Shaved Kale Apple Pistachio Bowl (Printable)
Finely shaved kale with apples, crunchy pistachios and a maple vinaigrette—bright, quick, and nourishing.
# What You’ll Need:
→ Salad Base
01 - 6 cups (about 180 g) curly or lacinato kale, stems removed, finely shredded
02 - 2 medium crisp apples (such as Honeycrisp or Granny Smith), thinly sliced
03 - 1/2 cup (70 g) roasted unsalted pistachios, coarsely chopped
04 - 1/3 cup (40 g) dried cranberries
05 - 1/4 cup (25 g) crumbled feta cheese
→ Maple Dressing
06 - 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
07 - 1 1/2 tablespoons pure maple syrup
08 - 1 1/2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
09 - 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
10 - 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
11 - 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
# How-To Steps:
01 - In a small bowl or jar, whisk together the olive oil, maple syrup, apple cider vinegar, Dijon mustard, sea salt, and black pepper until fully emulsified and smooth.
02 - Place the shredded kale in a large salad bowl. Drizzle with half the dressing and massage the leaves with your hands for 1 to 2 minutes until the kale softens and deepens in color.
03 - Add the thinly sliced apples, chopped pistachios, and dried cranberries to the massaged kale. Toss gently until evenly distributed.
04 - Drizzle the remaining dressing over the salad and toss again to coat all ingredients thoroughly.
05 - Scatter crumbled feta cheese over the top. Serve immediately, or refrigerate for up to 2 hours to allow the flavors to meld together.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- The kale gets massaged until its buttery soft, which completely changes the texture and makes even kale skeptics come back for seconds.
- That maple dressing hits every note, sweet, tangy, a little sharp from the mustard, and it clings to every single leaf.
- It comes together in fifteen minutes with zero cooking, which means your kitchen stays cool and you get to eat almost immediately.
02 -
- Skip the massage step and your kale will be tough and bitter, those two minutes of hands on work are what transform the entire dish.
- Dress the salad too far ahead and the apples will brown and the kale will wilt past the point of enjoyment, so aim to serve within a couple of hours.
03 -
- Shave the kale as thin as you possibly can, thin ribbons absorb the dressing better and feel more delicate on the palate.
- Warm the maple syrup for ten seconds in the microwave before adding it to the dressing, it blends effortlessly and prevents clumping.