Easy Kale Apple Walnut Salad

This apple walnut salad with dijon vinaigrette is a great way to enjoy apples in a savory dish when you have gotten your fill of apple crisp and pie. Not only is it delicious, but it is packed with fiber and antioxidants.

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Although the cooler fall temperatures usually have me craving comfort food dishes like this four bean chili or my vegan pumpkin chocolate chip muffins, I can’t get enough of this salad! I love switching up my salad greens as the weather cools for heartier ones like kale.

Why You’ll Love this Salad

• A short and sweet ingredient list.
• Meal prep friendly! Kale salads don’t wilt or get soggy when sitting in the fridge for a day or two; if anything they sometimes taste better.
• This salad is the perfect accompaniment to a hearty soup for a delicious fall meal.
• Easily adaptable to be vegan or vegetarian. This recipe is also gluten free as written.

Ingredients You’ll Need for this Salad

• Kale: I used lacinato (ie. dinosaur) kale for this salad. I prefer it over curly kale since the texture is better for salads after it gets massaged.
• Apple: use an apple variety that is more crisp with a sweet-tart flavor like pink lady, Honeycrisp, or Fuji. If you want to lean into the tart flavor to balance out the sweetness of the dressing and the cranberries, you could use a granny smith apple.
• Walnuts: I love the combination of walnuts and apples. In this salad, they add a bit of crunch in addition to the apples. Pecans or pumpkin seeds would also work well in this salad.
• Dried Cranberries: Add a little bit of sweetness to this salad. You could also use raisins.
• Parmesan Cheese: make sure to double check the ingredients as not all parmesan brands are vegetarian. You’ll want to make sure it does not contain animal rennet. If you want a good vegan parmesan, I really like this one.
• Dressing: The maple mustard dressing on this salad really highlights the other flavors from the apple and kale. I use about 1/2 tablespoon maple syrup in the dressing but increase to 1 tablespoon if you like a sweeter salad.

Step by Step

STEP 1: Make your dressing by combining the olive oil, dijon mustard, maple syrup, red wine vinegar, salt and pepper in a mason jar. Screw the lid on tightly and shake vigorously to make dressing. Set aside.

STEP 2: Cut the stems out of your kale leaves and thinly chop. Add oil to chopped kale and massage well with your hands to soften the leaves.

STEP 3: Make your salad by adding the dressing, apple, walnuts, and parmesan to the bowl with the kale. Toss to coat all the ingredients in dressing.

Variations

• Use cubed cheddar cheese in place of the parmesan.
• Use balsamic vinegar instead of red wine vinegar in the dressing.
• Add some roasted butternut squash or sweet potato.
• Add cooked quinoa or a hearty grain like cooked farro.
• Add some chickpeas for plant-based protein.
• Use pear instead of apple for a delicious twist on this salad. Use a more firm pear variety as some may be too soft for salad.

Frequently Asked Questions

What to Serve with this Apple Walnut Salad

• Soup: Nothing better than soup and salad for lunch! This one pot red lentil pumpkin soup would be a perfect option.
• Pasta: Serve this as a side for a pasta dish like this vegan lasagna.
• Sandwich/Wrap: I often pair a salad like this one with a sandwich or wrap for lunch. This vegan buffalo tempeh wrap is my go-to right now.

More Salad Recipes You’ll Love

• Warm Farro Salad with Roasted Vegetables
• Rainbow Quinoa Salad with Peanut Dressing
• Summer Peach Salad with Grilled Corn and Almonds
• Strawberry Spinach Salad with Lemon Poppyseed Dressing