Can I make this ahead of time?

Yes! That's the beauty of a kale salad. You can prep and dress the kale up to one day before. I would recommend waiting on cutting the apples until just before serving, since they'll most likely brown. Wait on adding the pepitas too, since they might lose some of their crunch (and this is a kale crunch salad after all 😅).

Can I sub a different type of nut/seed?

Yes. I actually love the idea of using a candied nut too, if you don't mind some added sugar. Trader Joe's makes pumpkin spiced pepitas that would be fantastic in this. Other options: sliced almonds or sunflower seeds. I wouldn't recommend large, whole nuts.

I'm not a kale fan. Any other options?

Give this salad a try anyway and see if the technique converts you to a kale-lover! If you still aren't into it, use arugula and toss in the dressing just before serving.

Kale Crunch Salad

Print Recipe

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5 from 1 review

This kale crunch salad has the perfect amount of bite from pepitas and apples, plus a chili vinaigrette that pairs perfectly with the sweetness from the apples.

Author: Leanne Ray, MS, RDN
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 0 minutes
Total Time: 15 minutes
Yield: 6 servings 1x
Category: sides
Method: No-Cook
Cuisine: American
Diet: Vegan

Ingredients

Scale

1 lemon, zested and juiced
2 tablespoons maple syrup
1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
salt, to taste
6 ounces curly kale, chopped (1 large bunch or about 6 cups)
1 honeycrisp apple, julienned
1/4 cup pepitas (shelled pumpkin seeds)

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Instructions

Make the dressing: to a large bowl, add lemon juice, syrup and chili flakes. Whisk until well incorporated. Stream in olive oil while whisking. Season with a pinch of salt.
Add the kale to the bowl with the dressing and use clean hands to massage for 1-2 minutes until it becomes bright green and is slightly softer.
Add apples and pepitas. Toss well. Finish with a few additional apples and pepitas and garnish with lemon wedges.

Equipment

chef's knife

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citrus juicer

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mandoline

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Notes

The equipment section above includes affiliate links to things I use often in my kitchen and recommend.
Sub any nuts or seeds for the pepitas if you don't have them or can't find them. You can also use the pumpkin spiced pepitas from Trader Joe's if you can find them!

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1.5 cups
Calories: 118 calories
Fat: 7 grams
Carbohydrates: 12 grams
Fiber: 2 grams
Protein: 3 grams

Find it online: https://healthyishappetite.com/kale-crunch-salad/