap and refrigerate until ready to serve.
Serves 6
MORE TASTY SALADS!
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Crunchy Broccoli, Raisins and Walnut Salad
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Spring Tomato, Basil and Bocconcini Salad
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Healthy Apple Bok Choy Salad
Yield: 6
Spring Kale Salad for Thanksgiving!
Spring Kale Salad is made with fresh kale leaves, dried cherries, and Fuji apples. Then it's tossed with a lemon vinaigrette and topped with shaved Pecorino Romano cheese. A wonderful make-ahead salad, and serve it anytime!
Prep Time
15 minutes
Total Time
15 minutes
Ingredients
- 9 cups (packed) or (6 ounces) green kale leaves, stems discarded, thinly sliced
- 2 to 3 small organic Fuji or green apples, chopped
- 3/4 cup dried cherries or cranberries
- freshly ground black pepper to taste
- 4 Tbsp. Extra-Virgin olive oil
- Juice of 2 large lemons
- 1 garlic clove- minced
- shaved, chopped, or shredded Pecorino Romano Cheese
- optional: 1/2 cup slivered almonds
Instructions
- In a small mixing bowl, whisk olive oil, lemon juice, black pepper, and minced garlic.
- Place kale, dried cherries, and apples into a large mixing bowl, pour in lemon vinaigrette and toss until leaves are well coated. Transfer to a serving bowl, and top with small shavings of Pecorino Romano cheese and slivered almonds. Cover with clear wrap and refrigerate until ready to serve.
- Serves 6
Recipe adapted from House Calls magazine, Spring 2016
How refreshing! We always have so many casseroles this would be a shining star on the table, if they let me add it to the menu – haha. Maybe I'll just make it for me. This is so pretty and healthy and I'm sure it is delicious too. Lovely!
Thank you Tricia! I guess holiday traditions (especially " the food" )are sometimes not easy to change! But adding a new salad is ok – as long as I don't eliminate any of their favorite dishes, if you know what I mean- lol
Hi Sandra! At first, I was not fond of Kale either but the lemon, Apple and cherries makes the kale very tasty.
I love the sound of this salad and want to try it out, but with another type of green as I just can't like kale however healthy it is! I love apples and cranberries on salad!