Easy Kale and Apple Salad with Lemon Tahini Dressing
This Easy Kale and Apple Salad is a fresh, light, and healthy side dish or light lunch. The crisp kale and sweet apple slices in a tangy lemon tahini dressing will make your taste buds dance. After making this many times, I’ve discovered the trick to keeping kale from being too tough is to massage it with a bit of salt and olive oil. If you love recipes like this, you’ll also enjoy Easy Quinoa Tabbouleh Salad and Crispy Chipotle Honey Chicken Thighs.
Why This Easy Kale and Apple Salad with Lemon Tahini Dressing Is Pure Comfort
- Crisp kale and sweet apple slices
- Tangy lemon tahini dressing
- Easy to make and packed with flavor
- Healthy and light
What You'll Need for Easy Kale and Apple Salad with Lemon Tahini Dressing
Choosing the right ingredients makes a big difference, but this recipe is forgiving enough to work with what you have.
- Kale
- Apple
- Lemon
- Tahini
- Olive Oil
- Salt
- Pepper
- Maple Syrup
- Garlic
- Optional: Pumpkin Seeds
- Optional: Sunflower Seeds
- Optional: Chia Seeds
📝 Ingredient Notes
- Kale: Remove tough stems before chopping.
- Apple: Use a sweet, crisp apple like Fuji or Gala.
🛒 Tools & Equipment I Recommend
- Salad Spinner — Ensures crisp kale every time. → See on Amazon
- High-Quality Olive Oil — Makes a big difference in the dressing's flavor. → See on Amazon
How to Make Easy Kale and Apple Salad with Lemon Tahini Dressing
- Prepare Kale: Remove stems from kale and chop leaves into bite-sized pieces. Place in a large bowl and massage with 1 teaspoon salt and 1 tablespoon olive oil for 2-3 minutes until tender.
- Make Dressing: In a small bowl, whisk together lemon juice, tahini, maple syrup, garlic, salt, and pepper. Slowly drizzle in olive oil while whisking until emulsified.
- Assemble Salad: Thinly slice apple and add to bowl with kale. Pour dressing over kale and apple, tossing to coat. Add optional toppings if desired.
Cook's Tips for Perfect Easy Kale and Apple Salad with Lemon Tahini Dressing
- Common mistake and fix: Don't skip massaging the kale. It's the key to making it tender and not tough.
- Substitution: You can substitute any sweet, crisp apple for this recipe.
- Make-ahead: This salad can be made up to one day ahead. Store in the refrigerator without dressing. Add dressing just before serving.
Storing & Reheating Easy Kale and Apple Salad with Lemon Tahini Dressing
Short-Term Storage
Store in an airtight container in the fridge. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Make-ahead tip: This salad can be made up to one day ahead. Store in the refrigerator without dressing. Add dressing just before serving.
Freezing Easy Kale and Apple Salad with Lemon Tahini Dressing
Not recommended for this recipe.
How to Reheat Without Drying It Out
Oven: Not necessary for this recipe. Microwave: Not necessary for this recipe.
Recipe Notes
- Chef tip: Massaging the kale helps to break down its fibers, making it tender and easier to digest.
- Best substitution: You can substitute any sweet, crisp apple for this recipe.
- Make-ahead: This salad can be made up to one day ahead. Store in the refrigerator without dressing. Add dressing just before serving.
- Scaling: This recipe can easily be doubled or tripled for a larger crowd.
- Troubleshooting: If your dressing is too thick, add a bit more lemon juice or water to thin it out.
Want to level up this recipe?
High-Quality Tahini — Makes a creamy, delicious dressing. → Check price on Amazon
Easy Kale and Apple Salad with Lemon Tahini Dressing
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- Kale
- Apple
- Lemon
- Tahini
- Olive Oil
Seasonings
- Salt
- Pepper
- Maple Syrup
- Garlic
Optional Toppings
- Pumpkin Seeds
- Sunflower Seeds
- Chia Seeds
Instructions
- Prepare Kale: Remove stems from kale and chop leaves into bite-sized pieces. Place in a large bowl and massage with 1 teaspoon salt and 1 tablespoon olive oil for 2-3 minutes until tender.
- Make Dressing: In a small bowl, whisk together lemon juice, tahini, maple syrup, garlic, salt, and pepper. Slowly drizzle in olive oil while whisking until emulsified.
- Assemble Salad: Thinly slice apple and add to bowl with kale. Pour dressing over kale and apple, tossing to coat. Add optional toppings if desired.
Notes
- Chef tip: Massaging the kale helps to break down its fibers, making it tender and easier to digest.
- Best substitution: You can substitute any sweet, crisp apple for this recipe.
- Make-ahead: This salad can be made up to one day ahead. Store in the refrigerator without dressing. Add dressing just before serving.
- Scaling: This recipe can easily be doubled or tripled for a larger crowd.
- Troubleshooting: If your dressing is too thick, add a bit more lemon juice or water to thin it out.
Storage
- Fridge: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
- Freezer: Not recommended for this recipe.
- Oven reheat: Not necessary for this recipe.
- Microwave reheat: Not necessary for this recipe.
- Make ahead: This salad can be made up to one day ahead. Store in the refrigerator without dressing. Add dressing just before serving.
Nutrition Per Serving
- Calories: 150
- Protein: 3g
- Fat: 10g
- Carbs: 15g
- Fiber: 3g
- Sugar: 10g
- Sodium: 250mg
- Cholesterol: 0mg
- Sat. Fat: 1.5g
Nutritional values are estimates only. Actual values may vary by brand and portion size.
Easy Kale and Apple Salad with Lemon Tahini Dressing FAQs
Yes, you can make this salad up to one day ahead. Store in the refrigerator without dressing. Add dressing just before serving.
You may have skipped massaging the kale. Massaging helps to break down its fibers, making it tender and easier to digest.
No, freezing is not recommended for this salad as it will cause the kale to become mushy and the apple to lose its crispness.
No, an air fryer is not necessary or suitable for this recipe.
If you can't have tahini, you can substitute almond butter or cashew butter in a pinch. The flavor will be slightly different, but still delicious.
A Warm Final Note
I can’t wait for you to try Easy Kale and Apple Salad with Lemon Tahini Dressing and see how effortlessly it comes together. When you make it, pop back here and leave a rating or share how it turned out — I love hearing from you!
