Christmas Kale Salad

Ali Segersten Dec 18, 2013 5 comments

I wanted to share this scrumptious holiday kale salad with you. It makes the perfect potluck dish to share with friends and family this season. The combination of the orange zest, juice, cinnamon, pecans, and dried cranberries makes this dish quite festive! My children eat this salad by the bowlful! They especially enjoy the toasted pecans and kale.

I know I've been quite absent on my blog for the past six months or so. The reason for this is that we got a book deal with a publisher last spring, thanks to our wonderful agent, Celeste Fine! (I'll explain more about the new books soon.) We've had numerous deadlines to meet, and, therefore, I have not been able to spend much time here. Hopefully, you will see more recipes popping up in your inbox periodically, but in the meantime, please enjoy this fresh, flavorful, holiday kale salad!

Recipe from our Meal Planner

Christmas Kale Salad

Servings
6
Cook Time
15 minutes
Prep Time
15 minutes

The combination of the orange zest, juice, cinnamon, pecans, and dried cranberries makes this dish quite festive I think. My children eat this salad by the bowlful! They especially enjoy the toasted pecans and kale. If you have a citrus sensitivity then replace the fresh orange juice with organic apple cider and omit the orange zest. Be sure to find the freshest and most tender kale possible. I like using green curly kale for salads, but other varieties work as well.

Ingredients

Salad

1 bunches curly kale chopped
¼ small red onions thinly sliced
½ cups dried cranberries
½ cups raw pecans roasted

Dressing

¼ cups freshly squeezed orange juice
¼ cups extra virgin olive oil
2 tablespoons raw apple cider vinegar
1 teaspoons dijon mustard
2 teaspoons finely grated orange zest
½ teaspoons cinnamon
½ teaspoons Herbamare (or sea salt)
Directions

salad

  1. To roast pecans, preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Place pecans into a glass pie plate or other small baking dish. Roast for 15 to 18 minutes. Watch carefully so they don't burn! Remove from oven and place onto a plate to cool before adding them to the salad.
  2. Place the kale in to a large serving bowl.
  3. Add the onions and cranberries; set aside.

dressing

  1. To make the dressing, place all of the ingredients into a small jar, cover, and shake.
  2. Pour dressing over the salad and toss together.
  3. Let it rest for at least 30 minutes before serving (this softens the kale and melds the flavors).
  4. Then add the roasted pecans and serve (if you add the pecans earlier they will soften and not have that delicate crunch).

Use this recipe in our Meal Planner

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Posted In
Christmas detox holidays kale raw recipes Salads Thanksgiving Recipes vegan vegetable dishes vegetables Winter recipe
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About the Author

Alissa Segersten, MS, CN

Alissa Segersten, MS, CN, is the founder of Nourishing Meals®, an online meal-planning membership with over 1,800 nourishing recipes and tools to support dietary change and better health. As a functional nutritionist, professional recipe developer, and author of The Whole Life Nutrition Cookbook, Nourishing Meals, and co-author of The Elimination Diet, she helps people overcome health challenges through food. A mother of five, Alissa understands the importance of creating nutrient-dense meals for the whole family. Rooted in science and deep nourishment, her work makes healthy eating accessible, empowering thousands to transform their well-being through food.

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Comments

Unknown (visitor) Dec 23, 2013 | 9:15am

Professionally looking photos!

Ruth (visitor) Dec 19, 2013 | 8:19am

Thank you for posting this delicious recipe. Made it last night and the kids LOVED it too - the 4 of us finished it to the last little leaf...

Replaced the dried Cranberries & Pecans (which I didn't have in the house) with "Made In Nature - Antioxidant Fusion" & toasted Almonds.

The dressing is amazing.

Happy Holidays.
Ruth

Elizabeth (visitor) Dec 19, 2013 | 7:34am

Just say Kale and I come running.
Beautiful!!
Peace & Raw Health,
Elizabeth

Anonymous (visitor) Dec 18, 2013 | 5:30am

Sounds delicious!!
If you are not using organic kale, be sure to soak it well , as conventional kale is reported (by ewg.org) to have significant pesticide residue, which doesn't rinse off with a casual run under the fawset.

Laura (visitor) Dec 18, 2013 | 5:14am

Ohh.. its so good to hear from you again!!! Shall make this for my Christmas table on Xmas day!

Happy Holidays to you all!

Laura B

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