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This Winter Salad is full of the perfect combination of flavors that will have you making it well into the new year.

Bowl of Winter Salad topped with cranberries and goat cheese. - 3

The other day I was looking in my refrigerator and noticed some leftover kale from our sausage and kale soup that we had earlier in the week. It was begging to be made into this delicious winter salad recipe. It is the perfect gorgeous salad to pair with any dinner.

A good winter salad recipe takes seasonal ingredients and combines them in the perfect way. Pears, kale, and butternut squash fruit are all in season in winter, and when they are combined with the other delicious ingredients it makes for the perfect flavorful salad.

Overhead view of ingredients on countertop for Winter Salad recipe. - 4

Winter Salad Ingredients

This kale salad has so many great ingredients that go together perfectly. For the full recipe with the measurements, see the recipe card at the bottom of the post.

  • Kale: This is such a rich leafy green. Read more below on how to pick out and work with kale. A great alternative if you aren’t a fan of kale would be baby spinach.
  • Goat Cheese: I love how goat cheese pairs with the other ingredients in this salad, especially the pear. If you aren’t a fan of goat cheese, feta cheese would be delicious here.
  • Pear: Crisp, ripe pears are so great in winter recipes. They bring a great crunch to this recipe.
  • Apple: Adds some crunch and sweetness to the salad.
  • Dried Cranberries: I love the texture, color, and tartness these add to the salad! They are an easy ingredient to keep on hand and are perfect for salads.
  • Roasted Butternut Squash: I love using seasonal ingredients when I can, and butternut squash in this salad is a perfect example. The slightly sweet, roasted flavor adds so much depth to the salad. You can buy frozen roasted butternut squash, but keep in mind that it is fairly wet once thawed and not nicely browned. Alternatively, peel and cut up a butternut squash and roast it in the oven.

While this salad is perfect as is, you could also add some candied walnuts or candied pecans for extra crunch. I love using them if I have them on hand already.

Winter Salad Dressing

We are going to make a simple yet flavorful vinaigrette with olive oil, balsamic vinegar, and maple syrup. The ingredients combine quickly and are the perfect flavor complement to this winter salad recipe. I love to use a hand frother to combine everything right in the glass measuring cup. You can easily make this dressing ahead of time and keep it in an airtight container or mason jar in the refrigerator for up to three days until you put your salad together.

Side view of a glass measuring cup of Winter Salad dressing incredients. - 5

How to Prepare Kale

When you are buying kale, you can buy it in bunches or pre-cut. There are definitely benefits to both. Either way, you want to look for kale that is bright green without browning leaves. I like to buy kale by the bunch. I cut out the thick stems from each leaf and then I chop the kale in big bunches.

If you think you don’t like kale, it might just be that it’s never been prepared well for you. Since it is such a thick and fibrous green, it really needs to be treated before being tossed in a salad. To do that, add it to a large bowl and with clean hands massage it with lemon juice, salt, or salad dressing. That will tenderize the kale and make it perfect for the salad. For this recipe, massage a tablespoon of the dressing into the kale before adding the rest of the ingredients to the salad.

Overhead view of person's hands massaging bowl of kale for Winter Salad recipe. - 6

Storing Winter Salad

Leftovers of this salad can be stored for up to five days in the refrigerator in an airtight container. I suggest only adding a tablespoon of dressing to the salad and letting guests dress their own salads. This way the leftovers won’t be overdressed and they will last well in the refrigerator. As with all recipes, use your best discretion when it comes to leftovers.

Overhead view of a plate of Winter Salad topped with dried cranberries and goat cheese, forks. Glasses of red wine and toasted bread beside. - 7

If you make this winter salad recipe or any of my other sides, leave me a comment and let me know what you think!

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Ingredients

Salad

  • 8 cups kale
  • 1/2 small lemon juiced
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 cup roasted butternut squash (see note 1)
  • 1 pear sliced
  • 1 apple sliced, such as honey crisp or gala
  • 1/3 cup dried cranberries
  • 4 ounces goat cheese

Dressing

  • 1/3 cup olive oil
  • 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
  • 1/4 cup maple syrup
  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt or 1/4 teaspoon table salt
  • dash of pepper

Instructions

Salad

  • Add the kale to a large serving bowl. Top with lemon juice and olive oil. With clean hands, massage the lemon juice and olive oil into the kale. This will soften the kale, making it perfect for the salad. 8 cups kale, 1/2 small lemon, 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • Add the remaining salad ingredients to the bowl, and toss to combine. 1 cup roasted butternut squash, 1 pear, 1 apple, 1/3 cup dried cranberries, 4 ounces goat cheese

Dressing

  • Combine the ingredients for the dressing in a measuring cup. Whisk to combine. Alternatively, use a frother or blend the ingredients in a blender. 1/3 cup olive oil, 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar, 1/4 cup maple syrup, 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, dash of pepper
  • Either lightly dress the salad, or serve the dressing on the side and allow guests to dress their own salad.

Notes

  1. To roast the squash, cut it into one-inch pieces and roast on a parchment-lined baking sheet with a little olive oil for 35 minutes at 425 degrees Fahrenheit. Alternatively, you can buy frozen butternut squash that is cooked and cubed. It will be a little wet and missing that brown roasted quality but it is a great time saver.
  2. While this salad is perfect as is, you could also add some candied walnuts or candied pecans for extra crunch. I love using them if I have them on hand already.
Bowl of Winter Salad topped with cranberries and goat cheese. - 8

did you make this

Winter Salad

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Bowl of Winter Salad topped with cranberries and goat cheese. - 9

Winter Salad

Ingredients

Salad

  • 8 cups kale
  • 1/2 small lemon juiced
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 cup roasted butternut squash (see note 1)
  • 1 pear sliced
  • 1 apple sliced, such as honey crisp or gala
  • 1/3 cup dried cranberries
  • 4 ounces goat cheese

Dressing

  • 1/3 cup olive oil
  • 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
  • 1/4 cup maple syrup
  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt or 1/4 teaspoon table salt
  • dash of pepper

Instructions

Salad

  • Add the kale to a large serving bowl. Top with lemon juice and olive oil. With clean hands, massage the lemon juice and olive oil into the kale. This will soften the kale, making it perfect for the salad. 8 cups kale, 1/2 small lemon, 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • Add the remaining salad ingredients to the bowl, and toss to combine. 1 cup roasted butternut squash, 1 pear, 1 apple, 1/3 cup dried cranberries, 4 ounces goat cheese

Dressing

  • Combine the ingredients for the dressing in a measuring cup. Whisk to combine. Alternatively, use a frother or blend the ingredients in a blender. 1/3 cup olive oil, 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar, 1/4 cup maple syrup, 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, dash of pepper
  • Either lightly dress the salad, or serve the dressing on the side and allow guests to dress their own salad.

Notes

  1. To roast the squash, cut it into one-inch pieces and roast on a parchment-lined baking sheet with a little olive oil for 35 minutes at 425 degrees Fahrenheit. Alternatively, you can buy frozen butternut squash that is cooked and cubed. It will be a little wet and missing that brown roasted quality but it is a great time saver.
  2. While this salad is perfect as is, you could also add some candied walnuts or candied pecans for extra crunch. I love using them if I have them on hand already.

Nutrition

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