Kale Salad With Apples and Cheddar Recipe (2024)

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Cooking Notes

Me

If you use a sturdier kale, take a pinch of salt and a tablespoon of the oil and massage the kale in the large bowl before adding other ingredients. You're looking to soften the kale before you mix in the other ingredients. It really works.

Anne Thompson

This is tasty but there's no way it can be made in five minutes. Just cutting up the kale takes longer than
hat. I'd estimate between 20 and 30 minutes.

Monica R.

This is a simple and delicious way to eat kale. I found the cheddar was lost in the salad and have since made it without cheese - it's just a good. Also great with a few pomegranate seeds sprinkled in.

Wisoc003

Absolute adore this recipe -- it's my favorite salad, hands down! It's so simple and so delicious! I typically dress the salad before I head to work in the morning, and by lunch the kale is perfectly tender but still fresh. I also substituted Gruyere to add a very subtle funk.

Frankie R

I feel the authors heart is in the right place with this recipe, but the execution is way off. All the ingredients work great together, but not in the given amounts. I changed it to 2 tbsp of olive oil, 3 tbsp (one whole fresh lemon ) of lemon juice, 2 oz of cheddar cheese. Five tablespoons of olive oil is just way too much and leaves your mouth feeling oily, and 1 oz of cheddar leaves people poking around wondering where the rest is.

Matthew

Massaging the lemon juice in first will cook and soften the kale (and your hands).

Austin Val

This is a DELICIOUS salad. I've made it a dozen times and never get tired of it!

Before I juice the lemon, I zest it onto the kale before juicing it. This adds to the zing of the citrus. Umm!

Ems

What a wonderful recipe - I substituted Cheddar cheese for Feta, and added walnuts and Sicilian olives. I also took advice from 'Monica R' and added pomegranate and 'Gabrielle' to up the lemon a bit. I also took advice from 'Me' to first massage kale with salt & oil - Thanks to everyones feedback the result was Delicious!!!

Jill

Speed the prep by buying a bag of shredded kale (found mine at Trader Joe's). Definitely a good base for variations. This time I substituted pumpkin seeds for almonds, due to a nut allergy, and next time, I'm going to try blue cheese instead of cheddar and add cranberries or pomegranate seeds, depending on what I have on hand.

HeidiK

This simple recipe can go so many ways! I have used pear & blue cheese for a twist....along with apple & pecans that were roasted with a bit of sea salt and cracked pepper. Simple and easy! Prepare it and go on with the rest of the dinner/lunch prep as the longer it sits the better it tastes!

Carolyn

An alternative version of this includes quinua, and feta along with the apples and kale rather than the cheddar.

lallison

Cooked, but the cheddar is a mistake. The freshness of the apples/kale is masked by the cheddar. Leave out the parmesan, too. Lemon juice is nice, but an apple cider vinegar seems more appropriate. Letting the salad sit around for a day adds to its sweetness. I would recommend a visalia onion to the garlic, but... garlic is lovely.

Sarah

Quick and easy. With chicken on top, this is a go-to for bringing lunch take to work. If you make a batch of dressing beforehand and just leave it in the fridge, it takes about five minutes to chop up a single-serve portion. I dress the salad and by the time I eat it 4 hours later, the kale is nice and flavorful. (I wouldn't do it with any other green!)

triciasnell

Great salad. I wanted to double recipe, but didn't have enough kale, so added spinach and arugula that I had on hand, all cut up as small as the kale was. It really worked. Great salad to make ahead of time if you are going to an event. I put each ingredient already cut up into separate containers and bags and it was easy to assemble once I arrived after a long drive. Definitely adding this to my pot-luck list.

Margey

Delicious. Toasted pumpkin seeds made it even better. Loved the Apple/cheddar combo.

Banana

Yup, you really need to massage that kale with something— I opted for the lemon juice suggestion— to soften it up. Used chopped walnuts, bc that is what I had, and increased lemon juice per another suggestion. Thanks for sharing these thoughts.

Darcy

Easy and tasty

Heidi

Awesome recipe. I used Extra Sharp Cabot Cheese. Didn’t massage the kale. Just let it sit in the dressing for a bit. I’m definitely making again. THANK YOU NYT!

CZ

Works amazing subbing Arugula for Kale

Guy

Excellent use of my fresh grown kale. Served with brown rice and oysters wrapped in bacon.

kathy

I enjoyed the salad overall. The cheddar seems unneeded to me. Lots of possibilities for variations though.

Mary Jo

This is a nice and easy alternative to other kale salads. Massaging the kale softens it and helps it absorb the dressing. Varying the type of cheese and apples is fun too. Tried a extra sharp cheddar and a different day used a white cheese marbled with truffle.

drea

Add toasted almonds for a warm nuttiness I also use manchego instead of Parmesan

sarah in sf

This was good, simple and easy peasy but not a mind blowing experience. Next time will add pomegranate because why ever not?

Caryn

I made lots of changes but overall enjoyed the inspiration the recipe gave! Massaged the kale, grated the cheddar with a box grater, added apple cider vinegar to the dressing, added chopped craisins, and subbed chopped pecans for the almonds. Next time I may grate at least some of the apple too, to see if I like that texture more.

Meaghan L

Good but needed tweaking, more almonds, a little sherry vinegar and a teaspoon of Dijon mustard in the dressing

Jen

I added apple cider vinegar and pepitas to it and it was great.

shannon

this is a great salad for a quick lunch or busy weeknight dinner. I add a touch of maple syrup to the dressing and roasted chicken peas or chicken for protein

jil

Easy and delicious! Great flavor combo.

Linda

You can pack the washed kale tightly into the opening on top of your food processor and process using the slicing blade. This greatly reduces the prep time.

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Kale Salad With Apples and Cheddar Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Which apple goes best with cheddar cheese? ›

Gala + Cheddar: Gala apples are known for their mildly sweet, vanilla taste and crisp flesh, making the perfect pair for sharp, nutty cheddar. Galas lend a balancing note to the salt and punchiness of aged cheddars, which is why we picked Beecher's Flagsheep Cheddar to pair with our galas.

When should you dress a kale salad? ›

Use your hands to toss the greens, massaging/rubbing the vinaigrette into the kale a bit as you toss. Taste and correct the seasoning with salt and pepper. Let the salad sit for at least 10 minutes before serving. Even better—if time allows, cover the salad, and let it sit in the fridge for 30 minutes to an hour.

Are apples and cheese good together? ›

Apples and cheese are the perfect (and might we add, underrated?) combination of sweet and savory. In our opinion, no charcuterie board is complete without several apples and cheese to pair together.

Will kale salad get soggy? ›

No! That's the beauty of kale. You can prep this simple kale salad up to an hour before serving it and it will still be crunchy and delicious. After several hours it becomes a bit softer but never really soggy.

Do apples and cheddar cheese go together? ›

Pairing apples and cheddar is a win-win no matter which varieties you choose. With all the options out there, we thought a bit of guidance could really help those pairings pop. Every apple variety like every naturally-aged cheddar has slightly different elements of crisp, creamy, tart, and sharp.

Is it OK to eat a kale salad everyday? ›

RELATED: Believe It Or Not, Kale Actually Lives Up To All Of Its Hype—Here's Why. Manganiello says you can eat kale every day, just don't overdo it. She recommends one to two servings maximum of kale per day, leaving room for other healthy foods that provide an assortment of nutrients.

Why do you massage kale salad? ›

Kale is fibrous and can be difficult to munch compared to other greens like romaine lettuce or spinach. The rubbing, kneading motion helps to tenderize the veg and make it easier to chew and digest. Try this for raw kale you are going to be serving or eating right away.

Do you use the stems of kale for salad? ›

But despite all that kale-leaf love, most kale recipes suggest you de-stem the sturdy greens by slicing along the thick middle stalk, use only the (relatively) more tender leaf, and toss the stems into the compost bin.

What should you not mix with apples? ›

For this reason, he suggests keeping apples and carrots away from each other, adding that cabbage, figs and onions can also absorb an apple's odor. “The closer and more enclosed the fresh produce is, the more chance for odors to intermix,” he adds.

What goes with cheddar and apples? ›

Tyler Florence ups the ante by adding crisp bacon to his grilled cheddar-and-apple sandwiches, but not before he spreads the bread with tangy Dijon mustard. The combination of these five ingredients creates a perfectly balanced bite that's equal parts sweet, salty, spicy and savory.

What is the saying about apple and cheese? ›

APPLE‐PIE without some cheese is like a kiss without a squeeze - Oxford Reference.

What is the best pairings for cheddar cheese? ›

CRANBERRY PRESERVES, OLIVE & PROSCIUTTO WITH AGED RESERVE CHEDDAR. Mixed olives, garlic toast and prosciutto provide an exquisite savory match with the bold, sharp flavors of Cracker Barrel Aged Reserve Cheddar, while cranberry preserves lend a touch of sweet and sour.

What fruit goes with cheddar cheese? ›

Dried figs and dates, pineapples, and mangos all pair well with cheddar, adding a Mediterranean and island flair. Smaller dried fruits, such as tart cherries and apricots, pair perfectly with both cheddar and nuts, too. Combine everything in a small container for an on-the-go healthy trail mix.

What goes well with cheddar cheese? ›

The sharpness of cheddar pairs well with fruits that are sweet, tart and juicy, such as blackberries, plums, figs, crisp apples and pineapples, providing a sublime array of flavours for any cheeseboard.

What fruit goes best with sharp cheddar? ›

Extra Sharp + Pears

Extra Sharp Cheddar's citrusy tang is the ideal companion for the sweet tender juiciness of pears. Top warm, spiced poached pears with grated Extra Sharp, a dollop of yogurt, pecans, and dried cranberries for a slightly savory take on dessert.

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