Description
This vibrant and crunchy salad combines kale, cabbage, fresh apples, cucumbers, celery, and scallions with a zesty cilantro-lime dressing. Topped with roasted peanuts, seeds, and crumbled feta, this Crunch Salad offers a delightful blend of textures and flavors perfect for a fresh, healthy meal or side dish.
Ingredients
Scale
Dressing
- 1 large bunch cilantro, roughly chopped
- 1 garlic clove, peeled
- 1/4 cup lime juice
- 1/2 teaspoon honey
- 1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil
- Pinch of cumin (optional)
- Kosher salt, to taste
- Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Salad
- 1 (10 to 12-ounce) bunch lacinato kale, chopped or torn into small pieces
- 1/4 small green cabbage, chopped
- 1 granny smith apple, diced about 1/4 inch
- 3 Persian or kirby cucumbers, diced about 1/4 inch
- 2 stalks celery, diced about 1/4 inch
- 3 scallions, thinly sliced
- 1/3 cup roasted and unsalted peanuts, roughly chopped
- 1/3 cup roasted and unsalted seeds (such as sunflower or pumpkin)
- 3 ounces feta cheese, crumbled
- Kosher salt, to taste
Instructions
- Make the dressing: Add cilantro, garlic, lime juice, and honey to a food processor or blender. Blend until the cilantro is finely chopped. Slowly stream in the extra-virgin olive oil while blending until the dressing reaches your desired consistency. Season with a pinch of cumin if using, and add kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste.
- Prepare the kale: Place the chopped kale in a large bowl, sprinkle with a pinch of kosher salt, and massage the leaves with your hands for 1 to 2 minutes until they darken slightly and soften. This step helps to reduce the toughness of the kale and enhances its flavor.
- Combine the salad ingredients: Add the chopped green cabbage, diced apple, cucumbers, celery, thinly sliced scallions, roughly chopped peanuts, roasted seeds, and crumbled feta cheese to the massaged kale.
- Toss with dressing: Pour over the desired amount of cilantro-lime dressing and toss thoroughly to ensure all the ingredients are coated and the flavors meld together. Taste and adjust seasoning with additional salt or pepper if necessary before serving.
Notes
- Massaging the kale is essential to soften its texture and reduce bitterness.
- Use roasted unsalted peanuts and seeds to keep the salad balanced and not overly salty.
- The dressing can be made ahead and stored in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.
- For a vegan version, omit the feta cheese or substitute with a plant-based cheese alternative.
- This salad is best enjoyed fresh but can be refrigerated for up to 1 day.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Salad
- Method: No-Cook
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: kale salad, crunchy salad, cilantro lime dressing, healthy salad, vegetarian salad, apple salad, kale, feta salad
