Winter Kale Cranberries Seeds (Printable version)

Tender kale combined with sweet cranberries, crunchy seeds, and a zesty citrus dressing for bright winter dishes.

# What you need:

→ Salad

01 - 1 large bunch kale (7 oz), stems removed, finely chopped
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 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
09 - 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
10 - 1 tablespoon orange juice
11 - 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
12 - 1 teaspoon maple syrup or honey
13 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

# How To:

01 - Place finely chopped kale in a large bowl. Drizzle with a splash of olive oil and a pinch of salt. Massage with your hands for 1 to 2 minutes until leaves soften and darken.
02 - Add apple slices, red onion, dried cranberries, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, and feta cheese if using, into the bowl with kale. Toss gently to combine.
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 mixture and toss thoroughly to evenly coat all ingredients.
05 - Taste the salad and adjust salt and pepper if needed. Serve immediately or allow to rest for 10 minutes to enhance flavors.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The kale gets tender and almost silky after a quick massage, losing that intimidating bitterness that makes raw kale seem like punishment.
  • It's genuinely filling despite being a salad—the seeds and cranberries make it satisfying enough to eat as a full meal.
  • You can make it in 15 minutes, no cooking required, which means even on chaotic weeknights this feels achievable.
02 -
  • Massaging the kale isn't optional theater—it actually changes the eating experience by breaking down the tough fibers so the salad feels elegant rather than like chewing on leaves.
  • Freshly squeezed citrus juice makes a noticeable difference in brightness; bottled juice tastes flatter and the whole dressing suffers for it.
  • If you let the salad sit too long before eating, the kale will continue softening and some of the crunch will fade, which is fine if you prefer it that way but worth knowing.
03 -
  • Keep your dressing ingredients at room temperature before whisking; cold ingredients don't emulsify as easily and the dressing won't feel as silky.
  • If you're making this ahead, keep the dressing separate and dress the salad just before serving so the kale doesn't get waterlogged and lose its fresh appeal.

Go back