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.
Why I love this salad
This salad is both easy and healthy. I use pre-made broccoli slaw for convenience, which provides a ton of nutrition. Add in kale and cranberries and you really have a nutrition powerhouse in your bowl!
One of the great features of this 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.
Ingredients needed
For the citrus dressing
- Apple Cider Vinegar
- Grapeseed Oil
- Orange Juice
- Honey
- Tarragon (dried)
- Salt + Pepper, to taste
For the salad
- Kale
- Broccoli Slaw
- Dried Cranberries
- Apple
- Pepitas
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 peel the apple, but you can if preferred). Add the 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 ⅓ 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!
More salad recipes to love
- Mediterranean Spaghetti Squash Salad
- Arugula Avocado Salad
- Quinoa Edamame Salad
- Mediterranean Chopped Salad
- Chickpea Carrot & Arugula Salad
- Brussels Sprouts Salad with Cranberries
- Broccoli Salad with Bacon
📖 Recipe
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
- ⅓ cup orange juice freshly squeezed, from one navel orange or 3 Clementines
- 1 TB honey
- ¼ teaspoon 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.
Check out my Web Story for this excellent salad!
Gina Abernathy
This looks fabulous! I could eat this everyday.
Sula
That's exactly how I feel about it!
Cindy Mom the Lunch Lady
Kale makes such a great base for salads. The dressing sounds perfect with the earthy broccoli/kale combination.
Sula
Yes the dressing helps balance with a little sweetness.
Leah
This sounds amazing! I love a good salad.
Sula
I'm the same! I feel so healthy when I have this!
Jeannie
I can add this to my dinner soon, I love a good healthy meal 🙂 I need to check our grocery for that broccoli slaw or I can make my own mix.
Sula
Yes I hope you can find it, it makes it much easier to make!
Mihaela | https://theworldisanoyster.com/
I always thought that kale should be steamed. It makes sense to massage it as you would cabbage - it is, after all, a type of cabbage:) This is a better way to keep the vitamins in it.
Sula
Yes, and it's amazing how tender the kale becomes after massaging!
Lottie
cranberries and broccoli sound like a wonderful combo!
Sula
They are so good together!
Neha
What a fun and healthy salad recipe. I simply love to top my salads with pepita seeds, can't wait to try this one!
Sula
I hope you try it soon!
Lisa | Garlic & Zest
So convenient and SO healthy! Love those cranberries and pepitas! I'd add grilled chicken and serve it for dinner!
Sula
Oh yes it would be awesome with some grilled chicken. I'm having it tonight with salmon. 🙂
Anita
This is a great make-ahead salad. Great tips for adding pepitas right before serving since everyone love the crunchiness of pepitas. 🙂
Sula
Yes, I LOVE that I can make it ahead of time. In fact, I made it today for dinner tonight!
Colleen
What a healthy and delicious salad. It was perfect for our lunch today!
Sula
I'm so glad you liked it!
Emily Woodward
This looks great! Can't wait to try it out
Sula
I hope you try it soon!
Amanda Marie Boyle
Great salad. I love the use of pepitas. I keep forgetting I should add things like this to my dishes!
Sula
I love pepitas - so tasty! They make a great snack!
Angela
Looks healthy:) I will try to make it for sure
Sula
Healthy and yummy. 🙂 I hope you give it a try!
patricia @ grab a plate
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!
Sula
Oh yes I love all the greens!
Beth
Always looking for something new and healthy! This salad looks delicious! Can't wait to give this a try!
Sula
I hope you try it soon!
Toni Dash
This is really a delicious salad! Everyone at my house loved it!
Sula
I'm glad you liked it! Its yummy and healthy all at once!
veenaazmanov
Crunchy, Nutty, Sweet and Sour. Love the combinations. Looks healthy too. A unique salad for sure.
Sula
Thank you, its definitely all those things!
gina
Love the pepitas in this for the crunch, they're one of my favorite salad toppings!
Sula
Oh yes, I love pepitas so much!
Big Trouble
Oh my, this looks healthy AND filling! Yum! What a fun but simple salad. Thanks for sharing, Sula!
Sula
That's exactly it - fun but simple!