Autumn Kale Salad – Chopped kale with roasted sweet potato, pearl couscous, pecans, dried cranberries, and sliced onion, all tossed together with a maple citrus vinaigrette.
Autumn may be past us now, but that’s not stopping me from enjoying all those flavors! I love sweet potatoes, cranberries, and pecans in a salad (as is evident by previous salads that I’ve shared) and I’ve got another recipe today using those same ingredients. This one is another salad, but it’s got the addition of pearl couscous and kale lettuce, which make it a fun new take on the classic fall flavors.
Say hello to my Autumn Kale Salad. One of the most incredible elements of this salad is the maple citrus vinaigrette. I was blown away by the balance of flavors in the dressing – sweet, sour, salty, tangy. They’re all in there!
Enjoy this yummy Autumn Kale Salad!
Tips & Tricks
- Massage the kale. Kale is a pretty thick green that can be tough to eat when raw. However, massaging it can make it more tender and pleasant to eat. So don’t skip this step!
- Red onion. The spice from the raw red onion is absolutely necessary in this otherwise sweet salad. But you don’t want to cut slices of onion that are too thick. Therefore, make sure you slice it thin.
- Pearl couscous. This couscous is a bigger than the traditional couscous and has a texture similar to pasta. I cooked mine in chicken broth for a little extra flavor.
- Fresh orange juice. The vinaigrette calls for 3 tablespoons of orange juice. Since it’s a raw sauce, it’s so important for all the ingredients to be high-quality. That means squeezing that juice right from an orange. It makes such a difference!
Autumn Kale Salad
Ingredients
- 1 medium sweet potato peeled and diced
- salt and pepper
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 3 cups chopped kale leaves
- ¼ red onion thinly sliced
- ½ cup pecan halves
- ½ cup sweet dried cranberries
- 1 cup cooked pearl couscous
For the maple citrus vinaigrette:
- 2 tablespoons canola oil
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 3 tablespoons pure maple syrup
- 3 tables freshly-squeezed orange juice
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ⅛ teaspoon ground pepper
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Toss diced sweet potatoes with olive oil and salt and pepper, to taste. Bake in preheat oven for 10 minutes. Remove and toss around and bake for another 10-15 minutes or until most of the moisture is gone from the sweet potato. Remove from oven and let cool completely before adding to salad. Reduce oven temp to 350 degrees.
- Place pecans on a baking sheet in an even layer. Place in 350 degree oven and bake for 6 minutes or until the nuts are toasted, but not too browned. Remove from oven and let cool completely.
- Mix the vinaigrette dressing ingredients together in a jar. Place kale in a large bowl and add 1 tablespoon of the dressing. Massage the kale with your hands for about 2 minutes. Add sliced red onion, cooled roasted sweet potatoes, cooled pecans, cranberries, and cook pearl couscous. Add 2 tablespoons of dressing and toss together. Taste and add more dressing, if needed. I also like to sprinkle a pinch of salt and pepper in the salad for a flavor enhancer.
- Serve immediately or cover and refrigerate for up to 2 days.
Notes
Pin for later:
More recipes you’ll love:
Quinoa Harvest Salad
Apple Pecan Farro Salad
Orchard Harvest Salad
This Autumn Kale Salad sounds absolutely delicious! I love how you combine roasted sweet potatoes with the earthy kale and tangy maple citrus vinaigrette. The addition of pearl couscous adds such a nice texture contrast to the crunchy pecans and dried cranberries. It’s a perfect way to capture those fall flavors even after the season has passed. Speaking of cozy vibes, sometimes after cooking something hearty like this, I enjoy taking a break with a spooky game from free Haunted Dorm online game to set the mood for winter evenings.
The maple citrus vinaigrette sounds like the perfect balance for the sweet potatoes and cranberries. I might try toasting the pecans a bit more to see if it adds extra crunch.
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Wow, this is exactly what I was looking for! The step-by-step photos are so helpful. I appreciate that you include tips for getting the best results. This is going on my weekend baking list for sure. Can’t wait to share this with my family!
Great post. Thanks for sharing. That was a solid read. I really like how you got straight to the point while still leaving me with something to think about. It’s rare to come across a blog post that is both simple and thoughtful. Thanks for putting this out there.
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Wow, this Autumn Kale Salad looks incredible! I absolutely love the idea of tossing roasted sweet potato and pearl couscous into a kale base. The maple citrus vinaigrette must add such a nice brightness, especially since you mentioned still craving those fall flavors even after December. It reminds me of cozy holiday vibes where you enjoy good food and creative hobbies. I’ve been spending my free time making autumn color patterns on Perler Beads to match the warm oranges and deep greens in my own kitchen decor. Do you usually prep the dressing ahead of time? I’m thinking of making this for a weeknight dinner soon. Thanks for the inspiration!
I was taking a break from escape road 2 unblocked when I stumbled on this recipe and wow — what a find! Never thought I’d be this excited about a kale salad but that maple citrus vinaigrette is something else entirely!
This post is solid, learned a lot from it.
This Autumn Kale Salad must be delicious! I’ll definitely try making it.
This recipe couldn’t have come at a better time—I usually struggle to want salads in the colder months, but this one is perfect for the season!
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Your instructions are quite comprehensive slope, so I can easily prepare the dinner.
This looks so fresh and perfect for fall! Love the mix of textures and flavors—especially the crunch from the apples and nuts. Can’t wait to try it out gunspin!
Say hello to my Autumn Kale Salad. One of the most incredible elements of this salad is the maple citrus vinaigrette. I was blown away by the balance of flavors in the dressing – sweet, sour, salty, tangy. They’re all in there!
I like salads, it’s not greasy and it’s healthy. Thanks for your sharing
For the cooler months of autumn, this salad is perfect! I cooked it up for lunch today, and it was a delicious, flavorful, and hearty meal.
Your Autumn Kale Salad is a delightful blend of seasonal flavors and textures! The combination of clipping path image editing service crisp kale, sweet apples, crunchy pecans, and tangy cranberries creates a symphony of taste in every bite. The maple balsamic vinaigrette ties everything together perfectly, adding a subtle sweetness that enhances the dish. Not only is this salad delicious, but it’s also packed with nutrients, making it a wholesome choice for any autumn meal. Thank you for sharing this wonderful recipe!
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This fall kale salad is perfect for the season and full of so much delicious flavor! Shredded kale, honeycrisp apple, fresh figs, pancetta,…
This salad is so good! We really enjoyed the maple citrus vinaigrette, it has the perfect balance of flavors. This recipe is going on our Christmas dinner menu! 5 stars!
This would be such a great healthy option to add to that holiday dinner menu! I love all of the flavors in this salad. 🙂
This recipe came at the perfect time because it’s hard for me to crave salads in the colder months. This is a great recipe for this time of year!
This is the perfect fall salad!! Made it for lunch today and it was hearty, flavorful and so satisfying!