with Broccoli Slaw and Citrus Vinaigrette
To illustrate how cooking sometimes takes its own path, this salad started with a completely different recipe that a friend shared years ago for a farro (grain) salad, which had a unique dressing: Clementine vinaigrette. The salad was good, but the real star was the dressing. I decided to make my own version with this tasty Broccoli-Kale Salad.
With this recipe, I’m trying for something that resembles the sweet kale salad I sometimes get from Costco. My version has a little less sugar and a lot more control over the quantity. Plus, I do have occasional negative experiences with those store-bought, pre-mixed salads. By making my own, I always know how fresh it is.
One of the great features of a kale salad is how well it keeps. Leftovers are really no problem! They’re still delicious the next day. I can’t speak to how well it keeps beyond that – the salad never lasts longer than 2 days in this house. Yes, only two people here, LOL.
In addition to kale, this salad features broccoli. But not florets. I use pre-shredded broccoli slaw for this.
I love that the mix includes a little carrot and purple cabbage for sweetness and color. It elevates this salad right into the superfood category!
How to make this broccoli kale salad with cranberries
To start, prepare the kale by stripping the leaves from the stems and rinsing well. Place in a large bowl and massage for 3 minutes. Transfer to a cutting board and chop into very small pieces, then return the pieces to the bowl (Note: If preferred, you can also chop fine first and then massage).
Add one 12-ounce bag of broccoli slaw mix to the bowl and one cup of sweetened dried cranberries.
Quarter and remove the core from a small honeycrisp apple and dice (I do not remove the skin from the apple). Add diced apple to the bowl.
Make the dressing by mixing grapeseed oil, apple cider vinegar, honey tarragon and citrus juice. Use fresh-squeezed juice from one naval orange, or 3 Clementine oranges. This will yield about 1/3 cup of juice. Shake or whisk vigorously until well combined.
Add the dressing to the salad and mix, cover and refrigerate for at least an hour.
The final ingredient is a half-cup of pepitas. I buy them already roasted and salted. Hint: In order to preserve their crunch, add these right before serving.
This makes a big bowl of salad, with a sweet – but tangy – dressing that is warm weather friendly and potluck easy due to the omission of mayo.
But don’t wait ‘til summer! It’s great to enjoy year-round!
Broccoli-Kale Salad
Ingredients
Salad
- ½ bunch kale about 5 large leaves
- 12 oz broccoli slaw
- 1 cup dried cranberries (6 oz) sweetened
- 1 apple honeycrisp (small)
- ½ cup pepitas roasted and salted
Dressing
- ¼ cup apple cider vinegar
- ½ cup grapeseed oil
- 1/3 cup orange juice freshly squeezed, from one navel orange or 3 Clementines
- 1 TB honey
- ¼ tsp dried tarragon
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Remove kale leaves from stems and place in colander to rinse. Place in a large bowl with a splash of olive oil and massage for 3 minutes. Cut kale into very small pieces and return to the bowl.
- Add package of broccoli slaw to the kale along with the dried cranberries.
- Core and dice the apple and add to the bowl.
- Add all dressing ingredients to a bowl or a jar with a tight fitting lid. Whisk or shake vigorously until well blended, then pour over salad. Mix well.
- Cover the bowl and refrigerate for at least an hour to allow the flavors to blend.
- Add pepitas and serve.
Video
Nutrition
Nutrition values are estimates only, using online calculators. Please verify using your own data.
Oh my, this looks healthy AND filling! Yum! What a fun but simple salad. Thanks for sharing, Sula!
That’s exactly it – fun but simple!
Love the pepitas in this for the crunch, they’re one of my favorite salad toppings!
Oh yes, I love pepitas so much!
Crunchy, Nutty, Sweet and Sour. Love the combinations. Looks healthy too. A unique salad for sure.
Thank you, its definitely all those things!
This is really a delicious salad! Everyone at my house loved it!
I’m glad you liked it! Its yummy and healthy all at once!
Always looking for something new and healthy! This salad looks delicious! Can’t wait to give this a try!
I hope you try it soon!
The perfect lunch! I love the idea of adding farro (one of my favorite things), but this is lovely just the way it is – all the greens & crunch!
Oh yes I love all the greens!
Looks healthy:) I will try to make it for sure
Healthy and yummy. 🙂 I hope you give it a try!
Great salad. I love the use of pepitas. I keep forgetting I should add things like this to my dishes!
I love pepitas – so tasty! They make a great snack!
This looks great! Can’t wait to try it out
I hope you try it soon!
What a healthy and delicious salad. It was perfect for our lunch today!
I’m so glad you liked it!
This is a great make-ahead salad. Great tips for adding pepitas right before serving since everyone love the crunchiness of pepitas. 🙂
Yes, I LOVE that I can make it ahead of time. In fact, I made it today for dinner tonight!
So convenient and SO healthy! Love those cranberries and pepitas! I’d add grilled chicken and serve it for dinner!
Oh yes it would be awesome with some grilled chicken. I’m having it tonight with salmon. 🙂
What a fun and healthy salad recipe. I simply love to top my salads with pepita seeds, can’t wait to try this one!
I hope you try it soon!