Kale Salad with Goat Cheese, Cranberries and Orange
Healthy should always taste as good as this Kale Salad! It’s packed with creamy goat cheese, juicy orange, chewy cranberries and crunchy pepitas, and it’s tossed in a tangy citrus dressing. It’s refreshing and delicious, and may be made entirely in advance!
Christmas has always been a huge baking fest for me, but I just haven’t gotten into it yet. I’ve been into healthier food since my Thanksgiving pie baking spree, so I’ll definitely take a bowl of salad over a Christmas cookie right now!
This Kale Salad with Goat Cheese recipe was inspired by a salad that I tried at one of my favorite restaurants recently. I love kale, so I’m always looking for more ways to change things up.
Some of my favorites include my kale brussels sprout salad, kale slaw and holiday salad. I simply can’t get enough!
Kale oftentimes gets a bad rap for being bitter and fibrous. I always remove the tough stems, which is responsible for most of the bitter flavor and fibrous texture.
The best way to make kale soft and tender is to give it a massage. It makes a world of difference! See my massaged kale salad for more information.
Why you’ll love this recipe:
- This kale salad with goat cheese is crisp, refreshing and packed with texture and flavor.
- Kale is nice and hearty, which keeps your salad from wilting down even after it’s tossed in the dressing.
- This salad may be made ahead of time, which makes it perfect for meal prep and entertaining.
Recipe ingredients:
This salad only includes a few ingredients, including the homemade citrus dressing.
- Kale (one bunch of lacinto or curly varieties). I prefer to purchase it by the bunch in order to remove the tough, fibrous stems. All pre-chopped varieties includes those fibrous, bitter stems.
- Orange.
- Goat cheese.
- Dried cranberries.
- Green onions.
- Pepitas (or your favorite nuts or seeds).
- Olive oil.
- White balsamic vinegar or your favorite.
- Dijon mustard.
- Maple syrup.
How to make this recipe:
- Prep the kale. Wash it and blot it dry with a towel, then tear it into bite sized pieces and place in a bowl. Discard the tough inner stems.
- Prep the orange. Peel the orange and cut into slices. Cut each slice into triangular sized bite-size pieces.
- Prep the green onions. Slice the green onions thinly on the bias.
- Prepare the dressing. Place the olive oil, orange juice, vinegar, dijon mustard, maple syrup and salt and pepper to taste in a jar. Secure the lid on the jar on shake vigorously until emulsified.
- Assemble the salad. Add the orange, green onion, goat cheese, cranberries and pepitas to the bowl of kale. Toss with the desired amount of dressing until well coated (you may not need all the dressing).
Recipe tips
- Kale may be prepped a day ahead in a zip top plastic bag or bowl covered with plastic wrap. See this massaged kale salad to see how to massage kale to make it soft and tender.
- Baby kale may be used, but you should not assemble your salad until just before serving as it will wilt quickly.
- I purchased pre-toasted pepitas in the refrigerated section of my supermarket. You can also purchase them raw and toast them on a rimmed baking sheet in a 350 degree oven for about 5-10 minutes or until fragrant.
More kale recipes you’ll love:
- Breakfast casserole
- Broccoli kale salad
- Kale apple salad
- Kale pesto by Bon Appetit
- Kale smoothie
- Sausage kale soup
- White bean kale soup
Did you try this recipe? If so, be sure to leave a review below and tag me @flavorthemoments on Facebook and Instagram
Kale Salad with Goat Cheese, Cranberries and Orange
Ingredients
For the dressing:
- 2 tablespoons fresh orange juice
- 1½ tablespoons white balsamic vinegar
- 1 tablespoon maple syrup
- 1½ teaspoons dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
- ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
- salt and pepper to taste
For the salad:
- 1 bunch lacinto kale tough stems removed and leaves chopped or torn (about 8 cups)
- 1 large navel orange (or 4 clementines) peeled, then sliced widthwise and cut into triangles
- 2 green onions both white and green parts, sliced
- 3 ounces crumbled goat cheese
- 1/3 cup dried cranberries
- 1/3 cup toasted pepitas*
Instructions
Prepare the dressing:
- Place the orange juice, vinegar, maple syrup, dijon, and lemon juice in a small bowl and whisk till combined. Whisk in the extra virgin olive oil, and salt and pepper, to taste.
Prepare the salad:
- Place all ingredients in a large bowl. Add the desired amount of dressing and toss to coat. Serve and enjoy!
Notes
- Kale may be prepped a day ahead in a zip top plastic bag or bowl covered with plastic wrap. See this massaged kale salad to see how to massage kale to make it soft and tender.
- Baby kale may be used, but you should not assemble your salad until just before serving as it will wilt quickly.
- *I purchased pre-toasted pepitas in the refrigerated section of my supermarket. You can also purchase them raw and toast them on a rimmed baking sheet in a 350 degree oven for about 5-10 minutes or until fragrant.
Nutrition
Nutrition is estimated using a food database and is only intended to be used as a guideline for informational purposes.
57 Comments on “Kale Salad with Goat Cheese, Cranberries and Orange”
This salad looks gorgeous, Marcie! I would gladly take this over a baked good, too! The combination of kale and goat cheese looks perfect! And I love that dressing too (and that bowl!) it sounds so fresh and flavorful. Perfect for the season!
Thank you so much for the nice comment, Gayle! And I fell for the bowl the second I saw it at Crate ‘n Barrel! 🙂
What a fresh and vibrant looking salad, Marcie. Love all the awesome ingredients you have used here. Kale and goat cheese sounds like an amazing combo.
Kale and goat cheese were meant to be together. 🙂 Thanks, Anu!
What a GORGEOUS kale salad, Marcie! I just love all the seasonal produce and color you loaded into it! Definitely needed by me after a weekend of indulging! 😉
You’re too kind, Sarah — thank you for the nice comment. 🙂 I haven’t done much indulging…YET. I’ll be needing more of this salad!
What a gorgeous winter salad Marcie! I love all those oranges and goat cheese and pepitas are such a fun addition to a salad!
Thank you, Christin! 🙂
We are salad, goat cheese and cranberry twinning today!! Clearly I have been reaching past the cookies for some salad right along with you, Marcie This salad looks fabulous and that dressing sounds divine! Hello dinner! Cheers, to a day as beautiful as this salad!!! <3
Ooohhh, I can’t wait to pop over and see my salad’s twin! 🙂 There have been no cookies in sight here but that should be changing this week. That means I will need even more salad! Thanks, Cheyanne! 🙂
This salad is beautiful, Marcie. Love the seasonal produce and I really like the gorgeous colour!
Thank you so much, Jessica! 🙂
This salad is making my life right now!
You’re too kind, Jocelyn…thank you! 🙂
Love kale and this salad looks gorgeous and delicious! I just made kale salad, which I’ll be sharing soon! Will try your recipe tomorrow!
Thanks, Mira, and I can’t wait to see your salad! 🙂
I do love a good winter salad, and this one nails it with the colors! Way to chase away the dreary cold.
Thanks so much, Lydia! 🙂
Thanks so much, Amy!
Thank you so much, Danae — I can’t get enough of this salad! And I LOVE your seasonal recipes! 🙂
This salad combines so many thing I love, Marcie! I’m all about the goat cheese, so this sounds absolutely perfect (and is a welcome change to all the holiday baking!).
Thank you, Nora! I have yet to bake any Christmas cookies but hope to change that this week! 🙂
Kale salads are my FAVE- the goat cheese in this is calling to me!
I’m glad you’re with me, Medha! I’m craving this salad all the time lately!
My salads during the winter always end up feeling so uninspired, but this one looks absolutely delicious!! Definitely a good break from the Christmas cookies 🙂 gorgeous photos!
Salads can certainly be uninspired very easily…when I haven’t been to the grocery store that happens a lot. 🙂 Thanks so much, Rachel, and have a good night!
We are on the same wavelength today with the need for fruits and veggies! I feeling overwhelmed with cookies and sugar right now! This salad has all m favorites, Marcie. Can’t wait to make it!
We are on the same wavelength! I haven’t cranked out one cookie…do brownies count? 😉 I’m totally not in the mood for sweets, so we’ll see what happens on the cookie front. Thanks, Liz!
Oh Marcie, this salad is just gorgeous! I am such a big kale fan and would totally take all the bowls of this fresh & delicious salad over a plate of cookies any day! Love the orange and cranberries – they sound perfect with the maple citrus vinaigrette!
Thank you, Kelly! I truly can’t get enough kale right now, and I could seriously post kale recipes in place of cookies right now. haha Hope your week is off to a great start! 🙂
YES, Stacy…I will be starting some Christmas cookie baking this week finally, and will need plenty of healthy food to balance things out! I had a warm dip for dinner…blogging makes for some interesting meals, doesn’t it? haha
This salad is soooo gorgeous, Marcie! With all of the sweets during the holidays, sometimes it’s nice to just enjoy a salad filled with fresh ingredients. Beautiful pictures too!
I normally go overboard on sweets this time of year (who doesn’t?), so salads are a must! Thanks so much, Danielle! 🙂
Marcie, this is such a wonderful winter salad with a big ooomph. Love the zesty dressing and the goat cheese, yum. I love goat cheese in salads and this whole combo is a winner. P
Thank you, Ash! The goat cheese really makes this special for sure. Hope you have a wonderful week!
WOW! What a pretty salad Marcie!
Thank you, Z! Who says winter doesn’t have great produce? 🙂
I love a fresh holiday salad with in-season ingredients. This will be a delicious addition to the holiday dinner table.
Thank you, Erin! 🙂
This salad is everything I love about this time of the year!! I’m all about goat cheese and kale!
Sounds like we’re on the same wavelength for sure! Thank you, Sam!
That is one gorgeous salad right there! I love all the colors and flavors. Perfect for this time o year too.
Thank you so much, Cyndi! 🙂
Kale and goat cheese are the perfect combination — thanks, Dannii!
Everything about this salad has my name on it. Lacinato kale is my favorite too. I have everything in this salad on hand–so guess what’s for dinner tonight!
Sounds like we have the same taste in salad, Letty! 🙂
I definitely need this kale salad in my life right now! I am so craving big salads and healthier fare right now! And I LOVE the sound of that dressing!
I’m a sucker for a good kale salad and this one sounds just right for this time of year. I can imagine it would taste even better when you’re traveling too! Hope you had a great trip!
Thank you, Becky, and we had a great trip! Definitely nothing a good healthy salad after a vacation! 🙂
I could totally go for this right now!!
Thanks, Jamie — I could eat this every day! 🙂
What a great guide! I love to shop seasonal but seem to be at a loss of what produce is seasonal or not!
It’s hard to tell what’s in season anymore because in the store everything is in imported! haha Thanks, Nancy!
Oh, this sounds so good! Since I am taking to someone’s house, can I dress the salad 1 1/2 hrs before we eat it? It seems like the kale would hold up for that long. Let me know what you think!
Thank you Sue! Yes, this salad can be dressed in advance — that’s the great thing about kale! 🙂
Hi there …. this salad looks simply divine …. I have all the ingredients but the green onions and white balsamic vinegar
Can I use a regular white onion sliced instead or will that change the taste and also the black balsamic vinegar
Please can u lemme know as wanted ti make it for dinner tonite
Many thanks
Hi Puja! Regular balsamic and thinly sliced onion would work great!