This Chick-fil-A kale salad recipe is simple nutritious goodness dressed in an apple Dijon dressing that really makes it over-the-top delicious! It's very simple to make, and tastes like more than sum of it's parts.
Jump to:
This Chick-fil-A kale salad recipe is all about opposing textures and flavors, which is what makes it so yummy. Crunchy toasted almonds pair up with massaged kale, while the sweet and tangy apple Dijon dressing brings it all together.
The great thing about this salad is that you can use it as a template recipe for the perfect salad base. Add extras to suit your preference. I'll give you some creative suggestions below.
Serve this simple salad as a light luch with a bowl of vegan sweet potato soup or as a side dish for a comfort meal of this vegan shepardless pie (air fryer & oven baked).
Top Tip: If you love copycat salad recipes, be sure to check out my Cheesecake Factory's Wellness Salad.
Reasons You'll Love This Recipe
🧡Once you try this recipe, you'll go back to it again again. It really is the perfect simple, fresh salad.
🧡The nutritional superstar of this salad is kale, which is packed with vitamins and minerals. In essence, this salad is HEALTHY!
🧡Use this Chick-fil-A kale salad recipe as a template recipe. It's perfect for that. Add ingredients like dried fruit, roasted apples, broccoli or your favorite vegan cheese.
🧡I serve this salad as a side dish at dinner, and everyone (kids included) love it. It also makes a perfect light lunch served with a side of side of flatbread.
🛒Ingredients
- Curly Kale: Kale provides 200% of the daily recommended amount of Vitamin A and 134% of the recommended amount of Vitamin C. In addition, kale is also a great source of antioxidants and other beneficial plant compounds. Like I said, this salad is healthy!
- Cabbage: I used green cabbage, because that's what they use at Chick-fil-a, but you could also use purple cabbage for a burst of color.
- Whole Almonds: I bought fresh whole almonds and toasted them for this recipe. If you want to speed things up, feel free to use roasted almond.
- Maple Syrup: Maple syrup is the perfect foil to apple cider vinegar and Dijon mustard. It balances out the tangy flavors with sweetness. If you're wondering if maple syrup is vegan, please check out this article: Is Maple Syrup Vegan?
- Apple Cider Vinegar: Apple cider vinegar is what puts the apple in apple Dijon dressing. Having said that, if you want to swap white wine vinegar, it will still taste just as good.
- Dijon Mustard: Here's the science : mustard contains emulsifiers that help to bind the oil and vinegar together, which creates a smooth, creamy dressing that doesn't separate. It also adds complexity to salad dressing.
- Olive Oil: As always choose the best quality extra virgin olive oil you can afford. It really makes a difference to the flavor, especially when it's used in a salad dressing, as it is here.
- Salt: Salt makes all the flavors pop. You'll get the best results with sea salt.
👨🍳How To Make Chick-fil-A Kale Salad
- In a small bowl, mix together your apple maple Dijon salad dressing ingredients.
- In a large salad bowl, mix together your curly kale and shredded cabbage. The curly kale should have the spine removed, and it should be finely chopped. I recommend giving your cabbage a short bust in your food processor, if you have one.
- Pour the dressing over the salad and, using your hands, massage it into the salad for 3-5 minutes.
- Set the salad aside, while you toast your almonds. Place a dry skillet or frying pan on the stove over medium heat. Spread the almonds out in a single layer. Toast them for 5-10 minutes (or until they release their aroma), stirring frequently to ensure that they don't burn.
- Remove the pan from the heat and transfer the almonds to a plate or bowl to cool. Chop them finely and add them to the salad. Toss to combine, and serve.
- Enjoy this Chick-Fil-A copycat recipe.
Variations
Here's a few creative suggestions for ways to jazz up your salad:
✅Add finely chopped apples. You could also add roasted apples or roasted pears.
✅Mix in some vegan bacon bits for added crunch.
✅Can't eat nuts? Swap the almonds for sunflower seeds or homemade croutons.
✅I like to add vegan feta cheese to this salad.
✅Boost the veggies - good choices are roasted broccoli, maple roasted carrots and shaved Brussels sprouts.
🙋Frequently Asked Questions
Chick-fil-A's kale crunch salad contains kale and cabbage, which are both nutrient-dense vegetables that are rich in vitamins, minerals, and fiber. If you're watching your calorie or fat intake, you may want to skip the dressing,or choose a lighter dressing option, such as the Light Italian Dressing. However, if you are looking for a nutrient-dense and satisfying salad option, the Kale Crunch Salad is a great choice.
According to the nutrition facts listed on Chick-fil-A's site, the salad totals around 120 calories, nine grams of fat, eight grams of carbs, and three grams of protein.
Yes, Chick-fil-A's kale salad is made of kale, cabbage and almonds. The apple Dijon dressing contains vinegar, mustard, olive oil and salt. There's no gluten in this salad or in the dressing.
you might also like...
Winter Buckwheat Salad
This buckwheat salad is festive enough for your holiday table, but simple enough to make for lunch any day.
Craving More Easy Vegan Salad Recipes?
53 Luscious Vegan Salad Recipes
Mediterranean Kale Pasta Salad
Cucumber Radish Salad With Dill Dressing
Jerusalem Salad - Israeli Salad
Israeli Couscous Salad With Beetroot
📖 Recipe
Chick-Fil-A Kale Salad Recipe
Ingredients
- 5 cups curly Kale spines removed, finely chopped and packed
- 1½ cups cabbage shredded
- ⅓ cup almonds whole
Apple Dijon Dressing
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- ½ tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 2 tablespoons maple syrup
- ¼ teaspoon sea salt
- 4 tablespoons olive oil
Instructions
Make The Apple Dijon Dressing
- In a small bowl, mix together the apple maple dijon ingredients.
- In a large salad bowl, mix together the curly kale and shredded cabbage. *see note 1.
- Pour the dressing over the salad and, using your hands, massage it into the salad for 3-5 minutes.
- Set the salad aside, while you toast your almonds. Place a dry skillet or frying pan on the stove over medium heat. Spread the almonds out in a single layer. Toast them for 5-10 minutes (or until they release their aroma), stirring frequently to ensure that they don't burn.
- Remove the pan from the heat and transfer the almonds to a plate or bowl to cool. Chop them finely and add them to the salad. Toss to combine, and serve.
Notes
- Be sure to remove the spine on your curly kale. For the cabbage, I recommend shredding it in a food processor. If you don't have a food processor, simply chop if finely by hand with a sharp knife.
- Storing leftovers: If your salad is already dressed, store in in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 24 hours. If it's not dressed, you can store it in an airtight container for 3-4 days.
Comments
No Comments