Kale and Apple Slaw with Honey Sesame Vinaigrette Recipe
A fresh and vibrant Kale and Apple Slaw tossed with a honey sesame vinaigrette, complemented by crunchy pepitas. This salad combines thinly sliced kale massaged to tender perfection with crisp apple, julienned carrots, and purple cabbage, all brought together with a flavorful dressing featuring ginger, garlic, and toasted sesame oil. Perfect as a healthy side dish or light meal.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Salad
- Method: No-Cook
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
Slaw
- 1 bunch kale, leaves removed from ribs and thinly sliced
- 1 apple, sliced into thin matchsticks
- ½ cup julienned carrots
- 1 cup finely shredded purple cabbage
- ¼ cup toasted pepitas (pumpkin seeds)
Honey Sesame Vinaigrette
- ¼ cup avocado oil
- 1 teaspoon toasted sesame oil
- 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1-inch knob ginger, grated
- 1 large clove garlic, grated
- ¼ teaspoon salt and pepper
Instructions
- Prepare the Kale: Remove the kale leaves from the tough stems by holding the tip of the stem and sliding your hand along to strip the leaves. Thinly slice the kale leaves and place them in a large salad bowl. Drizzle a small amount of oil (such as avocado or olive oil) and a pinch of salt over the kale. Using clean hands, massage the kale for 3-5 minutes until it softens, darkens in color, and becomes glossy and tender.
- Add Vegetables: To the massaged kale, add the julienned carrots, thin apple matchsticks, and finely shredded purple cabbage. Toss gently to combine all ingredients evenly.
- Prepare the Vinaigrette: Finely grate the ginger and garlic using a microplane or fine grater. In a mason jar or salad shaker, combine avocado oil, toasted sesame oil, rice vinegar, honey, grated ginger, grated garlic, salt, and pepper. Secure the lid and shake vigorously until thoroughly mixed. Taste and adjust seasoning by adding more salt, honey, vinegar, or sesame oil to your preference.
- Toss the Salad: Drizzle the prepared honey sesame vinaigrette over the kale slaw mixture and toss until all ingredients are evenly coated with the dressing.
- Add Pepitas and Serve: Sprinkle the toasted pepitas over the dressed slaw for added crunch and serve immediately to enjoy the fresh crisp textures.
Notes
- Massaging kale is important to soften its tough leaves and reduce bitterness.
- Adjust the vinaigrette sweetness or acidity to suit your personal taste.
- Use other nuts or seeds like sunflower seeds if pepitas are unavailable.
- This slaw is best served fresh to retain its crispness.
- For a vegan version, substitute honey with maple syrup or agave nectar.
Keywords: kale slaw, apple slaw, honey sesame vinaigrette, healthy salad, easy salad, vegan dressing option, pumpkin seeds, crunchy salad
