Kale cherry salad with cherry dressing is the perfect summer or fall salad!
Packed with flavor, this marinated kale salad is even better the next day and can easily be modified based on what you have on hand!
The homemade cherry vinaigrette dressing is so easy to make and great on any salad! Naturally vegan, gluten free, dairy free, paleo and Whole30 friendly, this salad is great for lunch or dinner any time of year!
Why you will love this recipe
- Homemade balsamic cherry dressing is such a fun twist on dressing! The sweetness from the cherries pairs perfectly with the balsamic vinegar creating a really perfect salad dressing that can be made in just 1 minute!
- Kale salads are so hearty and filling and the best part is that they are almost always better the next day! Kale is a hearty green that starts to break down with exposure to acid (vinegar) making the salad even more tender and delicious the next day! Perfect for meal prep or to make ahead for parties or get-togethers.
- Top with your favorite protein to make it a full meal! Some great options are salmon, Italian chicken pieces, or even tofu! You won’t believe how filling this salad is!
How to prepare this kale salad
Ingredients
- Kale
- Fresh cherries, pitted (or dried cherries in the fall/winter)
- Chopped nuts (walnuts, almonds, cashews, pecans all work here)
- Frozen dark sweet cherries
- Balsamic vinegar
- Olive oil
- Water
- Salt
Step by step instructions
Make the balsamic cherry dressing first by combining the defrosted frozen dark sweet cherries, balsamic vinegar, olive oil and salt in a high speed blender for about 1 minute until fully combined.
Destem the kale and chop or tear into bite size pieces.
Add the dressing to the kale and mix well with tongs or your hands. You really want to take 2-3 minutes to continue to toss the kale in the dressing, which helps to start breaking down the kale and softening it.
Once the salad has been dressed, you can add the fresh cherries and chopped nuts.
Store in the fridge at least 4 hours, preferably overnight before serving.
Stir well before serving, redistributing the dressing as needed.
How to soften kale
Kale tends to be a tougher green, much different than traditional lettuces that you would find in most salads.
Unlike salad greens, kale salads actually hold up better and tastes better if you make them ahead of time (at least 4 hours) as the vinegar or acid in the dressing will help break down the kale and soften the tough leaves.
Kale can have a bitter, sometimes almost earthy flavor when fresh. Really taking the time to work the dressing into the greens helps to remove that bitter earthy flavor.
The best way to soften kale is to use your hands and massage the individual kale leaves with the dressing. If you prefer to not get your hands dirty, you can also use tongs for this.
GET 10 OF MY ALL TIME GREATEST RECIPES IN THIS FREE EBOOK
How to pit cherries
Cherries are not just delicious they are also a great source of fiber, antioxidants and Vitamin C. Dark sweet cherries, used in the dressing have an flavonoids called anthocyanins that helps protect the body from damage caused by free radicals.
Cherries are a great salad topping but pitting them can be a bit time consuming and you will likely stain your hands in the process. I’m going to invest in a cherry pitter next year because I love eating cherries all season long.
To remove the pits without a cherry pitter:
- Start by cutting the cherry in half around the pit.
- Cut again so that the cherry is divided into 4 sections.
- You should be able to easily pull away 2 of the pieces of cherry immediately, however the other two will probably be stuck around the pit.
- Use your fingers to pull the pit from the other 2 pieces.
Other toppings
- White beans or chickpeas
- Shredded chicken or Italian chicken bites
- Air fryer salmon or simple salmon bites
- Balsamic tofu
- Shredded cabbage
- Shredded carrots
- Tomatoes
Storage
Store this salad (with dressing) in the fridge for up to 3 days after eating.
Substitutions
- Frozen Dark Sweet Cherries: Fresh pitted cherries are a great substitution for the dressing.
- Olive oil: You can also use almond butter in place of the olive oil to make a creamy dressing.
- Kale: You can also use spinach or arugula in place of kale, however the salad likely will not last as long in the fridge if you use anything other than kale.
- Walnuts: You can also use cashews, almonds, slivered almonds, pecans or pepitas (pumpkin seeds).
- Red bell peppers: You can also use chopped cherry tomatoes or roasted red pepper in place of the red bell peppers.
If you love this recipe, you will also love
- Kale Brussels Sprouts Salad with Cranberries
- Crunchy Broccoli Salad with Lemon Tahini Dressing
- Greek Spaghetti Squash Salad
- 6 Ingredient Cannellini Bean Salad
- Shaved Brussel Sprouts Salad with Creamy Balsamic Dressing
Cherry Kale Salad
Ingredients
- 1 bag of organic kale - large stems removed
- 1/4 cup walnuts
- 1 red pepper - chopped
- 15-20 sweet cherries - cut into quarters
Balsamic Cherry Dressing
- 1 cup defrosted dark sweet cherries
- 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 2 tbsp. water
- 1 tsp. salt
Instructions
Cherry Balsamic Dressing
- Defrost the dark sweet cherries in the microwave or on the stove. Add the cherries, balsamic vinegar, olive oil, water and salt to blender.
Cherry Kale Salad
- In a large bowl, add the kale, removing any big stems as you go.
- Add dressing directly to the kale leaves and toss to coat leaves either with tongs or your hands. Really take time to massage the kale to help it break down.
- Chop the red bell peppers and chopped walnuts to the kale.
- Cut the cherries into quarters and remove the pits. Add to salad.
- Store in the fridge for at least 4 hours, best overnight. Serve as is or with your favorite protein.
Stephanie
The flavors in this sound incredible!! Thank you so much for linking up at Tasty Tuesday! This post has been pinned on the Tasty Tuesday Pinterest board! I love having you and can’t wait to see you next week!
Chrissie (thebusybaker.ca)
I love the look of this salad! It’s a perfect recipe for the end of summer :) Thanks for posting!
Nancy Andres
Great recipe, but honestly I don’t have the patience to pit dark cherries.I might do it with pitted ones or else substitute dried cranberries or raisins. How do you think that would be. I love the colors and pinned it to my good food board on Pinterest. Have a lovely week and keep up the good work. Nancy Andres.
sherry
It’s easy to pit cherries using a sturdy plastic straw like the ones that come with water bottles
. Just position the straw at the stem end and push. Out pops the pit!
Samantha Rowland
Thanks for the tip Sherry!!
Trish
Absolutely gorgeous! Cherries are one thing I REALLY try to enjoy while they are in season. It doesn’t last long!
Marie@The Interior Frugalista
Oh my does this sound good! I just happened to bring back some fresh cherries from vacation so this salad is definitely happening in our household.
Tanya @ Mom's Small Victories
Since I found out cherries were anti-inflammatory, I’ve been popping them like candy this summer. Thanks for sharing with Small Victories Sunday Linkup. Pinning to our linkup board and hope you found some great posts to visit this week!
Michelle@healthiersteps
Wow love the idea of including cherries, I love kale salad so I will have to try it!
lalaine
I’ve never been a fan of kale (#shamefaced) but this salad looks healthy and delicious, it just might change my mind :)
Sabrina @ Dinner, then Dessert
I love when salads are topped with fruit! It adds such a bright flavor!
Whitney @ That Square Plate
I’m always looking for new, tasty lunch salad recipes! This looks so delicious and beautiful!
Katalina @ Peas & Peonies
I have never had a cherry salad, but this one looks so yummy and delicious, a must try!
Michelle at A Dish of Daily Life
What a delicious salad! I make a kale salad for my daughter every single week…might be time to try something new! So glad you shared it with us at #FoodieFriDIY…sending some foodie love your way!
Richa
Wow! I love the idea of combining cherries and balsamic vinegar in a dressing. That salad looks soooo good.
Adelina Priddis
Your dad sounds like mine…and your sister like me :) I love cherries, so good. Thanks for sharing on Weekend Bites
Kathryn @ FoodieGirlChicago
I’m slowly learning to like kale salads and with so many ingredients I love this sounds like a perfect one for me to try!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
So glad you no longer shun cherries are gross ;)
J @ A Hot Southern Mess
I love a good kale salad, especially one with yummy cherries!
Kelley
I love that you used cherries in this kale salad, to add a bit of something sweet!
Mandee Pogue
This salad is beautiful and I love the flavor combination! I am going to have to try it soon!
Jessica
This salad is beautiful and the cherry balsamic dressing sounds delicious!
Hillary Reeves
OOh! I love the way you write out “recipe tips.” I might just have to borrow that for my own blog!
Whitney
I love cherries, but I would have never thought to make them into a dressing, brilliant!
Derek
Looks super healthy and delish! Can’t beat that!
Lauren @ A Nerd Cooks
That dressing really takes the salad over the top!
Byron Thomas
Oh, that looks so beautifully delicious! Love the combination of veggies in that bowl!