Winter Salad Mix Fresh (Printable View)

A crunchy mix of kale, apple, cabbage, and pomegranate dressed with a zesty vinaigrette.

# What You’ll Need:

→ Vegetables & Fruits

01 - 2 cups kale, stems removed and finely chopped
02 - 1 cup red cabbage, thinly sliced
03 - 1 large carrot, peeled and julienned
04 - 1 apple (Granny Smith or Honeycrisp), cored and thinly sliced
05 - 1/2 cup pomegranate seeds

→ Nuts & Cheese

06 - 1/3 cup walnuts, roughly chopped
07 - 1/4 cup crumbled feta cheese (optional)

→ Dressing

08 - 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
09 - 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
10 - 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
11 - 1 teaspoon honey or maple syrup
12 - 1/4 teaspoon sea salt
13 - 1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper

# Cooking Steps:

01 - Place the kale into a large salad bowl with a pinch of salt. Massage gently for 1 to 2 minutes until the leaves soften slightly.
02 - Add the red cabbage, julienned carrot, sliced apple, and pomegranate seeds to the bowl and mix thoroughly.
03 - In a small bowl or jar, whisk together olive oil, apple cider vinegar, Dijon mustard, honey, sea salt, and black pepper until emulsified.
04 - Pour the dressing over the salad mixture and toss gently to coat all ingredients evenly.
05 - Sprinkle chopped walnuts and crumbled feta cheese over the top if desired.
06 - Serve immediately or refrigerate for up to one hour to allow flavors to meld before serving.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • It tastes like crunch and brightness even when everything outside is gray and frozen.
  • The whole thing takes 20 minutes, which means you can make it on a Tuesday without drama.
  • One salad that actually fills you up without needing to roast anything or watch a pot.
02 -
  • Massage that kale—it's not a suggestion, it's the entire technique that separates this from a sad pile of greens.
  • Don't make the dressing ahead and assume it'll wait patiently. The emulsion starts to separate after about an hour, so shake it again right before using.
  • If you have to make this early, keep the dressing and nuts separate until the very last minute, or everything gets soft.
03 -
  • The salad gets better if you let it sit for 20 minutes after dressing—the flavors get loud and the kale gets even more tender, but don't wait longer than an hour or the leaves will start to wilt.
  • Make extra dressing even if you think you won't need it, because you always will.

Go Back