Kale Salad Recipe with Honey Lemon Dressing (2024)

You will love this Autumn-inspired Kale Salad Recipe with apples, pears, cranberries, and toasted pecans with honey lemon dressing. It’s so easy to prepare and it’s one of the few green salads that can be made ahead.

Kale Salad Recipe with Honey Lemon Dressing (1)

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Kale Salad Recipe

We love this seasonal Kale Salad in the cooler months because it is loaded with all of our favorite Fall ingredients: crisp apples, pears, pecans, and kale of course! The simple honey-lemon dressing coats every bite of this kale salad and makes it completely fresh, nutritious, and delicious!

This salad and a bowl of Creamy Sweet Potato Soup are all we need for the perfect Fall meal.

Kale Salad Recipe with Honey Lemon Dressing (2)

Is Kale Good for You?

Kale is known for it’s nutrient-dense profile. it’s high in Vitamin K, Vitamin A and Vitamin C. It’s also the star ingredient in this salad! See the nutrition content estimates in the recipe card label below.

Kale is more versatile than you think. It’s also great in soups like Zuppa Toscana and our Sausage Kale Soup.

Kale Salad Recipe with Honey Lemon Dressing (3)

How to Make Kale Salad Dressing:

Combine lemon juice, olive oil, honey, salt, and pepper in a measuring cup and stir until dissolved.

Pro Tip: If your honey doesn’t dissolve readily, you can place the bottom of your dressing container into a bowl of hot water to warm it slightly, which should do the trick!

Kale Salad Recipe with Honey Lemon Dressing (4)

How to Prepare Kale:

Strip kale leaves (hold the stem in one hand and pull the leaves off with the other). Discard the stems as they are fibrous and tough.

Chop leaves into bite-sized pieces and double rinse the chopped leaves to catch any trapped dust in the curly leaves then thoroughly dry in a salad spinner.

Kale Salad Recipe with Honey Lemon Dressing (5)

Why Should You Massage Kale?

Raw kale is naturally a tough green and massaging it helps to soften it up so you can enjoy it without having to cook it. Be sure not to over-massage it so you don’t end up with mushy kale. Rub the kale and dressing together just until the kale starts to wilt.

How to Make Autumn Kale Salad:

1. Place kale in a salad bowl, add cranberries, and drizzle with all of the dressing. Use your hands to massage the dressing into the kale, just until the kale starts to wilt. This will help to soften it. Cover and refrigerate 4 hours or overnight.

Kale Salad Recipe with Honey Lemon Dressing (6)

2. Before serving, top with sliced apples, sliced pears, thinly sliced onions, and toasted pecans. Toss to combine.

Kale Salad Recipe with Honey Lemon Dressing (7)

Can I Make Kale Salad Ahead?

We completely LOVE that this Autumn Kale Salad is a make-ahead salad. Most green leaf salads like our Autumn Chicken Salad must be eaten soon after they are made but this one just gets better with time! I recommend letting the kale marinate with the dressing for 4 hours or overnight. We’ve enjoyed this salad after 2 hours but the leaves are softer and just right after marinating 4 hours.

PS. The lemon dressing preserves the fruit so leftovers of this kale salad are still very tasty the next day – perfect for a work or school lunch! 🙂

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This kale salad is loaded with the good stuff. Every bite is so satisfying! The make-ahead option makes it perfect for serving up at your next party.

What to Serve with Kale Salad:

There are some recipes that end up on the regular rotation during the cooler months. These are the dishes we love to cozy up with and they pair perfectly with Kale Salad. Check out more of our favorite Fall Recipes Here.

  • Creamy Mashed Potatoes – the best potatoes of your life!
  • Instant Pot Whole Chicken – use the pan drippings for gravy
  • Smashed Potatoes – crisp and an excellent side with salad
  • Loaded Potato Soup – you’ll love the toppings

Kale Salad Recipe with Honey Lemon Dressing

4.98 from 38 votes

Author: Natasha of NatashasKitchen.com

Kale Salad Recipe with Honey Lemon Dressing (10)

This Autumn Kale salad is loaded with crisp apples, pears and crunchy pecans. The simple honey-lemon dressing coats every bite and makes it completely fresh, healthy and delicious!

SavePinReviewPrint

Prep Time: 4 hours hrs

Cook Time: 5 minutes mins

Total Time: 4 hours hrs 5 minutes mins

Ingredients

Servings: 6 as a side salad

Ingredients for Salad Dressing:

Ingredients for Kale Salad:

  • 1 bunch kale, (8 cups loosely packed) well rinsed
  • 1 cup craisins, dried cranberries
  • 1 small red onion, thinly sliced
  • 1 apple, (I used a crisp fuji apple)
  • 1 pear, (firm)
  • 1 cup pecans, toasted on a dry skillet

Instructions

  • Combine all dressing ingredients and stir together until honey dissolves then set aside.

  • Rinse and strip kale leaves. Chop in bite-sized pieces. I rinse the chopped leaves a second time to ensure there isn't any dust hidden in the curly leaves then dry in a salad spinner.

  • Place kale in a salad bowl, top with 1 cup craisins and drizzle with dressing. Use hands to stir well and massage lightly until kale just starts to wilt. Cover and refrigerate 4 hours or overnight.

  • Before serving, add sliced apples, sliced pears, thinly sliced onions and toasted pecans. Toss to combine.

Nutrition Per Serving

275kcal Calories34g Carbs2g Protein17g Fat2g Saturated Fat200mg Sodium226mg Potassium5g Fiber24g Sugar975IU Vitamin A19mg Vitamin C37mg Calcium1mg Iron

  • Full Nutrition Label
  • Nutrition Disclosure

Nutrition Facts

Kale Salad Recipe with Honey Lemon Dressing

Amount per Serving

Calories

275

% Daily Value*

Fat

17

g

26

%

Saturated Fat

2

g

13

%

Sodium

200

mg

9

%

Potassium

6

%

Carbohydrates

34

g

11

%

Fiber

5

g

21

%

Sugar

24

g

27

%

Protein

2

g

4

%

Vitamin A

975

IU

20

%

Vitamin C

19

mg

23

%

Calcium

37

mg

4

%

Iron

1

mg

6

%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Course: Salad, Side Dish

Cuisine: American

Keyword: kale salad

Skill Level: Easy

Cost to Make: $

Calories: 275

If you make this recipe, I’d love to see pics of your creations on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter! Hashtag them #natashaskitchen

Natasha Kravchuk

Kale Salad Recipe with Honey Lemon Dressing (11)

Welcome to my kitchen! I am Natasha, the blogger behind Natasha's Kitchen (since 2009). My husband and I run this blog together and share only our best, family approved and tested recipes with YOU. Thanks for stopping by! We are so happy you're here.

Read more posts by Natasha

Kale Salad Recipe with Honey Lemon Dressing (2024)

FAQs

How do you make Katie Lee kale salad? ›

Combine mayonnaise, yogurt, mustard, vinegar, honey, celery seeds, salt, and pepper in a bowl. Mix to blend. Put the kale, cabbage, carrots, and sunflower seeds in a large bowl and pour in the dressing. Toss to combine until everything is evenly coated, then serve or store in the fridge for 2 to 3 days.

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.

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 do you make kale taste better? ›

If desired, season the sautéed kale with salt and pepper and a squeeze of lemon juice. For more flavor, try sautéing kale in this hearty lentil skillet or with some prosciutto and sweet potatoes.

What is the Jennifer Aniston salad? ›

Description. Jennifer Aniston's Quinoa Salad took the internet by storm for good reason! Made with quinoa, garbanzo beans, feta cheese, pistachios, fresh herbs, and a simple lemon vinaigrette … this flavorful and crunchy salad is one of the best I've ever had.

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.

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.

What kind of kale is best for salad? ›

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.

Why do you massage kale salad? ›

The point of massaging is to infuse the kale with the lemon juice and oil, and also to break down some of the tough, fibrous characteristics of kale. This makes it easier to chew and digest, and makes for a more tender salad. Season with salt, massage/toss once more, then set aside.

Do you massage kale before or after dressing? ›

Here's how quick and easy it is to make massaged kale salad!
  1. Prep the kale. Start at the bottom of the leaf and place your fingers gently around the stem. ...
  2. Add the dressing ingredients. To the bowl with the kale, add the olive oil, lemon juice, sea salt, and garlic powder.
  3. Massage. ...
  4. Finish.
Jan 12, 2024

Is kale the healthiest food in the world? ›

Kale is a nutrition superstar due to the amounts of vitamins A, B6, C, K, folate, fiber, carotenoids and manganese it contains. One cup of raw kale has just 20 calories.

How long is kale good for in the fridge? ›

Store Whole Bunches In the Fridge

To avoid excess moisture, wrap the whole bunch of kale in a layer of paper towels, and store in a supermarket plastic bag or a zip-top plastic bag in the refrigerator crisper drawer. The kale should keep for 1 week.

What makes kale softer? ›

Kale will benefit from some gentle kneading to soften its texture. A bit of oil can help to break down the fibrous membranes as well. Here's how: Wash the kale and remove the leaves from the stems. Tear the leaves into smaller pieces and rub them in your hands with olive oil and salt.

How do you cook kale so it is tender? ›

When the water reaches a boil, add 3 tightly packed cups of de-stemmed, roughly chopped lacinato kale to the steamer basket. Cover. Steam for about 10 minutes, until the kale is tender. Remove and finish with 3/4 teaspoon of salt and the juice from 1/2 lemon.

Should you steam or boil kale? ›

Kale is great as a side dish or in a smoothie, and you can't go wrong with steaming it. Steamed kale retains important nutrients, such as calcium, that are important for you to have. Luckily, steaming kale can be as easy as chopping it and putting it in a steamer or microwave.

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