Shaved Kale Apple Walnut Bowl (Printable)
Crunchy kale and crisp apples with toasted walnuts in a sweet maple dressing.
# What You’ll Need:
→ Salad Components
01 - 6 cups kale leaves, stems removed and finely shredded
02 - 2 medium apples (Honeycrisp or Granny Smith), thinly sliced
03 - 3/4 cup walnuts, roughly chopped
04 - 1/3 cup dried cranberries
05 - 1/4 cup finely grated Parmesan cheese (optional)
06 - 1 small shallot, thinly sliced
→ Maple Dressing
07 - 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
08 - 1 1/2 tablespoons pure maple syrup
09 - 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
10 - 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
11 - 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
12 - 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
# How-To Steps:
01 - Heat a dry skillet over medium heat. Add the chopped walnuts and toast for 3–4 minutes, stirring frequently until fragrant and lightly golden. Remove from heat and set aside to cool.
02 - Place the shredded kale in a large salad bowl. Sprinkle with a pinch of salt and massage firmly with your hands for 1–2 minutes until the leaves soften and darken in color.
03 - Add the sliced apples, cooled toasted walnuts, dried cranberries, Parmesan cheese (if using), and thinly sliced shallot to the massaged kale.
04 - In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, maple syrup, apple cider vinegar, Dijon mustard, sea salt, and black pepper. Whisk vigorously until fully emulsified and smooth.
05 - Pour the maple dressing evenly over the salad. Toss thoroughly to coat all ingredients. Serve immediately or refrigerate for up to 1 hour to allow flavors to meld.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- The massage trick transforms tough raw kale into something tender and almost silky
- That maple dressing hits the perfect sweet and tangy note that makes people actually crave salad
02 -
- Massaging the kale is not optional, it is what transforms tough bitter leaves into something tender and sweet
- The dressing can be made ahead but toss the salad right before serving or the apples will start to weep
03 -
- Dry your kale thoroughly after washing or the dressing will slide right off instead of clinging to the leaves
- Taste an apple slice before committing, some are sweeter than others and you might want to adjust the maple in the dressing