Kale and Brussels Sprout Salad with Maple Vinaigrette

This mouthwatering Kale and Brussels Sprout Salad with Maple Vinaigrette is the perfect combination of sweet and savory flavors!

You're going to love this delicious seasonal salad ... it's loaded with fresh vegetables, juicy fruit, and toasted nuts and so easy to make!

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I don't know about you, but I love healthy, yet hearty salads. Especially at this time of year, when fall is almost here, but it still feels like summer.

Kale salads are my favorite, and I'm always tweaking the ingredients, trying to find that perfect combination of flavors. And this Kale and Brussels Sprouts Salad just might be it!

This easy recipe is bursting with the most crave-worthy sweet and savory flavors. There's juicy fruit, fresh vegetables, and warm, toasted nuts, plus an amazing (and easy to make) Maple Vinaigrette that is absolutely irresistible. 

You're going to love this versatile salad! Enjoy it as a light meal or as a tasty side dish for any lunch or dinner. It would even make a great addition to your holiday table ... I've served it for Thanksgiving, and it was a hit!

Best of all ... it's so simple to make! Keep reading for all the delicious details.

Ingredients

This Brussels Sprout Kale Salad is easy to prepare, yet the flavors are so special. It was inspired by a salad I tried at an event a few years ago ... I loved it so much that I recreated it as soon as I got home.

Here's what you'll need to make it:

• Brussels Sprouts
• Kale - I recommend using Lacinato Kale (sometimes called Tuscan Kale or Dinosaur Kale), which has flat, dark green leaves for this recipe. Curly Kale will work perfectly fine though if you can't find Lacinato.
• Apples - Choose something crisp and juicy, like Fuji, Braeburn, Honey Crisp, or Granny Smith.
• Red Grapes
• Pecan Halves
• Maple Dressing - This easy-to-make, homemade vinaigrette is a combination of olive oil, apple cider vinegar, maple syrup, cayenne, salt, and pepper.

Variations

I didn't realize it when I created this recipe, but it's pretty similar to Cracker Barrel's Kale Salad. If you want to copycat that recipe, simply replace the apples and grapes with ½ cup dried cranberries.

You could also replace the fresh fruit with dried fruit and swap other nuts for the pecans. Or take the flavors in a more savory direction by replacing the fruit with roasted sweet potatoes or pumpkin. 

How to Make Kale and Brussels Sprout Salad

Okay, let's talk about how to make this salad, because it couldn't be easier!

1. Toast the pecans. You'll toast the nuts in a dry skillet over medium heat, which brings out their flavor and makes them extra crunchy. Make sure to stir often, and watch the nuts closely so they don't burn.
2. Prepare the Maple Dressing.  Super simple: just whisk all the ingredients together in a small bowl (or measuring cup), then season to taste. You're going to crave this sweet, spicy vinaigrette, which effortlessly pulls all the flavors together, once learn how easy it is to make!

Tips: The dressing used here is a simplified adaptation of my Maple Vinaigrette recipe (which you could also use). This version is mildly spicy, but you can skip the cayenne (or add less) if you prefer. I used one teaspoon kosher salt to make this dressing. If you're using table salt, make sure to add it to taste.

3. Prepare the Brussels sprouts. Trim the ends and remove any browned leaves from the sprouts, then thinly slice them about ⅛-inch thick. Add the sprouts to a large bowl, gently separating the leaves with your fingers as you do.
4. Slice the kale. Remove the kale leaves from the their stems, then slice the leaves about ¼- to ½-inch thick. Add the kale to the Brussels sprouts.
5. Massage Salad. Pour the dressing over kale-sprout mixture. Then stick your hands into the bowl and massage the dressing into the veggies for about two to three minutes. As you work the dressing into the greens, they will soften and decrease in volume. Don't skip this step! It really tenderizes the raw veggies and makes them more pleasant to eat and easier digest.

Make sure to wash your hands well after massaging the salad. You don't want to get any of that cayenne in your eyes!

Tip: to easily remove kale leaves from their stems, grasp the stem firmly in one hand, then quickly pull your other hand down the stem, removing the leaf. Don’t worry if the leaves end up looking a little ragged ... you won’t notice it after slicing them.

6. Add the remaining ingredients. To finish the salad, add the chopped apples, halved grapes, and toasted pecans to the kale mixture. Then, give everything a good toss, then season to taste.

And that's all there is to it. Your easy Kale and Brussels Sprout Salad is ready to eat!

Serving Suggestions

Serve this beautiful salad as a tasty side dish (it's perfect for fall, winter, or holiday dinners), or add a little bread and serve it as a light main course. With it's unique sweet-savory flavors this is one salad that will have everyone coming back for seconds ... even my Brussels sprout hating husband loves it!

Storing Leftovers

Because of the tender grapes, and the fact that apples are prone to browning once cut, this Kale Brussels Sprouts Salad is best consumed within a day or two of making it. If you have any leftovers store them in an airtight container in your refrigerator.

Related Recipes

Looking for more unique kale salads? Then, you'll want to try these recipes next:

• Massaged Kale Salad with Lemon Dressing ... my favorite basic recipe that's packed with tons of tips!
• Farro Kale Salad with Feta
• Superfood Salad with Citrus Dressing
• Mexican Kale Salad with Chili Lime Vinaigrette
• Kale Quinoa Salad with Roasted Sweet Potatoes
• Winter Kale Salad
• Kale Pasta Salad with Creamy Lemon Basil Dressing
• Kale Caesar Salad

Love Brussels sprouts? Make sure to check out my easy Shredded Brussels Sprout Salad, Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Pomegranate Seeds, Roasted Veggie Kabobs, or any of my Brussels Sprouts recipes, too!

Print Recipe SaveSaved!

5 from 2 votes

Kale and Brussels Sprout Salad with Maple Vinaigrette

Treat yourself to this scrumptious Kale and Brussels Sprout Salad ... so simple to make and the perfect balance of sweet - savory flavors!

Prep Time30 minutes mins

Total Time30 minutes mins

Course: Salad

Cuisine: American

Servings: 8 side dish servings, or 4 main dish servings

Calories: 185kcal

Author: Ginnie

Ingredients

For Pecans:

• ½ cup pecan halves

For Vinaigrette:

• ¼ cup, plus 1 tablespoon, extra virgin olive oil
• 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
• 2 tablespoons maple syrup
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• ¼ teaspoon pepper
• ⅛ teaspoon cayenne

For Salad:

• 1 pound Brussels sprouts, thinly sliced
• 1 bunch kale, sliced (discard stems)
• 1 cup red grapes, halved
• 1 large apple, cored and chopped

Instructions

Toast Pecans:

• Place pecans in a small frying pan over medium heat. Cook, stirring frequently, until lightly browned. (Watch closely so they don't burn.)
• Transfer pecans to cutting board, then chop in half. Set aside.

Prepare Vinaigrette:

• Combine olive oil, vinegar, maple syrup, salt, pepper, and cayenne in a small bowl. Whisk to combine. Set aside.

Prepare Salad:

• Place brussels sprouts in a large bowl, gently separating the leaves as you do so.
• Add kale to brussels sprouts, then pour vinaigrette over top. Using your hands, massage vinaigrette into kale mixture until veggies are softened and reduced in size (about 2 minutes).
• Mix grapes, apples, and pecans into salad. Toss until well mixed.
• Serve salad immediately. Enjoy!

Notes

To easily remove kale leaves from stems: grasp stem with one hand, then quickly pull your other hand down the stem, removing the leaf as you go.

Make sure to wash your hands well after massaging the salad. You don't want to risk getting the cayenne in your eyes.

Trying to replicate Cracker Barrel's Brussels Sprouts n' Kale Salad? Replace the apples and grapes with ½ cup dried cranberries (craisins).

Nutrition

Calories: 185kcal

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