Kale Orange Cranberry Salad Recipe (2024)

This post may contain affiliate links · This blog generates income via ads · 1 Comment

Jump to Recipe

This Orange Cranberry Kale Salad is super-fast to make, loaded with nutritional goodness, and absolutely delicious!

Kale Orange Cranberry Salad Recipe (1)

All hail the kale!!!🙌

I’ve wanted to say that on the blog for a really long time!😄 And since this recipe puts the beautiful green goddess front and center, I thought it was hail-worthy.👌

Did kale even exist 10 years ago? All I know is one day I was happily eating my spinach salad and then out of nowhere - poof, it appeared. And I’ve been tossing, juicing, baking, and growing it ever since.

Kale Orange Cranberry Salad Recipe (2)

I really like how substantial Kale is. It’s so hearty that it stands up to acidic juices and dressings, plus the element of heat when baked or added to soup. It’s also really filling so you never feel hungry after eating it.

Kale is also really easy to grow. And because it’s so hearty it can withstand temperatures as low as 25 degrees. It can even continue to grow if it’s covered in snow!❄️

I planted Red Russian kale in my garden during the Fallof 2015 and I’ve had kale growing ever since. I just leave it there and let it go to seed, it basically replants itself and continues to grow, even in the Boston winters.🌿Crazy - right!?

Kale Orange Cranberry Salad Recipe (3)Kale Orange Cranberry Salad Recipe (4)
Fall 2015: Kale in the garden... & Spring 2016: stillgrowing after a Boston winter!💪

Now you know why I “hail the kale,” huh!??🙌

And if all of that is not enough, there’s still so much more…

Kale is one of the healthiest and most nutritious plant foods around. For real.👍

Here are just a few of the health benefits of Kale:

  • One cup of kale, contains just 33 calories, provides a day's worth of vitamin C, twice the recommended daily intake of vitamin A, and nearly seven times the recommended amount of vitamin K. As well as decent amount of minerals and healthy fatty acids.
  • Eating kale can lower the risk of 5 different cancers: bladder, breast, colon, ovary, and prostate.
  • Kale provides comprehensive support for the body's detoxification system.
  • Kale is great for your eyes! With high levels of lutein and zeaxanthin, it can lower risk of macular degeneration and cataracts.
  • Kale can lower your cholesterol whether it’s raw or cooked, which may reduce the risk of heart disease.
  • Kale could also aid in weight loss. Because it’s so low in calories, but so fibrous and hearty it should keep you filling full.

If you didn't already know it, I’m sure you would now agree that Kale is king!

And so is this salad I made with it!!👇 Holla!✌️

Kale Orange Cranberry Salad Recipe (5)

A super-easy Kale Salad Recipe!

This Kale Orange Cranberry Salad takes 5 minutes to make and it’s highly addictive. After 4 portions the B man had to cut himself off from eating it (so much for it making you feel full!). LOL😂

Trust me B is the exception – he is an eating machine, and has the stomach capacity of an elephant.🐘

Kale Orange Cranberry Salad Recipe (6)

This salad is so easy to prepare: You wash and dry the kale leaves. Then remove the stem and tear into small pieces. Zest one orange. Mix together the dressing which has fresh orange juice, cranberry juice, olive oil, honey or maple syrup and some salt and pepper.

Then toast some sliced almonds for 5 minutes on 350. Toss it all together and let it sit for 5 minutes so the leaves wilt just a bit. Sprinkle on the orange zest and enjoy!🍴

Kale Orange Cranberry Salad Recipe (7)

Boom.💥 Super flavorful, and super delicious!!! All hail the Kale Orange Cranberry Salad!!!💚

Yield: 5 people

Kale Orange Cranberry Salad

Kale Orange Cranberry Salad Recipe (8)

Super-fast to make, loaded with nutritional goodness, and absolutely delicious!

Prep Time5 minutes

Total Time5 minutes

Ingredients

For The Salad:

  • ½ cup sliced almonds
  • 1 bunch of kale, washed, stems removed, torn into 2-inch pieces
  • 1 cup dried cranberries
  • zest from one orange

For The Dressing:

  • 3 tablespoons orange juice
  • 3 tablespoons cranberry juice
  • 3 tablespoons white balsamic vinegar,, or apple cider vinegar
  • 1 teaspoon honey or pure maple syrup
  • ⅛ teaspoon salt
  • ⅛ teaspoon pepper

Instructions

  1. Place almonds on small baking sheet and toast at 350 until slightly browned, about 3-5 minutes (watch them closely so they don't burn!). Meanwhile, zest the orange, rinse, dry, and tear the kale into 2-inch pieces.
  2. Juice the orange into a small bowl or salad dressing shaker, then add the other dressing ingredients and combine thoroughly.
  3. In a large serving bowl, combine kale, almonds, and cranberries. Toss with the salad dressing until well-coated
  4. Finish the salad with orange zest and serve.

Notes

If you can find them, you can buy almonds already sliced & toasted!

Nutrition Information

Yield

5

Serving Size

8 ounces

Amount Per ServingCalories 161Total Fat 6gUnsaturated Fat 0gSodium 67mgCarbohydrates 26gFiber 2gSugar 19gProtein 2g

Looking for more salad recipes?

Warm Cauliflower Spinach Salad With Pancetta:

Chicken Satay Zoodle Salad:

Kale Orange Cranberry Salad Recipe (2024)

FAQs

How long can you keep kale salad in the fridge? ›

How long does kale salad last? Kale salad will last for seven days when you store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator. I recommend storing the salad dressing separately.

What kind of kale is best for a salad? ›

Kale Salad Recipe Ingredients

Any type of kale will work here. I especially like to use curly kale, but feel free to swap in Tuscan kale (aka lacinato kale) if you prefer. Extra-virgin olive oil and fresh lemon juice – You'll massage them into the raw kale to help the leaves soften.

Should you soak kale before cooking? ›

Soaking kale in warm water can also work to tenderize it. The dip into the water will also serve to clean it in preparation for a favorite kale recipe. This technique will help to improve the flavor after you have chopped it on your board with a sharp kitchen knife.

Does lemon make kale less bitter? ›

Adding salt and squeezing lemon make a big difference by removing bitterness. Adding some spicy or sweet flavors may help tame the strong flavor of bitter kale.

When should you dress a kale salad? ›

Use your hands to toss the greens, massaging/rubbing the vinaigrette into the kale a bit as you toss. Taste and correct the seasoning with salt and pepper. Let the salad sit for at least 10 minutes before serving. Even better—if time allows, cover the salad, and let it sit in the fridge for 30 minutes to an hour.

How do you know if kale goes bad? ›

Kale leaves should be firm. If leaves look wilted, or wet and mushy, the kale has gone bad. Keep them dry. The key to keeping kale fresher, longer, is keeping the vegetable dry.

Is it OK to eat a kale salad everyday? ›

RELATED: Believe It Or Not, Kale Actually Lives Up To All Of Its Hype—Here's Why. Manganiello says you can eat kale every day, just don't overdo it. She recommends one to two servings maximum of kale per day, leaving room for other healthy foods that provide an assortment of nutrients.

Should you eat the stems of kale? ›

Cutting the stems crossways shortens the fibres, much as with a tough steak, making them perfectly edible and preventing waste. Cut this way, the stems can be cooked in the same way as the rest of the leaf: sauteed, boiled or steamed.

Can you eat kale raw like a salad? ›

Often labeled as a superfood, kale is one of the healthiest and most nutrient-dense foods you can eat. This leafy green comes in a variety of colors, shapes, and textures. It's often eaten raw in salads and smoothies but can also be enjoyed steamed, sautéed, boiled, or baked.

How do you make kale taste better? ›

“Minced garlic, olive oil, and salt are also simple ingredients that can transform the flavor of a bitter kale dish. ' “Cutting the stem of kale and marinating it with olive oil and salt can help reduce bitterness.”

What to avoid with kale? ›

People who may need to avoid or limit kale intake are those who form oxalate-containing kidney stones or take the blood thinners Coumadin or warfarin. Be sure to check with your health care professional or dietitian if you have questions.

What happens if you don't wash kale? ›

Failure to wash fruits and vegetables before ingesting can lead to health complications such as food poisoning, sickness and diarrhoea, a team of experts has warned. These popular supermarket buys include the likes of strawberries, cranberries and kale.

How do you sweeten bitter kale? ›

But, you can also tame the flavors by adding a little sweetness to the mix too, such as a pinch of white or brown sugar or even a bit of honey or other liquid sweeteners like agave nectar or maple syrup. Just be sure to add in a little at a time when cooking so your kale doesn't come out too sweet.

How can you reduce the bitter taste in dark green leafy vegetables? ›

The foods that help reduce bitterness are:
  1. Salt while cooking and/or while eating (like on bitter salad greens)
  2. Sweet or Spicy.
  3. Sour or Acids like lemon or vinegar.
  4. Long cooking like braising (think southern collard greens that are cooked for hours)
  5. Blanch first.
Jul 7, 2021

How do you make bitter greens less bitter? ›

Salt is a friend to bitter greens, whether you plan to eat them raw or cooked. Mellow the bitter flavor with a sprinkle of salt on endive or radicchio, or include anchovies or cured meat (like bacon, pancetta, or proscuitto) along with mustard, beet, or collard greens.

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Otha Schamberger

Last Updated:

Views: 6835

Rating: 4.4 / 5 (75 voted)

Reviews: 82% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Otha Schamberger

Birthday: 1999-08-15

Address: Suite 490 606 Hammes Ferry, Carterhaven, IL 62290

Phone: +8557035444877

Job: Forward IT Agent

Hobby: Fishing, Flying, Jewelry making, Digital arts, Sand art, Parkour, tabletop games

Introduction: My name is Otha Schamberger, I am a vast, good, healthy, cheerful, energetic, gorgeous, magnificent person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.