This Kale Crunch Salad is the simplest summer side dish. Loads of curly kale, crunchy green cabbage, and roasted salted almonds tossed in a homemade apple cider vinaigrette. So fresh, full of texture, and easy to make. Perfect for all of the hot days ahead.
Disclaimer. I don’t want to call this a Chick-fil-A copycat recipe, but it is inspired by their kale crunch salad. It has all of the same ingredients but the dressing is a little different. Anyways.
I absolutely love vegetables and crave them every single day. In the summer, I love simple, cold, and crunchy salads. This is my go to recipe. What is your favorite salad for summer?
When it comes to salads, I like to keep them simple, full of flavor, and full of texture. Salads don’t have to be boring!
The roasted almonds give this salad a salty bite that I love. The cabbage and kale hold up well to lots of dressing. No soggy salads allowed!
Highlights
- Full of cold crunchy greens
- Tangy apple cider vinaigrette
- Loaded with roasted & salted almonds
- Simple ingredients & easy to make
- Perfect summer side dish
Ingredients
- Curly Kale: Curly kale works best. Dinosaur kale will not have the same texture.
Complete list of ingredients and amounts is located on the recipe card below.
Instructions
before you start
- Wash, dry, and prepare kale and cabbage. I like to pat dry my greens with a paper towel to remove excess water. This ensures your salad is not soggy. This salad is best when the kale is cut into smaller pieces so it is more tender.
Step 1: In a small jar or air tight container, add all of the ingredients for the dressing. Shake until well combined.
Step 2: Toss kale, cabbage, almonds, and dressing in a large bowl.
TIP - Use the tongs to massage the kale with the dressing. Toss longer than usual for more tender kale.
Expert Tips
- Tear/chop your kale into small bite size pieces. This makes it much more palatable and tender.
- Start with less dressing. When it comes to dressing a salad, I find it always needs less dressing than you think. Start with a drizzle and toss. Add more as needed.
- Taste and season. The salt and pepper in the dressing are a base. If you are like me, you might want a little extra. I recommend tossing your salad and tasting it to see if it needs more seasoning.
- Toss right before serving. Tossing the salad for a meal should always be last. This ensures your salad is extra crisp.
FAQs
Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Just know the salad will be soggy within a few hours. Leftover dressing can also be stored separately in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Yes. Prep the veggies and dressing the day before and store in the fridge. Toss the salad immediately before serving.
It has kale, green cabbage, roasted almonds, and an apple cider vinaigrette.
Yes, of course! This is always a good shortcut. I recommend a greek or italian vinaigrette.
This is the perfect simple salad to serve with just about any protein (chicken, steak, seafood, etc.). I always whip this salad up to go with pasta or homemade pizza.
Add protein in the form of beans, meat, seafood, or chicken. Another way to beef up this salad is by adding some cheese. Try parmesan, feta, or goat. Lastly, I recommend adding some carbs. Think bread, croutons, or rice on top.
Related Recipes
Kale Crunch Salad
Ingredients:
- 3-4 ounces curly kale, chopped*
- 2 cups green cabbage, chopped
- ⅓ cup chopped salted & roasted almonds
Dressing
- 3 Tablespoons olive oil
- 1 teaspoon dijon mustard
- 2 Tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- ½ teaspoon honey
- 1 Tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest
- 1 clove garlic, grated
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon pepper
Instructions:
- Review all recipe notes and instructions before beginning.
- In a small jar or air tight container, add all of the ingredients for the dressing. Shake until well combined.
- Toss kale, cabbage, almonds, and dressing in a large bowl.
Delish!! I could eat that today and tomorrow and the next day. lol.
The dressing has the perfect tanginess to complement the salad!
didnt know the two kinds of Kale thanks for adding that. Kale is a powerful green veggie
Love the crunch in this salad!
This looks amazing and I have not been a kale fan, but I might have to try this. Love the dressing ingredients!
Thanks! Hope you enjoy 🙂
I love kale salads, and this one looks amazing! Those roasted almonds add just the right amount of crunch!
Thank you!!
This salad is so simple, yet so vibrant! Thank you for the great recipe!
Thank you!!
I've been late jumping on the kale bandwagon but now I am loving it. Glad to have your simple salad recipe and the vinegarette sound delicious.