My easy Kale Salad with Apples is a healthy salad recipe that even your kids will love! It is full of crunchy, sweet apples that balance out the harsh flavor of the kale. Tossed with a sweet vinaigrette, this kid-friendly salad is simply delicious!
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This is an amazing vegan kale salad. There, I said it—kale and amazing in the same sentence! This is by far my best salad recipe.
You can enjoy this salad as a side dish or toss in some grilled shrimp or chicken for a delicious light meal. If you love recipes with fruit, you will love this collection of gluten free recipes for Tu Bishvat.
If you love salad with dinner as much as we do, check out all of my delicious gluten free salad recipes.
Why I love this kale salad:
- My kids eat it. This is the first kale salad that my family will eat. My kids went nuts over this salad, and they HATE kale!! I think it’s because the apples add a bit of sweetness to balance out the slight bitterness of the kale.
- It is fresh and can be made ahead!
- It is easy to make in about 10 minutes.
- It will stay in your refrigerator for 3-4 days. So many wins!
I thought this was delicious. I had Tuscan kale which was great in the salad. Even my husband, who does not love kale, ate two helpings of it! A miracle! I will definitely make this again.
Alene, blog comment
Thank you for a great recipe.
Allergen Information:
This easy kale and apple salad is gluten-free, dairy-free, soy-free, nut-free, and oat-free. It is also vegan.
Why Is Kale Massage So Great?
One tip I must share from Chef Lopez is to massage your kale. It softens the kale leaves, and I know this sounds weird, but it also reduces the bitterness.
Another great tip for making kale taste good is removing the vein down the middle of the leaves. This is where the bitter flavor comes from, so try to remove as much as possible.
This easy kale and apple salad recipe is full of romaine lettuce, kale, apples, and raisins…feel free to add other fruits; the dressing really works with the different flavors. If you love apples as much as I do, try some of my favorite gluten free apple recipes!
Step-By-Step Photos and Directions:
Step 1: Mix the dressing ingredients in a small bowl and use a whisk to blend the salad dressing ingredients. For best results, ensure all ingredients are at room temperature.
Step 2: Trim the main central vein out of every kale leaf. Massage your kale and break it into pieces. Cut your apples into bite-sized pieces. Add the lettuce and raisins.
Step 3: Pour the dressing into the salad ingredients. Use metal tongs or wooden spoons to toss to coat the salad with the dressing. Allow the salad to sit for 10 minutes so the flavors can blend.
Frequently Asked Questions:
I highly advise leaving the apple skin on! They are a great source of fiber.
I always use extra virgin olive oil to massage the kale. You can also use avocado oil.
This kale and apple salad should stay in an airtight container in your refrigerator for up to 4 days.
Yes! You can easily make this salad into a main meal by adding a cooked protein like shrimp, tofu, beef, or chicken!
You may also love this Arugula Pear Salad or this Green Goddess Salad. If you love eating salad with fruit, this easy Strawberry Spring Salad.
Serve With:
- Serve this delicious salad with these Gluten Free Biscuits.
- Crusty Gluten Free Breadsticks
- Fluffy Gluten Free Cheddar Muffins
- These crunchy Gluten Free Cheese Straws
- East African Pilau Rice
Love This Recipe?
If you made and enjoyed this recipe, I would be incredibly grateful if you could leave a comment below. This will help others know this recipe is delicious. Thank you!
Kale Salad with Apples
Equipment
- Whisk
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 1 teaspoon dijon mustard
- 1 clove garlic minced
- 1 bunch kale * see note
- 2 apples chopped
- 1 head romaine lettuce chopped
- ¼ cup raisins
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 1 tablespoon chopped basil
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Instructions
- In a small bowl, mix lemon juice, olive oil, vinegar, dijan, basil, and garlic. Whisk and allow to sit.
- In a large salad bowl, add all salad ingredients.
- Pour the dressing over the salad and toss to coat. Allow to sit for 10 minutes for flavors to blend.
Notes
- To make your kale kid-friendly, you will want to massage the kale to remove the bitter flavor. To massage kale, put it into a bowl and use your hands to rub the leaves. Continue until the leaves soften and lose some of their stiffness.
- Rub your kale with extra virgin olive oil for the best flavor.
- You can customize this salad in a few ways. Add nuts and dried cranberries for a fun flavor combination.
- Add cooked shrimp or chicken to make this salad a meal.
SPECIAL NOTE
Please know that every gluten free flour blend has a different starch to grain ratio. If you use a blend I didn’t test, you may need to adjust your moisture levels in your baked goods.
Nutrition
Nutrition Disclaimer
Nutritional information is an estimate provided to you as a courtesy. You should calculate the actual nutritional information with the products and brands you are using with your preferred nutritional calculator.
(*Original recipe Oct 2013. Photos edited 8/29/16. The post was updated with more detailed instructions 5/3/22.))
I thought this was delicious. I had Tuscan kale which was great in the salad. Even my husband, who does not love kale, ate two helpings of it! A miracle! I will definitely make this again. Thank you for a great recipe.
I am so glad you liked this salad Alene. And yay…your kale hating hubby loved it too!
I have a question…the description of the dressing indicates that it is sweet. I don’t see any type of sweetener in the ingredient list so I’m wondering whether an ingredient is missing.
Hi Janey, The sweetness comes from the apples and massaged kale, which takes the bitterness out.
Loved it.I had to modify it a little as I was out of a couple of things, but it was delicious
I am so glad you liked it Debi 🙂