This vegan kale salad epitomizes the essence of autumn in every bite. Abundant with the flavors of crisp, seasonal ingredients and dressed in a luscious vegan dressing, this salad is guaranteed to be a real crowd pleaser.
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You guys loved my copycat Chick-fil-A Kale Salad Recipe , so I thought I'd put together another vegan kale salad that makes use of all the yummy fall produce on offer at this time of year.
This new creation celebrates the vibrant flavors of autumn, combining the earthy goodness of kale with the crisp sweetness of seasonal fruits. It's a delightful way to savor the changing seasons and nourish your body with wholesome, plant-based ingredients.
Related Post: Vegan Chickpea Salad
💚Reasons You'll Love This Recipe
💚This vegan kale salad is perfect for fall. Kale, apples, and cranberries, are in season during the fall months, which means you'll have the perfect seasonally fresh salad.
💚Kale, in particular, is packed with vitamins and minerals, making it an excellent choice for a nutritious fall salad.
💚 This salad has the perfect combination of textures. Crunchy sunflower seeds and apples mix with creamy, tangy salad dressing for a salad that's bursting with flavor and texture.
🛒Ingredients Needed For Vegan Kale Salad
- Kale: Hearty kale is the foundation of this perfect vegan salad.
- Apples: Choose a sweet apple like a honeycrisp or a Pink Lady.
- Blueberries: Use fresh blueberries for the best flavor.
- Vegan Cheese: The vegan cheese is optional, but I highly recommend it. Use vegan feta or Parmesan cheese.
- Quinoa: This salad calls for cooked quinoa. You can buy ready-made quinoa or use my quinoa in a rice cooker method.
- Cranberries: Cranberries are the perfect addition to this salad.
- Sunflower Seeds: Sunflower seeds add a nice crunch. You could also use walnuts or pecans.
Salad Dressing Ingredients
- Balsamic Vinegar: Balsamic vinegar adds a nice sweet, tangy kick.
- Olive Oil: I always suggest using extra virgin olive oil in dressings. The flavor makes a real difference to the overall flavor of the salad.
- Brown Sugar: Brown sugar balances out the tangy flavor of balsamic vinegar.
- Vegan Mayo: Vegan mayonnaisse makes this salad dressing extra rich and creamy.
- Maple Syrup: Maple syrup adds a nice earthy flavor that goes perfectly with kale.
- Dijon Mustard: Dijon mustard adds a nice spicy flavor, and it also is necessary if you want the dressing to emulsify properly.
- Salt: Salt makes all the flavors pop.
👨🍳How To Make A Vegan Kale Salad
- Wash the kale and remove the stems. Chop into bite-sized pieces.
- Dice apples. No need to peel.
- Add the quinoa, cranberries, blueberries and sunflower seeds. Toss the salad with salad spoons until everything is well combined.
Make The Salad Dressing
- For the dressing, combine all ingredients in a small bowl and whisk vigorously until a smooth and creamy consistency has been reached.
- Pour the dressing over the salad and toss to ensure the salad is evenly coated in the dressing.
- Sprinkle with (optional) vegan cheese.
- Enjoy your vegan kale salad!
💡Variations
1. Mediterranean Kale Salad:
- Replace apples with diced cucumber and cherry tomatoes.
- Add ½ cup of chickpeas for protein.
- Swap dried cranberries for Kalamata olives.
- Use a lemon-tahini dressing: mix 3 tablespoons of tahini, 2 tablespoons of lemon juice, 1 minced garlic clove, and a pinch of salt.
2. Thai-Inspired Kale Salad:
- Replace apples with mango cubes.
- Add ½ cup of edamame beans.
- Swap blueberries for sliced red bell pepper.
- Make a peanut dressing: combine 3 tablespoons of peanut butter, 2 tablespoons of soy sauce, 1 tablespoon of rice vinegar, 1 teaspoon of sriracha sauce, and a dash of agave nectar.
3. Mexican Kale Salad:
- Replace apples with diced avocado.
- Add ½ cup of black beans.
- Swap blueberries for corn kernels.
- Top with chopped cilantro and a sprinkle of vegan feta cheese.
- Dress with a lime-cilantro vinaigrette: mix 3 tablespoons of olive oil, 2 tablespoons of lime juice, 1 teaspoon of cumin, and a handful of chopped fresh cilantro.
4. Asian Sesame Kale Salad:
- Replace apples with sliced water chestnuts.
- Add ½ cup of shredded carrots.
- Swap blueberries for mandarin orange segments.
- Top with toasted sesame seeds.
- Make a sesame ginger dressing: combine 3 tablespoons of sesame oil, 2 tablespoons of rice vinegar, 1 tablespoon of soy sauce, 1 teaspoon of grated ginger, and 1 teaspoon of honey or maple syrup.
5. Greek Kale Salad:
- Replace apples with diced red onion and cucumber.
- Add ½ cup of sliced Kalamata olives.
- Swap blueberries for cherry tomatoes.
- Top with vegan feta cheese and a sprinkling of Italian Pangrattato.
- Dress with a Greek vinaigrette: mix 3 tablespoons of olive oil, 2 tablespoons of red wine vinegar, 1 teaspoon of dried oregano, and a pinch of salt and pepper.
🍽️Serving Suggestions
- Grilled Tofu or Tempeh: Serve your kale salad with slices of grilled tofu or tempeh on top. Marinate the tofu or tempeh in your favorite sauce or seasoning for added flavor and protein. Check out these recipes for tofu marinades.
- Roasted Chickpeas: Add a crunchy element by tossing some roasted chickpeas into your salad. Season them with spices like paprika, cumin, and garlic powder for extra taste.
- Avocado Slices: Top your kale salad with creamy avocado slices for a healthy dose of good fats. The creaminess of avocado pairs well with the kale's texture.
- Stuffed Mushrooms: Prepare vegan stuffed mushrooms and serve them alongside your kale salad. The combination of the stuffed mushrooms and the salad makes for a satisfying and balanced meal.
- Vegan Turkish Bread Serve your kale salad with slices of Turkish flat bread or warm pita on the side. Perfect for scooping up your salad.
❄️ Storage Instructions
Storing Vegan Kale Salad With Dressing On It
If your salad is already dressed, this is how you should store it:
- Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
- Ensure the container is tightly sealed to prevent the dressing from wilting the kale or making other ingredients soggy.
- Before serving leftovers, you may want to add an extra drizzle of dressing to refresh the flavors.
Make Ahead Instructions
- If you want to prepare the salad in advance for later consumption, it's best to store the components separately to maintain freshness.
- Keep the chopped kale in an airtight container, removing as much air as possible to prevent wilting.
- Store the cooked quinoa separately in an airtight container.
- Keep any fruits like apples, blueberries, and dried cranberries in separate containers.
- Store the dressing in a small, airtight container.
- When ready to serve, combine the kale, quinoa, fruits, sunflower seeds, and vegan cheese in a large mixing bowl.
- Add the dressing and toss the salad ingredients together thoroughly.
- Plate the salad and enjoy!
🙋Frequently Asked Questions
Raw kale can be a great addition to salads when prepared properly. Massaging kale with a little olive oil and lemon juice helps to tenderize it, making it more palatable and easier to digest. This technique can enhance the texture and taste of your salad while retaining the nutritional benefits of kale.
Kale is a valuable addition to a vegan diet due to its exceptional nutrient density. It's rich in essential vitamins and minerals, particularly vitamin K, vitamin A, vitamin C, calcium, and iron, which can help meet important nutrient needs in a plant-based diet. Additionally, kale provides fiber and antioxidants, contributing to overall health and wellness in a vegan lifestyle.
Kale can have a slightly bitter taste, but this bitterness varies among kale varieties and can be influenced by factors such as freshness and preparation. To mitigate the bitterness, consider massaging the kale with olive oil and lemon juice, which can help soften the leaves and mellow the flavor, making it more enjoyable in salads.
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📖 Recipe
Vegan Kale Salad For Fall
Ingredients
For The Vegan Kale Salad
- 9 cups fresh kale chopped , stems removed
- 2 apples chopped
- 1½ cup cooked quinoa
- ¾ cup blueberries
- ½ cup dried cranberries
- ¼ cup sunflower seeds
- ¼ cup vegan cheese *optional
For The Creamy Salad Dressing
- 3 tablespoons olive oil extra virgin
- 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
- 3 tablespoons vegan mayonnaise
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon maple syrup
Instructions
- Wash the kale and remove the stems.
- Dice the apples apples. No need to peel.
- Add the quinoa, cranberries, blueberries and sunflower seeds. Toss the salad with salad spoons until everything is well combined.
- Whisk together all ingredients in a small bowl until the dressing is smooth and creamy.
- Pour the dressing over the salad and toss to ensure the salad is evenly coated in the dressing.
- Sprinkle with (optional) vegan cheese. Enjoy your vegan kale salad!
Notes
Storage Instructions:
Storing Vegan Kale Salad With Dressing On It
If your salad is already dressed, this is how you should store it:- Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
- Ensure the container is tightly sealed to prevent the dressing from wilting the kale or making other ingredients soggy.
- Before serving leftovers, you may want to add an extra drizzle of dressing to refresh the flavors.
Make Ahead Instructions
- If you want to prepare the salad in advance for later consumption, it's best to store the components separately to maintain freshness.
- Keep the chopped kale in an airtight container, removing as much air as possible to prevent wilting.
- Store the cooked quinoa separately in an airtight container.
- Keep any fruits like apples, blueberries, and dried cranberries in separate containers.
- Store the dressing in a small, airtight container.
- When ready to serve, combine the kale, quinoa, fruits, sunflower seeds, and vegan cheese in a large mixing bowl.
- Add the dressing and toss the salad ingredients together thoroughly.
- Plate the salad and enjoy!
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