This easy yet elegant Baby Kale Salad recipe combines sweet pears, toasted pecans, fresh fennel and baby kale greens flavored with a homemade white balsamic vinaigrette.
The crunch of nutty pecans, the crisp sweetness of fresh pears and a baby kale blend of greens gently tossed with a perfectly blended vinaigrette will take center stage on your holiday table this year!
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Pecan Pear Kale Salad
Your guests will definitely want seconds of this Pecan Pear Baby Kale Salad!
A simple homemade vinaigrette made with white balsamic vinegar adds the perfect balance of sweetness and tang to this salad recipe.
Sliced pears add a sweetness and seasonal fruity flavor.
Fresh fennel is thinly sliced lending light licorice notes and a tender crunch of texture.
Toasted pecans provide the nutty flavor that takes this salad to the next level of delicousness. You can easily toast nuts in a skillet on the stovetop, in the oven or in the microwave. Scroll down for microwave drections.
Thinly sliced red onion add a delicate savory note.
Dried cranberries add a pretty color along with bits of sweetness with a hint of tart.
I used a baby kale salad mix for the greens. They are tender and flavorful and dress up this side dish recipe.
Put all of these salad ingredients together and you will have a salad fit for any occasion, such as a holiday dinner or Sunday supper.
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How to make a kale salad
This is a quick overview of how to make this recipe. Scroll down for the full recipe instructions and ingredient amounts in the recipe card below
- In a small bowl whisk olive oil, vinegar, Dijon, sugar, kosher salt, pepper and garlic powder until blended.
- In a serving bowl combine baby kale blend, pears, fennel, onion, dried cranberries and pecans.
- Just before serving, gently toss the lettuce mixture with some of the vinaigrette until lightly coated. Serve with the remaining vinaigrette on the side.
Recipe Tips
- You can make the salad dressing ahead and refrigerate until you are ready to toss the salad.
- You can also prep the salad ingredients ahead and even combine them in your serving bowl. Then lay a lightly dampened paper towel directly on top of the salad and refrigerate until you are ready to toss and serve,
Substitutions
- Golden raisins are a delicious substitute for dried cranberries
- You can use your favorite baby greens or spring mix in place of the baby kale mix
- Dark balsamic vinegar can replace white balsamic vinegar although the flavor will change slightly
- Pears can be replaced with apples. I would recommend using Gala apples or Honeycrisp apples.
How to toast nuts in the microwave
To toast nuts in the microwave:
- Simply arrange nuts in a single layer on a paper plate.
- Microwave for 1 minute.
- Then microwave in 30-second intervals until the nuts are lightly toasted.
- Timing will vary according to the wattage of your microwave.
Equipment
- measuring cups
- measuring spoons
- Glass measuring cup
- whisk
- chef knife
- cutting board
- wooden salad bowl
Easy Salad Recipes
If you love this baby kale salad then you'll want to give these easy salad recipes a try too:
- Beetroot Salad With Baby Greens
- Broccoli Crunch Salad
- Cranberry Walnut Salad
- Barley Salad With Baby Greens
Kale Recipes
Calling all kale lovers. Check out these easy recipes with kale:
- Air Fryer Kale Chips
- Green Tea Kale Smoothie
- Kale Pesto
- Honey Lime Baby Kale Salad
- Potatoes with Kale
Ingredients
- olive oil
- white balsamic vinegar
- Dijon mustard
- sugar
- kosher salt
- pepper
- garlic powder
- baby kale blend
- pears
- fresh fennel
- red onion
- dried cranberries
- pecans
Pecan Pear Baby Kale Salad Recipe with White Balsamic Vinaigrette
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Equipment
Ingredients
Vinaigrette:
- 1/2 cup olive oil
- 1/4 cup white balsamic vinegar
- 1 Tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
Salad:
- 8 ounces baby kale blend 8 cups
- 2 pears cored and thinly sliced
- 1 cup thinly sliced fresh fennel
- 1/2 cup thinly sliced red onion
- 1/2 cup dried cranberries
- 1/2 cup pecans toasted
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Instructions
Vinaigrette:
- In small bowl whisk olive oil, vinegar, Dijon, sugar, kosher salt, pepper and garlic powder until blended.
Salad:
- In a serving bowl combine baby kale blend, pears, fennel, onion, dried cranberries and pecans. Just before serving*, gently toss lettuce mixture with some of the vinaigrette until lightly coated. Serve with remaining vinaigrette on the side.
Notes
Nutrition
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