Description
A vibrant, crisp, and colorful fall salad featuring sweet Honeycrisp apples, creamy feta, candied pecans, and juicy pomegranate arils over tender kale, all tossed in a tangy apple cider vinaigrette. Perfect for holiday spreads, healthy lunches, or light dinners.
Ingredients
2 medium Honeycrisp apples
6 cups chopped fresh kale
1 cup crumbled feta cheese
1 cup candied pecans
¾ cup pomegranate arils
¼ cup olive oil
2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1 tablespoon maple syrup
Salt and black pepper to taste
1 teaspoon lemon juice (optional, to prevent apple browning)
Instructions
1. Remove kale leaves from the stems and chop into bite-sized pieces. Add to a large bowl with a drizzle of olive oil and a pinch of salt. Massage the kale for 1–2 minutes until softened.
2. Core and thinly slice the Honeycrisp apples evenly. If prepping in advance, toss slices with lemon juice to prevent browning.
3. In a small jar or bowl, whisk together apple cider vinegar, olive oil, Dijon mustard, maple syrup, salt, and pepper until emulsified.
4. Add apple slices, pomegranate arils, and candied pecans to the massaged kale. Crumble feta cheese over the top.
5. Drizzle the vinaigrette over the salad and toss gently to combine. Taste and adjust seasoning or dressing if needed.
6. Serve fresh and enjoy the perfect taste of autumn!
Notes
Massage the kale to make it more tender and less bitter. It really makes a difference in texture.
Use block feta for the best flavor—pre-crumbled versions are usually drier.
Store dressing separately if preparing ahead to keep the salad fresh and crisp.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1.5 cups (approx.)
- Calories: 290
- Sugar: 10g
- Sodium: 260mg
- Fat: 21g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 22g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 6g
- Cholesterol: 15mg
Keywords: Autumn salad, apple feta salad, fall salad, healthy holiday side