Kale Salad With Apples and Cheddar Recipe (2024)

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Cooking Notes

Me

If you use a sturdier kale, take a pinch of salt and a tablespoon of the oil and massage the kale in the large bowl before adding other ingredients. You're looking to soften the kale before you mix in the other ingredients. It really works.

Anne Thompson

This is tasty but there's no way it can be made in five minutes. Just cutting up the kale takes longer than
hat. I'd estimate between 20 and 30 minutes.

Monica R.

This is a simple and delicious way to eat kale. I found the cheddar was lost in the salad and have since made it without cheese - it's just a good. Also great with a few pomegranate seeds sprinkled in.

Wisoc003

Absolute adore this recipe -- it's my favorite salad, hands down! It's so simple and so delicious! I typically dress the salad before I head to work in the morning, and by lunch the kale is perfectly tender but still fresh. I also substituted Gruyere to add a very subtle funk.

Frankie R

I feel the authors heart is in the right place with this recipe, but the execution is way off. All the ingredients work great together, but not in the given amounts. I changed it to 2 tbsp of olive oil, 3 tbsp (one whole fresh lemon ) of lemon juice, 2 oz of cheddar cheese. Five tablespoons of olive oil is just way too much and leaves your mouth feeling oily, and 1 oz of cheddar leaves people poking around wondering where the rest is.

Matthew

Massaging the lemon juice in first will cook and soften the kale (and your hands).

Austin Val

This is a DELICIOUS salad. I've made it a dozen times and never get tired of it!

Before I juice the lemon, I zest it onto the kale before juicing it. This adds to the zing of the citrus. Umm!

Ems

What a wonderful recipe - I substituted Cheddar cheese for Feta, and added walnuts and Sicilian olives. I also took advice from 'Monica R' and added pomegranate and 'Gabrielle' to up the lemon a bit. I also took advice from 'Me' to first massage kale with salt & oil - Thanks to everyones feedback the result was Delicious!!!

Jill

Speed the prep by buying a bag of shredded kale (found mine at Trader Joe's). Definitely a good base for variations. This time I substituted pumpkin seeds for almonds, due to a nut allergy, and next time, I'm going to try blue cheese instead of cheddar and add cranberries or pomegranate seeds, depending on what I have on hand.

HeidiK

This simple recipe can go so many ways! I have used pear & blue cheese for a twist....along with apple & pecans that were roasted with a bit of sea salt and cracked pepper. Simple and easy! Prepare it and go on with the rest of the dinner/lunch prep as the longer it sits the better it tastes!

Carolyn

An alternative version of this includes quinua, and feta along with the apples and kale rather than the cheddar.

lallison

Cooked, but the cheddar is a mistake. The freshness of the apples/kale is masked by the cheddar. Leave out the parmesan, too. Lemon juice is nice, but an apple cider vinegar seems more appropriate. Letting the salad sit around for a day adds to its sweetness. I would recommend a visalia onion to the garlic, but... garlic is lovely.

Sarah

Quick and easy. With chicken on top, this is a go-to for bringing lunch take to work. If you make a batch of dressing beforehand and just leave it in the fridge, it takes about five minutes to chop up a single-serve portion. I dress the salad and by the time I eat it 4 hours later, the kale is nice and flavorful. (I wouldn't do it with any other green!)

triciasnell

Great salad. I wanted to double recipe, but didn't have enough kale, so added spinach and arugula that I had on hand, all cut up as small as the kale was. It really worked. Great salad to make ahead of time if you are going to an event. I put each ingredient already cut up into separate containers and bags and it was easy to assemble once I arrived after a long drive. Definitely adding this to my pot-luck list.

Margey

Delicious. Toasted pumpkin seeds made it even better. Loved the Apple/cheddar combo.

Banana

Yup, you really need to massage that kale with something— I opted for the lemon juice suggestion— to soften it up. Used chopped walnuts, bc that is what I had, and increased lemon juice per another suggestion. Thanks for sharing these thoughts.

Darcy

Easy and tasty

Heidi

Awesome recipe. I used Extra Sharp Cabot Cheese. Didn’t massage the kale. Just let it sit in the dressing for a bit. I’m definitely making again. THANK YOU NYT!

CZ

Works amazing subbing Arugula for Kale

Guy

Excellent use of my fresh grown kale. Served with brown rice and oysters wrapped in bacon.

kathy

I enjoyed the salad overall. The cheddar seems unneeded to me. Lots of possibilities for variations though.

Mary Jo

This is a nice and easy alternative to other kale salads. Massaging the kale softens it and helps it absorb the dressing. Varying the type of cheese and apples is fun too. Tried a extra sharp cheddar and a different day used a white cheese marbled with truffle.

drea

Add toasted almonds for a warm nuttiness I also use manchego instead of Parmesan

sarah in sf

This was good, simple and easy peasy but not a mind blowing experience. Next time will add pomegranate because why ever not?

Caryn

I made lots of changes but overall enjoyed the inspiration the recipe gave! Massaged the kale, grated the cheddar with a box grater, added apple cider vinegar to the dressing, added chopped craisins, and subbed chopped pecans for the almonds. Next time I may grate at least some of the apple too, to see if I like that texture more.

Meaghan L

Good but needed tweaking, more almonds, a little sherry vinegar and a teaspoon of Dijon mustard in the dressing

Jen

I added apple cider vinegar and pepitas to it and it was great.

shannon

this is a great salad for a quick lunch or busy weeknight dinner. I add a touch of maple syrup to the dressing and roasted chicken peas or chicken for protein

jil

Easy and delicious! Great flavor combo.

Linda

You can pack the washed kale tightly into the opening on top of your food processor and process using the slicing blade. This greatly reduces the prep time.

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Kale Salad With Apples and Cheddar Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Does kale get soggy with dressing? ›

Does kale get soggy after adding dressing? No! That's the beauty of kale. You can prep this simple kale salad up to an hour before serving it and it will still be crunchy and delicious.

How to use kale? ›

Here are 10 ways to use it.
  1. As a Substitute for Spinach. Kale works nicely in recipes that call for spinach, like those for egg dishes, salads or lasagna. ...
  2. In a Dip. Cooked kale can be chopped or pureed to make a variety of dips. ...
  3. Juiced. ...
  4. Sauteed with Veggies. ...
  5. In a Salad. ...
  6. As Pesto. ...
  7. In a Soup.

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.”

Does lemon make kale less bitter? ›

Sauté, Steam or Stir-fry Kale: Kale is delicious sautéed with an acid to cut the bitterness like red wine, balsamic vinegar or lemon juice.

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.

Why do you massage kale salad? ›

Kale is fibrous and can be difficult to munch compared to other greens like romaine lettuce or spinach. The rubbing, kneading motion helps to tenderize the veg and make it easier to chew and digest. Try this for raw kale you are going to be serving or eating right away.

Why is my kale salad bitter? ›

They include kale, mustard greens, collards, turnip greens, broccoli rabe, radicchio, chicory, and endive. The bitterness comes from chemical compounds called glucosinolates that can be found in the Brassica family.

How long does kale last in fridge? ›

Typical shelf life: Generally, kale can last in the fridge for about five to seven days. The key is to store it correctly to maintain its crispness and nutrients. Impact of temperature and humidity: Kale prefers a cool and slightly humid environment, so the crisper drawer in your fridge is ideal.

Why does kale make you feel so good? ›

Kale can be good for adding fiber and antioxidants to the diet in many savory dishes, salads, and smoothies. Various health benefits include managing blood pressure and boosting digestive health. Kale is a leafy green cruciferous vegetable that is rich in nutrients.

What goes well with kale? ›

Kale is a great green veggie that mixes with many things: Cranberry, sunflower, pumpkin seeds, Bluberries, strawberries, raspberries, almonds, cashews, Spring mix lettuce. Steak, salmon, Chicken.

What can I do with too much kale? ›

Freezing kale is another easy way to preserve your extra kale leaves. I like to freeze my kale in 1/2 cup portions that can be quickly and easily added to soups, stews, quiches, and so much more.

What is the healthiest way to eat kale? ›

Nutrition experts say steaming kale is a good way to make it easier to digest while preserving most of the nutrients.

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 does massaging kale make it less bitter? ›

Does massaging kale make it less bitter? The process of softening kale also helps to reduces the vegetable's bitterness by releasing bitter compounds. Some claim that massaged kale therefore needs to be rinsed before eating, since the bitter compounds may stay on the leaves after they have been released.

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