Kale Apple Salad with Honey Dijon Dressing Recipe
A refreshing and nutritious kale apple salad featuring tender massaged kale leaves, crisp Cosmic Crisp apples, and a tangy, sweet dressing made with apple cider vinegar, honey, and Dijon mustard. This quick and easy salad is perfect for a light lunch or as a vibrant side dish.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 10 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings
- Category: Salad
- Method: No-Cook
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Salad
- 1 bunch kale (curly or lacinato)
- 2 Cosmic Crisp apples
- 1/4 red onion, finely diced
Dressing
- 3 tbsp apple cider vinegar
- 2 tbsp honey (or maple syrup, optional)
- 1 tbsp Dijon mustard
- 3 tsp poppy seeds
- 3 tbsp olive oil
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/8 tsp pepper
Instructions
- Prepare the kale: Remove the ribs from the kale and slice the leaves thinly into narrow ribbons. Drizzle a bit of olive oil over the kale and massage the leaves gently for 3-5 minutes until tender. Transfer the massaged kale to a large salad bowl.
- Dice the apples: Cut the Cosmic Crisp apples into cubes or matchsticks. Using a mandolin slicer can help achieve uniform pieces for better texture.
- Make the dressing: In a jar, combine finely diced red onion, apple cider vinegar, honey (or maple syrup), Dijon mustard, poppy seeds, olive oil, salt, and pepper. Seal the jar tightly and shake vigorously until the dressing is fully emulsified.
- Assemble the salad: Pour the dressing over the kale and apples in the salad bowl. Toss thoroughly to ensure every leaf and apple piece is well coated with the dressing. Serve immediately or refrigerate briefly before serving.
Notes
- Massaging the kale softens its texture and reduces bitterness.
- Using Cosmic Crisp apples adds a nice balance of sweetness and crispness; other sweet-tart apple varieties can be substituted.
- Honey can be replaced with maple syrup to make the dressing vegan-friendly.
- For a crunchier salad, add toasted nuts or seeds as a topping.
- Salad is best enjoyed fresh but can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 day.
