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4.9 from 69 votes

Kale Citrus Salad

A simple, 30-minute kale salad with sweet and tart fruits, pickled red onions, and a simple red wine vinaigrette! Crunchy, filling, fresh, and the perfect healthy light lunch or side salad.

Prep Time
30 mins
Total Time
30 mins
Servings: 4
Calories: 239 kcal
Course: Side Dish , Salad , Snacks
Cuisine: Vegan

Ingredients

QUICK PICKLED ONIONS
  • 1/4 red onion (thinly sliced)
  • 1/3 cup red wine vinegar
  • 1 Tbsp sugar
  • 2 Tbsp water
SALAD
  • 1 large bundle lacinto kale (1 large bundle yields ~4 cups // chopped)
  • 1 grapfruit or orange (segmented // reserve any juice)
  • 1 tart apple (cored and chopped)
  • 1/4 cup pomegranate arils or dried cranberries (I used a mix of both)
DRESSING
  • 3 Tbsp red wine vinegar
  • 1 Tbsp Dijon mustard
  • pinch sea salt + black pepper
  • 1/2 Tbsp sweetener of choice (such as maple syrup or honey if not vegan)
  • 1/3 cup olive oil (plus more for massaging kale)
  • 2 Tbsp orange juice (optional // to brighten the flavor)
TOPPINGS (optional)
  • Berries in spring and summer
  • cooked quinoa
  • Hempseeds, roasted nuts, or sunflower seeds (for extra protein)

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. Pickle onions by mixing red wine vinegar, water, and sugar in a small bowl and stirring to dissolve. Add sliced onions and let set in the fridge while prepping the rest of the salad. The liquid should cover the onion, so add a bit more vinegar and/or water if needed.
  2. Add kale to a large mixing bowl with 1-2 tsp olive oil (amount as original recipe is written // adjust if altering batch size) and squeeze over reserved grapefruit or orange juice. Use your fingers to massage the kale to break down the bitterness and stiffness.
  3. Next add apple, grapefruit or orange segments, and pomegranate or cranberries and set aside.
  4. Prepare dressing in a small mixing bowl by whisking vinegar, mustard, sweetener, and salt and pepper. Stream in olive oil while mixing, then taste and adjust seasonings as needed. I added a splash of orange juice to brighten up the flavors, but this is optional.
  5. Add pickled onions to the salad, as well as the dressing (or reserve it for serving), toss and serve. Leftovers keep up to a couple of days in the fridge, though best when fresh.

Notes

  • * Find more tips for pickling onions at The Kitchn. * Nutrition information is a rough estimate calculated with dressing.

Nutrition Information

Serving 1serving Calories 239 (12%) Carbohydrates 21g (7%) Protein 2.8g (6%) Fat 17g (26%) Saturated Fat 2.4g (12%) Trans Fat 0g Cholesterol 0mg (0%) Sodium 100mg (4%) Fiber 3g (12%) Sugar 11.7g (23%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 4Serving

Amount Per Serving

Calories 239

% Daily Value*

Serving 1serving
Calories 239 12%
Carbohydrates 21g 7%
Protein 2.8g 6%
Fat 17g 26%
Saturated Fat 2.4g 12%
Trans Fat 0g 0%
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 100mg 4%
Fiber 3g 12%
Sugar 11.7g 23%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.