This vegetarian roasted candy potato kale salad options maple-candied pecans, dried cranberries, crumbled feta, and a do-it-yourself creamy tahini maple dressing. It’s candy, salty, crunchy, and creamy—positively not your common kale salad!
Recipe Highlights
- Simple, Wholesome, & Vegetarian: With simply 10 minutes of prep (and 35 minutes of idle time for roasting the candy potatoes), it is a fast, simple, and wholesome vegetarian meal that works for each dinner and lunch. It is filled with vitamins!
- Taste & Texture Selection: I really like the combination of flavors and textures on this salad—roasted candy potatoes, maple-candied pecans, cranberries, feta, and massaged kale all come collectively for an ideal steadiness of candy, creamy, roasted, savory, and crunchy.
- Distinctive Dressing: The dressing was one other win. I blended tahini with maple syrup, apple cider vinegar, and garlic, adjusting the consistency with water till it was excellent—creamy however drizzle-able.
- Yr-Spherical Salad, Good for Holidays: Each ingredient on this recipe could be discovered year-round, however I can already see that this Candy Potato Kale Salad will likely be my new favourite Fall salad for holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas. It has all these heat, cozy flavors which can be excellent for the season.
- Nice for Leftovers: I really like that this salad retains nicely within the fridge (for as much as 3 days), even with the dressing already blended in. The kale doesn’t get soggy, so it’s excellent for meal prep!
Ingredient Notes
- Candy Potatoes – Roast them prematurely for simple prep. You’ll want 1 giant candy potato (or 2 medium-sized), peeled and minimize into ½” cubes.
- Pecans – Candying them with maple syrup and cinnamon makes them crunchy and candy. Retailer individually to maintain them crisp.
- Kale – Therapeutic massage with cooking vegetable oil to melt the leaves and take away bitterness – see my suggestions under. It holds up nicely, making this salad nice for meal prep.
- Dried Cranberries – Add tartness + sweetness. You too can use dried figs, cherries, or dried blueberries as a substitute.
- Feta Cheese – Supplies a salty, creamy distinction. Goat cheese works in its place.
- Tahini Maple Dressing – I made it by mixing tahini, maple syrup, apple cider vinegar, minced garlic, salt, pepper, water, and impartial oil (equivalent to canola or any vegetable cooking oil) till easy. I prefer to make it forward, preserve it in a small air-tight glass jar or mason jar, and shake earlier than utilizing. Regulate thickness with water.
- Oil – Used for roasting the candy potatoes and massaging kale. Any impartial cooking oil like canola or vegetable oil works nicely.
- Garlic Powder – Provides depth to the roasted candy potatoes. You too can use recent minced garlic.
- Maple Syrup – Utilized in each the dressing and pecans for pure sweetness. Honey is another.
- Apple Cider Vinegar – Supplies acidity within the dressing to steadiness flavors. Lemon juice could be substituted.
- Salt & Pepper – Enhances all of the flavors. Regulate to style.
- Observe: Full substances (with quantities) and directions are within the recipe card under. You possibly can scroll down or use this leap to recipe shortcut.
The best way to make Candy Potato Kale Salad
Observe: This recipe overview consists of step-by-step photographs, suggestions, and tips. To skip forward to the total recipe with ingredient quantities, click on right here. First, I roasted the candy potatoes with a easy seasoning of garlic powder, salt, and pepper within the preheated oven at 400°F till golden and barely crispy.
In the meantime, I made the maple candied pecans—as a result of plain nuts weren’t going to chop it. Toasting them first brings out their taste, and the maple syrup, cinnamon, and vanilla create that impossible to resist crunch.
The dressing was one other win. I blended tahini with maple syrup, apple cider vinegar, and garlic, adjusting the consistency with water till it was excellent—creamy however drizzle-able.
As soon as every little thing was prepared, I tossed the kale with a little bit of oil and massaged it (sure, it makes a distinction), then layered within the candy potatoes, pecans, cranberries, and feta. A beneficiant drizzle of the dressing, and this salad was good to go.
How To Put together Kale for Salads
- Take away the Stems: I all the time strip the leaves from the powerful stems since they are often too fibrous for salads. A fast means is to fold the leaf in half and run a knife alongside the stem, or simply tear them off by hand.
- Chop into Chunk-Sized Items: I’ve discovered that reducing kale into smaller items makes it a lot simpler to eat. Too-large items could be powerful and chewy, so I intention for roughly 1-inch items.
- Therapeutic massage the Kale: This step makes an enormous distinction! I drizzle somewhat oil and a pinch of salt over the chopped kale, then use my palms to therapeutic massage it for a couple of minute. It softens the feel and reduces bitterness.
- Let It Sit: If I’ve time, I let the massaged kale relaxation for 10–quarter-hour earlier than including different substances. It turns into much more tender and absorbs flavors higher.
- Use a Daring Dressing: Kale stands up nicely to wealthy, creamy, or tangy dressings. I’ve examined it with vinaigrettes, tahini-based dressings, and even citrusy choices—all work nice!
- Make It Forward: In contrast to different greens, kale doesn’t wilt shortly. I usually prep it prematurely, retailer it in an hermetic container, and it stays recent for days, making meal prep tremendous simple.
Variations
- Spicy: Including some chili flakes into your dressing or on the candy potatoes will add a kick to your salad!
- Ball jar salad: If you’re taking this on the go and don’t need to costume your salad beforehand, add all of the substances besides the dressing right into a Ball jar. As soon as able to eat, place in a bowl and costume!
- Contemporary fruit: Apples, pears, and persimmons would work nice with this salad!
Substitutions
- Squash: Butternut, Acorn, and even Kabocha squash are nice options to candy potato! Simply comply with the identical steps as you’d for baking the cubed candy potatoes.
- Nuts: Walnuts, hazelnuts, pine nuts are all excellent substitutes for pecans.
- Vinegar: Substitute the apple cider vinegar with white vinegar if you happen to like!
- Curly Kale: Although dinosaur kale is the right leafy inexperienced for this salad, curly kale may work. You have to to therapeutic massage it with the oil, salt, and pepper somewhat extra to interrupt it down, because it tends to be a tad extra dense and chewy than dino kale.
- Unsalted/Unsweetened Creamy Peanut Butter: You should utilize unsalted and unsweetened creamy peanut butter rather than tahini if wanted! Even almond or cashew butter can be nice!
Suggestions for Success
- When making the dressing, a really impartial oil like canola or vegetable oil is finest as a result of it has little or no taste to it, thus permitting the opposite flavors and substances to face out. We extremely don’t suggest utilizing olive oil as it could possibly get bitter when blended.
- When utilizing an immersion blender for making dressing, it’s all the time finest to place all of your substances on the underside after which the oil on prime. Once you mix, make sure that to stay the blender all the way in which on the underside first. As you mix, deliver the stick up and it’ll suck the oil down, emulsifying the substances collectively for a smoother, higher consistency and has much less of an opportunity to “break.”
Make-Forward Suggestions
Roasted candy potato kale salad is ideal for making forward! I prefer to roast the candy potatoes and put together the candied pecans prematurely, storing them individually in hermetic containers. The dressing may also be made forward and stored within the fridge for as much as every week—simply give it a great shake earlier than utilizing.
Since kale holds up nicely, I therapeutic massage it forward of time and retailer it within the fridge till I’m able to assemble. When it’s time to eat, I merely toss every little thing collectively, drizzle on the dressing, and it’s good to go. This makes it an ideal choice for meal prep, potlucks, or vacation gatherings!
Storage Suggestions
- The leftovers can last as long as 3 days in an hermetic container within the fridge. It is best to retailer the salad dressing and candied pecans individually from the remainder of the substances. Nonetheless, the salad with the dressing will nonetheless maintain up nicely within the fridge for as much as 3 days because the kale doesn’t get soggy like different greens.
- Don’t freeze salad!
Extra Salad Recipes
- Roasted Candy Potato Salad with Spinach, Apples, Cranberries, Pecans, Pumpkin Seeds, and Maple-Lime Dressing
- Roasted Brussels Sprouts and Cinnamon Butternut Squash Salad with Pecans and Cranberries
- Apple Spinach Salad with Honey-Mustard Lemon Dressing
- Strawberry and Blueberry Spinach Salad with Pecans and Balsamic Dressing
- Roasted Butternut Squash Pasta Salad with Spinach, Cranberries, and Pumpkin Seeds
Roasted Candy Potato Kale Salad
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This vegetarian roasted candy potato kale salad options maple-candied pecans, dried cranberries, crumbled feta, and a do-it-yourself creamy tahini maple dressing. It’s candy, salty, crunchy, and creamy. It retains nicely within the fridge (for as much as 3 days), so it’s excellent for meal prep, leftovers, making forward, potlucks, and vacation gatherings!
Servings 6
Energy 677kcal
Components
Roasted Candy Potatoes
- 1 giant candy potato (or 2 medium) peeled and minimize into ½” cubes
- 3 tablespoons cooking oil any type works nicely
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- salt and pepper to style
Candied Pecans
- 1 ½ cups pecan halves
- ¼ cup maple syrup
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon salt
Tahini Maple Dressing (Makes roughly 1 cup)
- ¼ cup tahini
- 3 tablespoons maple syrup
- 2 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 1 clove garlic minced
- salt and pepper to style
- ¼-½ cup water as wanted
- ½ cup impartial cooking oil like canola or vegetable oil
Salad
- 1 bunch dinosaur kale (lacinato kale), stems eliminated, chopped into giant items
- 1 tablespoon impartial cooking oil like canola or vegetable oil
- salt and pepper to style
- ¼ cup dried cranberries
- 4 ounces feta cheese crumbled
Directions
Roasted Candy Potatoes
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Preheat your oven to 400 levels. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
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In a medium bowl, toss candy potatoes, oil, garlic powder, salt, and pepper till coated. Pour onto the parchment paper lined baking sheet and bake for 25-Half-hour till golden brown. Take away from the oven and let cool on the baking sheet.
Maple Candied Pecans
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Whereas the candy potato is roasting, warmth a medium pan on medium warmth with no oil. Toast the pecans for about 6-7 minutes till aromatic, sometimes shifting them round so that they don’t burn on one facet.
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Pour the maple syrup, cinnamon, and vanilla extract over the pecans and prepare dinner till the syrup begins to develop into sticky and thicken ensuring to coat the pecans.
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Flip off the warmth, sprinkle with salt, stir to coat the pecans. As soon as coated, switch to a plate to chill fully and harden.
Tahini Maple Dressing
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Place the tahini, maple syrup, apple cider vinegar, garlic clove, salt, pepper, and water, with the oil final and on prime in a measuring cup or tall glass and mix with an immersion blender till easy. Style and alter with salt or pepper.
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Skinny out with extra water if it feels too thick.
Salad Meeting
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In a big serving bowl, mix the kale, oil, salt, and pepper. Therapeutic massage the kale along with your palms till totally coated.
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Add the cooled candy potato, maple candied pecans, cranberries, and feta cheese randomly on prime.
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Drizzle with the tahini maple dressing, add salt and pepper to style, serve, and revel in!
Notes
- Candy Potato Options: Use butternut, acorn, or kabocha squash as a substitute of candy potatoes, following the identical roasting steps.
- Nut Substitutes: Swap pecans for walnuts, hazelnuts, or pine nuts.
- Vinegar Possibility: White vinegar works rather than apple cider vinegar.
- Dried Fruit Variations: Use dried figs, cherries, or blueberries as a substitute of cranberries for a distinct taste.
- Cheese Swap: Goat cheese can change feta for the same creamy, salty distinction.
- Kale Choices: I used Dinasour Kale (Lacinato). Curly kale works, too, however wants further massaging to melt its more durable texture.
- Tahini Substitute: Unsalted, unsweetened peanut, almond, or cashew butter can change tahini.
- Make it Spicy: Add chili flakes to the dressing or roasted candy potatoes for warmth.
- Add Fruit: Apples, pears, or persimmons pair nicely with this salad.
- Storage Suggestions: Retailer the leftover candy potato kale salad in an hermetic container within the fridge for as much as 3 days. For the very best texture, retailer the dressing and candied pecans individually; nonetheless, even with the dressing blended in, the salad ought to keep nicely within the fridge as a result of kale doesn’t get soggy like different greens.
Vitamin
Energy: 677kcal | Carbohydrates: 40g | Protein: 9g | Fats: 56g | Saturated Fats: 7g | Polyunsaturated Fats: 16g | Monounsaturated Fats: 31g | Trans Fats: 0.1g | Ldl cholesterol: 17mg | Sodium: 471mg | Potassium: 575mg | Fiber: 7g | Sugar: 22g | Vitamin A: 12636IU | Vitamin C: 44mg | Calcium: 286mg | Iron: 2mg
