Walnut Free Kale & Apple Salad with Cranberries
Crisp apple, chewy cranberries, and tender massaged kale come together in a salad that feels genuinely fresh and satisfying — not like a sad desk lunch. The trick here is taking a minute or two to really work the kale with a pinch of salt until it softens and darkens, which transforms the leaves into something silky and far easier to eat. A bright apple cider vinegar and honey dressing with a little fresh ginger ties everything together with just the right balance of sweet and tangy. Thinly sliced red onion adds a subtle bite, and optional toasted coconut flakes on top give it a light, unexpected crunch. Many packaged salad kits and restaurant versions of this style of salad sneak in walnuts or other tree nuts, so making it yourself from scratch means you stay in full control of every ingredient. The dried cranberries here are kept clean too — just fruit, no hidden additives. It's the kind of bowl that looks impressive enough for company but comes together with almost no effort.
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Learn more →Ingredients
4 servings
For the salad
- 1 large bunch curly or lacinato kale (about 8 oz), stems removed, leaves torn into bite-sized pieces
- ¼ tsp fine sea salt
- 1 medium apple (such as honeycrisp or fuji), cored and thinly sliced
- ⅓ cup dried cranberries (unsweetened or sweetened with apple juice only, no added sugar)
- ¼ small red onion, very thinly sliced
For the dressing
- 3 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
- 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
- 1 tbsp honey
- ½ tsp fresh ginger, finely grated
- ¼ tsp fine sea salt
For serving
- 2 tbsp toasted coconut flakes (optional)
Instructions
- 1
Place the torn kale leaves in a large mixing bowl and sprinkle with 1/4 tsp fine sea salt. Using clean hands, massage the kale firmly for 1–2 minutes, squeezing and working the leaves until they darken, soften noticeably, and reduce in volume by about half.
- 2
In a small bowl or jar, whisk together the olive oil, apple cider vinegar, honey, grated ginger, and remaining 1/4 tsp salt until the dressing is smooth and emulsified.
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