Kale Apple Slaw

Using apples successful a savory crockery isn’t new, but I deliberation astir pome salads miss a chance to brace them pinch thing arsenic sturdy and earthy arsenic kale. A bully dressing is key, particularly erstwhile kale is involved, because let’s beryllium honest, connected its own, it’s not everyone’s favourite (my hubby would agree). 

For me, nan magic is successful nan equilibrium of textures and tastes. Sweet, crisp apples meet earthy kale, each tied together pinch a dreamy maple Dijon dressing. Then comes nan crunch from sunflower seeds, which makes each wound a small much exciting.

I telephone it a slaw because I was inspired by nan Kale Apple Slaw astatine Tropical Smoothie Café, a cult-favorite crockery that I loved truthful overmuch that I had to recreate it successful my ain kitchen. It’s nan benignant of crockery I make arsenic portion of my play repast prep because it holds up truthful good successful nan fridge. 

One wound and I deliberation you’ll agree, let’s make it together.

Kale and Apple Slaw Ingredients 

You only request a fistful of nutrient and a fewer basal pantry staples to make this caller kale pome coleslaw. You’ll find nan afloat database successful nan look paper below, but present are a fewer adjuvant notes from my testing connected ingredients and substitutions:

For nan Dressing

It is nary concealed that nan dressing is nan astir important portion of immoderate kale salad, arsenic sturdy kale leaves tin usage a ton of thief erstwhile it comes to flavoring. I decided to usage my Maple Dijon Vinaigrette arsenic it offers nan cleanable equilibrium of saccharine and tangy flavors that complements nan remainder of nan ingredients.

Below are a mates of notes from my look testing:

Maple syrup: I emotion nan caramel-like sweetness it brings pinch nan Dijon. For a lighter, citrusy twist, switch it pinch orangish juice. Honey besides useful if you for illustration a richer sweetness. I tested this slaw pinch each three, and while each works, they springiness nan crockery a somewhat different character.

Apple cider vinegar: A cardinal ingredient. It adds acidity to nan dressing and besides ties nan apples into nan wide flavor. If you don’t person it, reddish vino vinegar useful too, but nan sensation is simply a small sharper.

For The Slaw

Apple: Crisp, patient apples clasp up best. Fuji, Pink Lady, and Honeycrisp are my apical picks, though tart Granny Smith is besides great. Whatever you choose, portion aliases cube them conscionable earlier serving to debar browning.

Kale: I usually spell pinch curly kale, but lacinato kale (aka Tuscan kale) useful conscionable arsenic well. Each type has a different spirit and texture. If you’re not judge which to use, my Types of Kale guideline tin thief you decide.

Seeds and nuts: I often usage sunflower seeds, particularly erstwhile I want to support nan look nut-free. When I do usage nuts, I for illustration earthy almonds, pecans, aliases walnuts. Their mild sensation lets nan kale and apples guidelines out.

Cabbage: Red cabbage adds colour and a subtle earthy note, but greenish cabbage useful if that’s what you have. The thinner you portion it, nan amended it absorbs nan dressing. I usually shred it pinch this insert I support successful my nutrient processor, which I’ve recovered safer and quicker than a accepted mandoline. If you’re pressed for time, a bagged coleslaw operation is simply a good shortcut.

Red Onion: Even though reddish bulb has a stronger taste, I for illustration utilizing it present because it stands up good against hearty kale and crisp cabbage. If you for illustration thing milder, greenish onions are a bully alternative.

How to Make Kale Apple Slaw

One of my favourite things astir this kale pome salad, too really caller and crunchy it is, is really easy it fits into immoderate meal. It lasts for days successful nan fridge and pairs pinch conscionable astir anything. Here’s really I put it together:

Step 1 – Make nan crockery dressing: In a mini bowl, whisk together nan maple syrup, dijon mustard, pome cider vinegar, oliva oil, salt, and pepper. 

Then, adhd nan sliced reddish bulb to nan dressing substance and fto it steep successful nan substance while you hole nan remainder of nan ingredients. The vinegar takes distant nan crisp separator of earthy onion, making it softer and somewhat sweeter.

Step 2 – Prepare nan salad: In a ample mixing bowl, adhd nan shredded kale, shredded carrots, and sliced reddish cabbage. Drizzle pinch nan dressing and reddish onion, past usage your hands to lightly massage nan kale to break down nan tougher parts of nan leaves, making them much tender, little bitter, and amended astatine soaking up nan dressing. 

Step 3 – Serve: Top it disconnected pinch nan sliced pome and sunflower seeds. Toss nan substance 1 much clip to evenly administer nan toppings, and service instantly for nan champion crunch and freshest flavor.

How To Make Ahead and Store?

This easy slaw look is meal-prep friendly, holding up beautifully successful nan fridge for days, truthful you tin bask a crisp broadside crockery each week long. Here are nan champion ways to guarantee it stays fresh:

Make ahead: The Maple Dijon Vinaigrette tin beryllium prepared up to 2 days successful beforehand and stored successful a mason jar successful nan fridge. On nan time you scheme to serve, simply flip it pinch nan kale, cabbage, and carrots, past adhd nan apples conscionable earlier serving. Assembly takes only astir 5 minutes.

Storage: Once assembled, nan slaw will support successful an airtight instrumentality successful nan fridge for up to 3 days. For nan champion texture and color, portion nan apples correct earlier eating to forestall browning.

What to Serve pinch Apple Kale Slaw

This kale and pome slaw is 1 of those salads that conscionable useful pinch almost anything. It’s crisp, colorful, and adds a caller wound that makes immoderate repast consciousness a small brighter. Here are a fewer of my favourite ways to bask it:

• Pair it pinch grains: For a much filling meal, see adding a cooked atom for illustration quinoa, bulgur wheat, aliases wild rice. They will soak up nan maple dijon dressing and move it into a speedy luncheon you tin drawback from nan fridge.
• With turkey: If you request a ray but satisfying meal successful nether an hour, brace this slaw pinch my Turkey Tenderloin. The turkey is juicy, tender, and speedy to cook, truthful you tin person a balanced repast moreover connected a weeknight. 
• With chicken: My Baked Bone-In Chicken Breast is 1 of my favourite proteins to service connected top. The crispy tegument and juicy nutrient adhd conscionable capable richness.
• With meatloaf: Serve nan slaw pinch my Turkey Meatloaf to lighten up a classical comfortableness nutrient dinner. The caller crunch balances nan comfortableness of nan meatloaf without emotion heavy.

FAQs

Other Kale Recipes You Might Like:

If this look convinced you to springiness kale a chance, I americium assured that you’ll beryllium looking for more. So, present are a fewer different caller kale crockery recipes that I cognize you’ll enjoy:

• If you’re successful nan temper for thing cozy and seasonal, my Fall Harvest Salad is packed pinch each nan autumn flavors we emotion and is drizzled pinch a saccharine dressing that ties it each together.
• For a crunchy, make-ahead option, my Brussels Sprout Kale Salad includes shaved Brussels sprouts and kale pinch a agleam vinaigrette.
• And erstwhile you’re craving thing elemental and satisfying, my Kale and Avocado Salad comes together successful minutes pinch a sweet-sour dressing you’ll want to drizzle connected everything.