Gimme' all the kale, pomegranates, and apples - I seriously can't get enough of this delicious Winter produce. While throwing together this recent recipe creation, I really wanted to take this salad up a notch with an apple butter vinaigrette! Yes, an APPLE BUTTER VINAIGRETTE! This is one of my most flavorful and craveable salads yet. This healthy, make-ahead winter kale salad recipe is easy to throw together and is full of sweet and bold flavor. Now, let's get chopping!

YOU MIGHT ALSO LOVE THESE RECIPES:  Asparagus Ribbon Salad  /  Bourbon Spice Applesauce  /  Guide to Refreshing Wilted Greens

STEP 1: Prep and chop your kale, apples, and whole pecans. STEP 2: Whisk together all Apple Butter Vinaigrette dressing ingredients. STEP 3: Toss this Winter kale salad with dressing and load on the toppings. MAKE AHEAD: Refrigerate in an airtight container and enjoy within 24 hours.

CHEF'S TIP: To soften raw kale, you first want to cut your bunch of kale into thin ribbons, which will help breakdown the tough texture. The next softening technique is to massage the kale with dressing. To massage kale, tightly grab bunches of dressed kale and squeeze handfuls to soften. Finally, the apple butter vinaigrette acidity will also help chemically breakdown and soften your kale.

DIETITIAN'S TIP: Kale is full of vitamin K, which keeps your heart and arteries healthy, and bones strong. Kale is the king of vitamin K, with one cup of chopped kale giving you 684% of the vitamin K you need in one day! That's more vitamin K than any other food can give you. Source 1, Source 2

SHOP MY APPLE BUTTER VINAIGRETTE INGREDIENTS

I WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU! Did you make this Apple Butter Vinaigrette Kale Salad? Have a pro tip to share or a recipe question? Let me know in the comments section below!

Apple Butter Vinaigrette Kale Salad

Pin Recipe

Print Recipe

★★★★★

5 from 1 reviews

This easy & healthy kale salad recipe is full of apple flavors! This recipe also uses an apple butter vinaigrette, which brings a new dimension to this dish. This easy & healthy make ahead kale salad recipe is perfect for lunches, parties, or for feeding a crowd.

• Author: Michele Sidorenkov, RDN
• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 2 minutes
• Total Time: 12 minutes
• Yield: 2 salads 1x
• Category: salad
• Cuisine: salad

Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

4 heaping cups of chopped kale

1 thinly sliced apple

⅓ cup pomegranate seeds

¼ cup chopped pecans

4 spoonfuls of apple butter

For the Dressing:

3 tablespoons olive oil

1 tablespoon apple butter

1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar

1 teaspoon dijon mustard

Pinch of salt

Instructions

1. In a small bowl, whisk together all dressing ingredients until well combined.
2. In a larger bowl, toss the shredded kale, apple butter vinaigrette, half of the pomegranate seeds, and half of the chopped pecans together until evenly distributed.
3. Top salad with remaining pomegranate seeds, chopped pecans, spoonfuls of apple butter, and apple slices.

Notes

1. Make Ahead: Store your fully dressed salad in an air-tight container and enjoy within 24 hours. Kale is extra hardy, so making this Apple Butter Vinaigrette Salad ahead of time won't make your salad soggy!

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 1 salad (½ the recipe)
• Calories: 584
• Sugar: 30 g
• Sodium: 182 mg
• Fat: 41.5 g
• Saturated Fat: 4.5 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 37 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 54 g
• Fiber: 9.5 g
• Protein: 8 g
• Cholesterol: 0 mg

Keywords: kale salad, apple butter recipe