• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Fearless Dining
  • New? Start Here
  • Recipe Index
  • Cookbooks
  • GF Resources
    • Pantry
  • The Gluten Free Resource Guide: Everything You Need To Know About Gluten Free Living
  • Reader Testimonials
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Home
  • Resources
    • My Pantry
  • Testimonials
  • Recipes
  • Cookbooks
  • About
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • Home
  • Resources
    • My Pantry
  • Testimonials
  • Recipes
  • Cookbooks
  • About
×
Home Recipes egg free recipes

Kid-friendly Kale Salad with Apples Recipe

Published: May 3, 2022 · Modified: Aug 19, 2022 by Sandi Gaertner · 25 Comments · This post may contain affiliate links

  • Facebook
  • Yummly
  • Flipboard
Jump to Recipe
kale pinterest pin image

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!

close up of the kale and apple salad in a wooden bowl
Jump to:
  • Why This Kale Salad Is Amazing:
  • Step By Step Recipe Directions:
  • Expert Tips and Recipe FAQ:
  • More Delicious Salad Recipes To Try:
  • 📖 Recipe
  • Fearless Dining
  • 💬 Comments

This is an amazing vegan kale salad. There, I said it. Kale and amazing in the same sentence! This is by far my very best salad recipe.

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.

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 This Kale Salad Is Amazing:

  • My kids eat it. This is the miracle kale salad that gets healthy food into your kids.
  • It is fresh and can be made ahead!
  • It is easy to make in about 10 minutes.
  • It will keep for 3-4 days in your refrigerator. So many wins!

These were so yummy...just make sure your dough is slightly sticky. Adding a touch more milk if needed. My batch came out a bit dry, my family still scarfed them though!"

Krystal C., Pinterest comment
side view of a big wooden bowl filled with kale salad

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 out some of my favorite gluten free apple recipes!

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 reduces the bitterness a bit as well.

Another great tip to making kale taste good is to make sure you remove the vein that goes down the middle of the leaves. This is where the bitter flavor comes from, so try to remove as much as you can.

Make it a meal with this East African Pilau Rice.

Step By Step Recipe Directions:

kale salad dressing in a bowl

Step 1: Mix up the dressing ingredients in a small bowl and use a whisk to blend the salad dressing ingredients together. For best results, be sure all of the ingredients are at room temperature.

kale salad ingredients in a bowl

Step 2: Trim the main central vein out of every leaf of kale. 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 all of the salad with the dressing. Allow the salad to sit for 10 minutes so the flavors can blend together.

Serve this delicious salad with these Gluten Free Biscuits, these crunchy Gluten Free Cheese Straws, or these Gluten Free Breadsticks!

Expert Tips and Recipe FAQ:

Do you have to peel the apples before chopping?

I highly advise leaving the apple skin on! They are a great source of fiber.

What is the best oil for kale massage?

I always use extra virgin olive oil to massage the kale. You can also use avocado oil.

How long will this kale and apple salad keep fresh?

This kale and apple salad should keep up to 4 days in an air-tight container in your refrigerator.

Can you make this an entré salad?

Yes! You can easily make this salad into a main meal by adding a cooked protein like shrimp, tofu, beef, or chicken!

the top view of a big bowl of kale salad

If you love eating salad with fruit, this easy Strawberry Spring Salad and Strawberry Feta Salad recipes are also delicious!

More Delicious Salad Recipes To Try:

  • A big bowl of gluten free macaroni salad.
    Gluten Free Macaroni Salad
  • A chicken salad sandwich on a plate.
    Easy Curry Chicken Salad With Grapes
  • A bowl full of curried tuna salad.
    Easy Rainbow Chard Curried Tuna Salad
  • The top view of a full container of croutons.
    How to Make Gluten Free Croutons

📖 Recipe

kale salad with apples in a wooden salad bowl

Kale Salad with Apples

Sandi Gaertner
Kale Salad with Apples is a kid friendly healthy salad recipe! Crunchy sweet apples balance out the harsh flavor of the kale. Tossed with a sweet vinaigrette, this Gluten Free Kale Salad with Apples is simply delicious!
4.25 from 4 votes
dairy free allergen icon
gluten free allergy icon
nut free allergen icon
soy free allergy icon
Print Recipe Pin Recipe Save RecipeSaved!
Prevent your screen from going dark
Prep Time 15 minutes mins
Total Time 15 minutes mins
Course Gluten Free Salad Recipes
Cuisine American
Servings 8 people
Calories 75 kcal

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

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

  1. 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.
  2. Rub your kale with extra virgin olive oil for the best flavor.
  3. You can customize this salad in a few ways. Add nuts and dried cranberries for a fun flavor combination.
  4. 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

Calories: 75kcalCarbohydrates: 11gProtein: 1gFat: 4gSaturated Fat: 1gSodium: 12mgPotassium: 135mgFiber: 1gSugar: 5gVitamin A: 1054IUVitamin C: 13mgCalcium: 15mgIron: 1mg
Tried this Recipe? Pin it for Later!Mention @FearlessDining or tag #FearlessDining!

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.

Fearless Dining

Looking for more? Get my FREE Gluten Free Lemon Desserts E-Cookbook when you sign up for my weekly recipe newsletter!

Get Free Recipes To Your Inbox
Buy My Cookbook
Join My Facebook Group
  • Instagram
  • Bandcamp
  • Twitter
  • Twitch

(*Original recipe Oct 2013. Photos edited 8/29/16. The post was updated with more detailed instructions 5/3/22.))

Save

More Egg Free Recipes

  • A gluten free cruffin on a small white plate next to a platter of cruffins.
    Gluten Free Cruffins
  • A bowl filled with scoops of edible cookie dough.
    Edible Gluten Free Cookie Dough {Dairy-Free Option!}
  • A serving of gluten free apple dump cake topped with whipped cream.
    3-Ingredient Gluten Free Dump Cake
  • A plate full of gluten free cheeseburger pasta. A dollop of sour cream is on top as a garnish.
    Gluten Free Cheeseburger Pasta
  • Facebook
  • Yummly
  • Flipboard

Reader Interactions

Comments

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




  1. Alene

    September 22, 2020 at 4:41 pm

    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.

    Reply
    • Sandi Gaertner

      September 23, 2020 at 4:19 pm

      I am so glad you liked this salad Alene. And yay...your kale hating hubby loved it too!

      Reply
  2. Janey

    February 22, 2020 at 9:24 am

    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.

    Reply
    • Sandi Gaertner

      February 22, 2020 at 9:19 pm

      Hi Janey, The sweetness comes from the apples and massaged kale, which takes the bitterness out.

      Reply
  3. Debi

    March 19, 2018 at 1:04 pm

    4 stars
    Loved it.I had to modify it a little as I was out of a couple of things, but it was delicious

    Reply
    • Sandi Gaertner

      March 19, 2018 at 3:51 pm

      I am so glad you liked it Debi 🙂

      Reply
  4. Ashley @ Big Flavors from a Tiny Kitchen

    March 28, 2017 at 6:33 pm

    Fruit and kale go so well together. This salad looks great!

    Reply
  5. allie

    March 28, 2017 at 5:54 pm

    Gorgeous kale salad! Thanks for all the great kale tips - I massage mine too!

    Reply
    • Sandi Gaertner

      March 28, 2017 at 11:03 pm

      Thank you so much Allie 🙂

      Reply
« Older Comments

Primary Sidebar

  • Amazon
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
  • TikTok
A picture of my face standing in front of landscape bushes

Welcome to my blog! I am so glad you are here. If you have Celiac Disease, are gluten intolerant, or have a wheat allergy, you've come to the right place. With years of extensive experience in recipe development, I am dedicated to assisting you on your gluten free journey. As a seasoned gluten free cookbook author and recipe developer, I specialize in creating easy, family-friendly recipes that rival their gluten-filled counterparts. Rest assured, my recipes undergo rigorous testing and refinement, ensuring foolproof results every time.

More about me →

Back To School Recipes:

  • Two bowls of Gluten Free Hamburger Helper on a wooden table.
    Gluten-Free Hamburger Helper: One-Pot Comfort Food
  • a plate with orange chicken over rice.
    Quick and Easy Gluten Free Orange Chicken
  • a photo of the skillet lasagna in a large pan.
    Gluten Free Skillet Lasagna
  • chopsticks holding up beef and noodles
    Gluten Free Beef and Broccoli Stir Fry

More Meal Recipes!

A glass bowl filled with my gluten free flour blend.

Try My DIY Gluten Free Flour Blend Recipe! It is also gum-free!

Trending Gluten Free Recipes:

  • Two slices of gluten free bread on a plate.
    Bake the Best Gluten Free Bread with Your Bread Machine
  • A baked pie crust in a pan.
    How to Make a Homemade Gluten Free Pie Crust
  • two bowls of chicken soup with a garlic press and garlic cloves next to the bowls
    Grandma's Chicken Soup From Scratch
  • a biscuit cut in half on a plate with butter
    The Best Flaky Gluten Free Biscuits

Footer

^ back to top

About

  • About Me
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Accessibility Policy

Newsletter

  • Sign Up!

Contact

  • Contact
  • Work With Me
  • Web Stories

Copyright © 2013-2023 Fearless Dining, LLC.