Fall season is just around the corner, and soon we'll be welcoming autumn's bountiful produce into our kitchens. One of the healthiest and most versatile vegetables of the season is kale. Kale is packed with essential nutrients, including vitamins A, C, and K, as well as minerals like iron and calcium. When combined with sweet and juicy apples and crunchy pumpkin seed clusters, kale becomes a tasty salad that's perfect for a fall dinner party or a healthy lunch at work. Follow these easy steps to create a delicious and nutritious kale salad with apples and pumpkin seed clusters that you can enjoy all season long.
Ingredients
Salad:
- 2 bunches Tuscan kale, stemmed and chopped
- 2 honeycrisp apples
- 4 ounces crumbled goat cheese
Pumpkin seed clusters:
- 3/4 cup pumpkin seeds
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
Apple Cider Dressing:
- 1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil
- 2 tablespoons apple cider or apple juice
- 2 tablespoons unfiltered apple cider vinegar
- 2 tablespoons mayonnaise
- 1 1/2 teaspoons honey
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
Directions:
- Start by lining a large plate with parchment paper for easy cleanup later.
- Toast the pumpkin seeds in a dry pan over medium-high heat for about 5 minutes, stirring constantly. Once they are fragrant and toasted, remove them from the skillet.
- In the same skillet, add sugar over medium-high heat. Continuously stir the sugar until it melts evenly and turns a light brown color. This should take about 2 to 3 minutes. Once melted, return the toasted pumpkin seeds to the pan and add ground cinnamon and cayenne pepper. Stir well to coat the seeds. Pour the mixture onto the prepared plate. Let it cool and then break apart into clusters.
- While the clusters are cooling, make the dressing. In a small bowl, combine olive oil, apple cider, apple cider vinegar, mayonnaise, honey, cinnamon, salt, and pepper. Whisk until the dressing is smooth and well combined.
- Now it's time to assemble the salad. In a large bowl, combine the kale with ½ cup of the dressing. Using your clean hands, massage the kale leaves while evenly distributing the dressing. This will make the kale more tender. Add more dressing if needed.
- Finally, top the kale salad with sliced apples, crumbled goat cheese, and the yummy pumpkin seed clusters.
This delicious and nutritious kale salad with apples and pumpkin seed clusters is a perfect way to welcome the fall season and enjoy all the delicious produce it has to offer. Kale is high in fiber, vitamins, and minerals, while apples add natural sweetness and crunch. The crispy and honey-roasted pumpkin seed clusters give the salad a satisfying texture and nutty flavor. With this easy-to-follow recipe, you can create a healthy and delicious salad in less than 30 minutes!
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