Winter Kale Pomegranate Salad (Printable Version)

Tender kale, pomegranate seeds, toasted pecans, and citrus dressing combine for a vibrant winter salad.

# What You'll Need:

→ Greens

01 - 1 large bunch curly kale, stems removed and chopped (about 7 oz)

→ Fruit & Vegetables

02 - 1 small pomegranate, seeds only (about 4.2 oz)
03 - 1 medium apple, cored and thinly sliced
04 - 1 small red onion, thinly sliced

→ Nuts & Seeds

05 - ½ cup pecans, roughly chopped (about 2.1 oz)

→ Cheese (optional)

06 - ½ cup crumbled feta cheese (about 2.1 oz)

→ Dressing

07 - 3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
08 - 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice
09 - 1 tbsp fresh orange juice
10 - 1 tsp Dijon mustard
11 - 1 tsp honey or maple syrup
12 - ¼ tsp sea salt
13 - ⅛ tsp freshly ground black pepper

# Step-by-Step:

01 - In a dry skillet over medium heat, toast pecans for 3 to 4 minutes, stirring frequently until fragrant and lightly golden. Set aside to cool.
02 - Place chopped kale in a large salad bowl. Drizzle with 1 teaspoon olive oil and a pinch of sea salt. Massage kale with your hands for 2 to 3 minutes until leaves become tender and slightly darker.
03 - In a small bowl or jar, whisk together olive oil, lemon juice, orange juice, Dijon mustard, honey, salt, and pepper until fully emulsified.
04 - Add pomegranate seeds, apple slices, red onion, and toasted pecans to the kale. Pour dressing over and toss thoroughly to combine.
05 - Sprinkle crumbled feta cheese over the salad just before serving.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The kale gets tender and silky when you massage it, no more tough chewy greens.
  • Pomegranate seeds burst in your mouth with a sweet tartness that wakes up every bite.
  • Its bright and crunchy when everything else in winter feels heavy and beige.
02 -
  • If you skip massaging the kale it will taste like eating a hedge, trust me I learned this the embarrassing way.
  • Toast the pecans on medium heat not high or they'll burn on the outside and stay raw inside.
  • Add the feta at the last second or it gets soggy and sad.
03 -
  • Use a spoon to scoop pomegranate seeds out underwater in a bowl, the white pith floats and the seeds sink.
  • If your kale is really tough, let it sit with the salt and oil for five minutes before you start massaging.
  • Taste a piece of kale after massaging, it should feel tender and almost sweet.

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