Welcome to the ultimate guide for crafting the most delicious and healthy Kale Salad – a vibrant dish packed with nutritious greens like kale and crisp broccoli, complemented by the satisfying crunch of walnuts, the sweet tang of dried cherries, and a wonderfully balanced sweet and sour dressing. This recipe isn’t just another salad; it’s an experience, a delightful journey for your taste buds, and an homage to a beloved classic.
Recreating the Magic: A Chick-fil-A Inspired Superfood Salad
Many of us remember the days when Chick-fil-A’s menu featured unique and memorable items, including their much-loved Superfood Salad. It was a revelation for fast-food diners seeking healthier, flavorful options. While their menu has evolved, and the original Superfood Salad has been replaced by the Kale Crunch Salad (which, let’s be honest, isn’t quite the same), the craving for that original blend of flavors persists.
This recipe is lovingly inspired by Chick-fil-A’s iconic Superfood Salad, aiming to capture its essence and perhaps even surpass it with the freshness and quality of a homemade dish. For those who mourned the departure of the Carrot Raisin Salad (another Chick-fil-A classic, truly a heartbreak!), or simply miss the original kale creation, this recipe is your answer. We’ve meticulously developed this version to bring back those nostalgic tastes, offering a blend that is both familiar and excitingly fresh. It’s a perfect way to enjoy a healthful, satisfying salad that evokes the best of fast-casual dining, right in your own kitchen.
Dressing Dilemmas Solved: Exploring Alternatives for Your Kale Salad
The signature sweet and sour dressing is truly what elevates this kale salad to “superfood” status, providing that perfect balance of tangy and sweet notes that makes every bite irresistible. However, if you find yourself unable to locate this specific dressing or simply prefer to try something different, fret not! There are excellent alternatives that will still deliver a fantastic flavor profile.
One highly recommended substitute is a good quality coleslaw dressing. It often shares a similar sweet and tangy base, providing the creamy texture and balanced flavors needed to complement the robust greens and other ingredients in this salad. You might even already have a favorite brand in your pantry. For those who love to craft their own, consider using my Southern Cole Slaw recipe’s dressing, which I assure you, works wonders here. Additionally, if you’re feeling adventurous and want to make your own sweet and sour dressing from scratch, I’ve included a simple, delectable homemade recipe in the notes section of the recipe card at the end of this post, inspired by my Broccoli Salad recipe. This homemade option allows you to control the sweetness and tanginess to perfectly suit your palate, ensuring your kale salad is always a personalized masterpiece. The right dressing is crucial for not just flavoring the salad, but also for tenderizing the kale, making it more palatable and enjoyable.
The Core Ingredients: What You’ll Need for Your Superfood Kale Salad
Creating this sensational kale salad requires a handful of fresh, wholesome ingredients that come together to create a symphony of flavors and textures. Each component plays a vital role, from the nutrient-dense greens to the crunchy additions and the unifying dressing. Here’s a breakdown of the key elements you’ll need to assemble this magnificent dish:
- Fresh Kale: The star of the show, providing a robust, earthy base. Opt for fresh, vibrant bunches for the best flavor and texture.
- Broccoli: Adds a delightful crunch and an extra boost of healthy goodness. Small florets are ideal for bite-sized enjoyment.
- Lemon Juice and Olive Oil: Essential for massaging the kale, softening its leaves, and infusing it with a bright, fresh flavor.
- Dried Cranberries (or Cherries): These gems bring a burst of sweet-tart flavor and a chewy texture that beautifully contrasts with the greens.
- Chopped Walnuts: Provides a satisfying crunch, healthy fats, and a subtle nutty flavor that rounds out the salad perfectly.
- Sweet and Sour Dressing: The magical ingredient that ties everything together, delivering that signature tangy-sweet profile.
These ingredients are carefully selected to ensure a harmonious blend that is both incredibly delicious and exceptionally good for you. The combination of leafy greens, cruciferous vegetables, nuts, and dried fruit, all tossed in that irresistible dressing, makes this salad a true powerhouse of nutrition and taste.
Locating the Elusive Sweet & Sour Dressing
The sweet and sour dressing is a crucial component for achieving that authentic Chick-fil-A Superfood Salad flavor. If you’re new to this specific dressing, you might be wondering where to find it. Let me reassure you, it absolutely exists and is usually more accessible than you might think! Even in smaller communities, it’s often available.
Typically, you can find sweet and sour dressing in the salad dressing aisle of most major grocery stores. Look alongside your Ranch, Italian, and Caesar dressings. Popular brands like Marzetti often carry it, and many store brands, such as Kroger, also offer their own versions. These dressings strike a delightful balance between acidity and sweetness, providing a unique flavor profile that brightens up any salad, especially this one. If you’re having trouble locating it, consider checking the international foods aisle, as some Asian-inspired sweet and sour sauces might offer a similar (though often thicker) base. Alternatively, shopping online can be a convenient way to source specific brands. And as always, remember the homemade option detailed in the recipe card is a fantastic fallback that ensures you never have to go without the perfect dressing for your kale salad.
Crafting Perfection: How to Make the Best Kale Salad
Making this incredible kale salad is surprisingly simple, yet it involves a few key steps that ensure optimal flavor and texture. Let’s walk through the process to create a salad that’s not only healthy but genuinely enjoyable.
Step 1: Prepare Your Greens. First things first, you’ll need to thoroughly rinse your fresh kale and broccoli under cool running water. This ensures all dirt and debris are removed, leaving you with pristine greens. After rinsing, shake off any excess water or use a salad spinner for a more thorough drying.
Step 2: Chop the Kale and Broccoli. Once clean, begin chopping the kale. If you’re new to working with whole kale leaves, the main task is to remove the tough, fibrous stem. Simply cut along each side of the stem, discarding it, and then chop the leafy greens into bite-sized pieces. Aim for uniform pieces to ensure an even distribution in the salad. For the broccoli, cut the florets into small, manageable bite-sized pieces. While the bulky part of the broccoli stem is often removed, the tender upper part can be finely chopped and added for extra fiber and nutrients – it’s entirely up to your preference!
Step 3: Massage the Kale. This is perhaps the most crucial step for transforming raw kale into a tender, palatable salad green. Place the chopped kale in a large bowl. Drizzle about a tablespoon of fresh lemon juice and a tablespoon of olive oil over the kale. Now, using clean hands, gently but firmly massage the kale leaves for approximately 3 minutes. You’ll notice the leaves changing color, becoming darker, and significantly softening in texture. This process breaks down the tough cell walls, reducing bitterness and making the kale much more enjoyable to eat.
Step 4: Combine the Greens. Once the kale is beautifully massaged and tender, add the chopped broccoli florets to the same large bowl. This forms the wholesome green base of your superfood salad.
Step 5: Add the Toppings. Now, it’s time to introduce the elements that provide delightful contrast and bursts of flavor. Toss in the dried cranberries (or cherries) and the crunchy chopped walnuts. Ensure these are evenly distributed throughout the greens.
Step 6: Dress and Toss. Generously pour your sweet and sour dressing (whether store-bought or homemade) over the mixed greens, cranberries, and walnuts. Using salad tongs or clean hands, thoroughly toss all the ingredients together. The goal is to coat every piece of kale and broccoli evenly with the dressing, ensuring a balanced flavor in every bite.
Step 7: Chill to Perfection. Once everything is well-coated, cover the bowl tightly with plastic wrap. Place the salad in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours. This chilling time is essential, as it allows the flavors to meld beautifully and the kale to further absorb the dressing, resulting in an even more tender and flavorful salad. The cool temperature also enhances the refreshing crispness of the broccoli.
After its refreshing rest, your “Best Kale Salad” is ready to be enjoyed! This salad is not just a side dish; it makes a fantastic light lunch or a vibrant accompaniment to grilled chicken, fish, or your favorite lean protein. The vibrant colors, diverse textures, and delectable flavors make it a crowd-pleaser and a healthy addition to any meal.
To ensure the best flavor and texture, don’t rush the chilling process. The time in the fridge allows the dressing to truly penetrate the kale, making it even more tender and infusing every leaf with that delightful sweet and sour goodness. This step is what transforms a good salad into an extraordinary one.
Then, enjoy this remarkably fresh, flavorful, and nutrient-packed salad. It’s a versatile dish that’s perfect for meal prep, a healthy lunch, or a bright side to any dinner. The combination of textures from the soft kale, crisp broccoli, chewy cranberries, and crunchy walnuts, all harmonized by the dressing, creates an experience that’s both satisfying and invigorating.
Explore More Delicious Recipes!
If you’ve enjoyed this delightful kale salad and are looking for more culinary inspiration, especially if you’re a fan of copycat recipes or wholesome sides, you’re in luck! We have a treasure trove of recipes that are sure to satisfy your cravings and expand your cooking repertoire. Dive into these other popular dishes:
- Copycat Chick-fil-A Chicken Nuggets
- Copycat Chick-Fil-A Grilled Chicken Club Sandwich
- Air Fryer Chick-Fil-A Chicken Nuggets
- Creamy Bacon Broccoli Pasta Salad
- Autumn Salad
- Creamy Cucumber Salad
The Best Kale Salad
Print Recipe
Pin Recipe
15 minutes
2 hours
2 hours 15 minutes
8
Brandie Skibinski
Ingredients
-
6 cups
kale
chopped into bite size pieces - lemon juice and olive oil
-
3 cups
broccoli
chopped into bite size pieces, or baby broccoli -
1 cup
dried cranberries
or cherries -
1 cup
chopped walnuts
- 16 ounce bottle sweet & sour dressing
Instructions
- Rinse kale and broccoli and chop into bite size pieces (discarding the stems.)
- The next step is super crucial. To soften up the kale, you need to massage it. Put the chopped kale in a bowl and top with about a tablespoon lemon juice and olive oil. Use clean hands to massage for about 3 minutes to soften the leaves.
- Add the chopped broccoli in with the massaged kale.
- Then toss in the dried cranberries (or cherries) and chopped walnuts.
- Pour dressing on top.
- Toss it all together and coat all the veggies as best as possible.
- Cover with plastic wrap and place into the fridge for at least 2 hours. Then serve.
Notes
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 3 tablespoons vinegar
- 1 teaspoon fresh black pepper
Whisk everything to combine then pour over salad and stir.
Salad
American
Nutrition
Calories:
399kcal
|
Carbohydrates:
34g
|
Protein:
5g
|
Fat:
29g
|
Sodium:
433mg
|
Fiber:
2g
|
Sugar:
22g
Nutritional Disclaimer
“The Country Cook” is not a dietician or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is an estimate. If calorie count and other nutritional values are important to you, we recommend running the ingredients through whichever online nutritional calculator you prefer. Calories and other nutritional values can vary quite a bit depending on which brands were used.
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