This Kale Salad with Cranberries and Feta Cheese is a healthy salad, with a simple dressing that's easy to make and bursting with flavor and color! The tangy balsamic dressing and sweet cranberries give it the perfect balance of tart and sweet. My daughter Abby created this delicious salad and our family loves it so much that I had to share it here!
The red, white and green colors in this Cranberry Kale Salad make it a great salad for your holiday table, but it's great any time of year. It makes an ideal side salad and pairs perfectly with my Air Fryer Roast Chicken (with lemon, rosemary and garlic) or my Baked Cornish Hens (with Rosemary Wine Sauce) Add some chicken breast and it's the perfect main course! It also makes a healthy lunch salad for on the go.
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🥘Ingredients
For this recipe, you'll need:
Salad:
- 1 bunch fresh kale (curly kale - the most common variety you'll find at the grocery store)
- ⅓ cup dried cranberries, cut in quarters
- ½ cup light feta cheese, crumbled
- ¼ cup sunflower seeds
Salad Dressing:
- ¼ cup olive oil
- ¼ cup balsamic vinegar
- 2 tbsp agave (known as agave syrup and agave nectar)
- 2 tbsp lemon juice
🔪Instructions
Prep: Wash, strip and cut kale (see video below)
🎥 Video
How to cut kale leaves for salad
Chop dried cranberries into small pieces (at least quarters)
Add kale, cranberries, feta cheese and sunflower seeds to large bowl.
Whisk dressing ingredients together in bowl
Add dressing just prior to serving
Hint: If you like the dressing less tangy and a little sweeter, simply add more agave syrup
📖Variations & Substitutions
- Kale - you can use baby kale instead of common curly kale
- Dressing - you could use another dressing
- Balsamic vinegar - you could use apple cider vinegar or red wine vinegar as a substitute
- Olive oil - you can use extra virgin olive oil or another type of olive oil
- Sunflower seeds - you could use pumpkin seeds, pecans or walnuts instead
- Lemon juice- you can use lemon juice from concentrate instead of fresh, but you'll only need half the amount
- Agave Syrup - you can use honey instead, but you'll need twice the amount. You could also use maple syrup instead
- Feta cheese - you can use goat cheese instead
- Add-ins - add in green onion, red onion or crisp apples
🥗 Pairing
These are my favorite dishes to serve with this Kale Cranberry Salad:
🍽Equipment
You will need a whisk, a large salad bowl, a small bowl, a sharp knife and a cutting board for this kale salad recipe. A salad spinner also comes in handy! *See recipe card for equipment recommendations, links and photos!
🌡️Storage
Store the salad separately from the dressing. It can be stored in and airtight container in the fridge for 2-3 days. Salad dressing can be stored in a mason jar.
These ingredients don't stand up well to freezing.
👪 Serving Size
This recipe makes 6 servings as a meal and 8 servings as a side. However, you can half, double or triple the recipe by clicking on the blue serving number and selecting the number of servings you'd like. The ingredient quantities will automatically adjust.
🔢WW Points
This kale recipe (as a side salad ) is Weight Watchers friendly @ 2 WW points if you use fat-free feta cheese. The dressing is 3 ww points per tbsp. If you make it a meal, it's 3 WW points (dressing is the same). Add chicken breast at no extra points!
🦺Food safety
- Do not use the same utensils on cooked food, that previously touched raw meat
- Wash hands after touching raw meat
- Don't leave food sitting out at room temperature for extended periods
- Always have good ventilation when using a gas stove
- Never leave cooking food unattended
See more guidelines at USDA.gov
⭐ COMMENTS & REVIEWS
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💭TOP TIP
If you have leftover kale, it freezes really well and can be used in Healthy Slow Cooker Zuppa Toscana Soup!
If you are looking for a delicious kale salad for the holiday season, you'll love this Kale salad recipe!
📋 Kale Salad with Cranberries and Feta Cheese recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
Salad
- 1 bunch raw kale (curly kale)
- ⅓ cup dried cranberries, cut in quarters
- ½ cup light feta cheese, crumbled
- ¼ cup sunflower seeds
Dressing
- ¼ cup olive oil
- ¼ cup balsamic vinegar
- 2 tablespoon agave (known as agave syrup or agave nectar)
- 2 tablespoon lemon juice
Instructions
Salad:
- Wash, strip and cut kale (see video in NOTES)
- Chop dried cranberries into smaller pieces (at least quarters)
- Add kale, cranberries, feta cheese and sunflower seeds to large bowl.
Dressing:
- Whisk dressing ingredients together in bowl
- Add dressing just prior to serving
Terri Gilson
This Kale Salad with Cranberries and Feta Cheese is a total family favorite. My daughter Abby created it, and it's been a hit ever since! The mix of tangy balsamic, sweet cranberries, and salty feta creates the perfect flavor balance. It's super versatile too - throw in some chicken for a complete meal, or pack it up for a delicious on-the-go lunch.