Winter Kale Cranberries Seeds (Printable)

Tender kale combined with dried cranberries, crunchy seeds, and citrus dressing for a fresh winter dish.

# What You Need:

→ Salad

01 - 1 large bunch kale, stems removed, finely chopped (approx. 7 oz)
02 - 1 small apple, cored and thinly sliced
03 - 1/2 small red onion, thinly sliced
04 - 1/2 cup dried cranberries
05 - 1/3 cup pumpkin seeds (pepitas)
06 - 1/4 cup sunflower seeds
07 - 1/4 cup crumbled feta cheese (optional)

→ Dressing

08 - 3 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
09 - 1 tbsp freshly squeezed lemon juice
10 - 1 tbsp orange juice
11 - 1 tsp Dijon mustard
12 - 1 tsp maple syrup or honey
13 - Salt and pepper, to taste

# How-To Steps:

01 - Place the chopped kale in a large bowl, drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle a pinch of salt. Massage with your hands for 1 to 2 minutes until softened and darkened.
02 - Add apple slices, red onion, dried cranberries, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, and crumbled feta (if using) to the kale.
03 - In a small bowl or jar, whisk together olive oil, lemon juice, orange juice, Dijon mustard, maple syrup or honey, salt, and pepper until emulsified.
04 - Pour the dressing over the salad and toss thoroughly to combine all ingredients evenly.
05 - Taste and adjust seasoning if necessary. Serve immediately or let the salad rest for 10 minutes to develop flavors.

# Helpful Tips:

01 -
  • Kale gets genuinely tender and sweet when you massage it, so even skeptics find themselves reaching for seconds.
  • The citrus dressing is bright enough to wake you up on the dreariest winter morning.
  • You can throw this together in under 20 minutes with zero cooking involved.
  • It's the kind of salad that actually tastes better after sitting for a few minutes, making it perfect for meal prep.
02 -
  • Massaging the kale is absolutely essential—raw kale without this step is tough and bitter, but massaged kale becomes something entirely different and surprisingly pleasant.
  • If you're making this ahead, dress it right before serving or keep the dressing separate until the last moment, otherwise the leaves will wilt and the apple will brown.
03 -
  • If your kale feels tough even after massaging, you're probably not massaging long enough—keep going until it darkens noticeably and becomes almost silky.
  • Toast your seeds in a dry pan for three minutes before adding them, and the entire salad will taste significantly more complex and rich.

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