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Crunch Salad Recipe

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★★★★★

4.6 from 115 reviews

Crunch Salad is a vibrant and fresh salad featuring kale, cabbage, apple, and crunchy additions like peanuts and seeds, all tossed in a zesty cilantro-lime dressing. This salad combines bold flavors and textures for a satisfying and nutritious 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-oz.) 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 oz. feta cheese, crumbled
  • Kosher salt, to taste

Instructions

  1. Make the dressing: Add cilantro, garlic, lime juice, and honey to a food processor or blender. Blend until the cilantro is finely chopped. Then, while blending, slowly stream in the extra-virgin olive oil until the dressing reaches your desired consistency. Season with a pinch of cumin if using, and salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste.
  2. Prepare the kale: Place the chopped kale in a large bowl. Add a pinch of kosher salt and massage the kale for 1 to 2 minutes until the leaves darken slightly and soften. This helps reduce bitterness and improves texture.
  3. Combine the salad ingredients: To the massaged kale, add the chopped green cabbage, diced apple, diced cucumbers, diced celery, thinly sliced scallions, roughly chopped peanuts, and roasted seeds.
  4. Add the feta and dressing: Sprinkle the crumbled feta cheese over the salad. Pour over the desired amount of cilantro-lime dressing. Toss everything together gently until well combined and coated with the dressing.

Notes

  • Massaging the kale is key to soften the leaves and reduce bitterness.
  • You can substitute the seeds with your favorite roasted nuts or keep the salad nut-free by omitting peanuts.
  • For extra zing, add more lime juice or a touch of red pepper flakes to the dressing.
  • This salad is best served fresh but can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 1 day.
  • Adjust the amount of dressing depending on personal preference for moisture and flavor intensity.

Keywords: kale salad, crunchy salad, cilantro dressing, healthy salad, vegetarian salad, apple salad, peanut salad

Find it online: https://kitchenbyclara.com/crunch-salad-recipe/