Pomegranate Kale Salad with Maple Glazed Pecans
Remember that pomegranate tree that I saw in someone’s backyard yesterday? Well, I decided to pick one off and make a salad with it.
Ha! No, I’m kidding. I would never do such a thing. My luck, I would fall and break my ankle trying to get away with it. I’m a good citizen and bought my pomegranate, I promise.
This recipe, however, is not mine. Unfortunately, the recipes aren’t flowing as freely from my distracted brain right now. If you need help planning a wedding or honeymoon, I’m your girl! Ha..haha…ha…heeee.
Thankfully, the pages of Vegetarian Times have come to the rescue with some pretty tasty creations, such as white bean & rosemary dip…mmm.
Wait, I mean, salad.
Nutrient-rich massaged kale salad with crisp apples, juicy pomegranate seeds, maple glazed pecans, and fresh gouda, to be exact.
The maple-glazed pecans are ridiculously simple to make and they’re the perfect addition to the crunchy apple and creamy gouda cheese.
Plus, it’s all holidayish {just roll with it} and pretty. I liked looking at it almost as much as I enjoyed eating it.
Ingredients
Salad
1 bunch kale (I used lacinato), deveined and chopped
1 apple (I used sweet tango), cored and thinly sliced
1/2 cup pomegranate seeds
2 ounces Gouda, thinly sliced with a vegetable peeler
Maple Glazed Pecans
1/2 cup pecan pieces
1 tablespoon maple syrup
2 teaspoons extra virgin olive oil
1/2 teaspoon salt
Dressing
2 tablespoons white balsamic vinegar
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1 shallot, peeled and minced
Instructions
- Start by preheating the oven or toaster oven to 350°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Combine all of the ingredients for the pecans in a small bowl and mix so that they are well-coated. Spread them onto the baking sheet and bake for about ten minutes, until they appear toasted.
- For the salad, place the kale and ingredients for the dressing into a large bowl and massage it with your hands for a good two to three minutes, until slightly tender. Toss in the apples and pomegranate seeds and mix well.
- Divide the kale salad onto two large plates or six small and top with maple pecans and shaved Gouda then serve.
Notes
Barely Adapted from Vegetarian Times
This salad would be a perfect way to wow your guests for the holidays. Or you could enjoy it while watching television and sitting on the couch, ahem. Either way, it’s worthy.
What’s your favorite way to eat a pomegranate?
beautiful holiday-esque dish! love dino kale.
i don’t have the patience to pick a pomegranate tho ;)
So pretty <3 Pomegranates are one of those fruits that I don't eat all that often, mostly because it's a a job and a half to get one peeled and cleaned. I usually just eat them on their own, but adding the seeds to a salad sounds lovely.
Such a beautiful salad! Pomegranates are one of my favorite fruits that I don’t eat nearly often enough. I think mainly because they’re a pain in the neck to peel, but I do love the idea of adding them into a salad. Sounds wonderful!
Do you have a secret way of actually getting pomegranate seeds out and into a salad? Mine usually end up on the ceiling and floor, so I think I’m doing it wrong. This salad looks amazing though and I wannnnnt.
I am a pomegranate addict, so the fact that I have never thought to put them on a salad I guess seems silly. But usually by the time I peel and pick seeds out I don’t want to wait I just eat them right away!
Such a gorgeous salad! I don’t usually buy pomegranates, because I’m too lazy (and afraid of dying my kitchen pink) to buy whole ones and too cheap to just buy the arils. I usually use them in yogurt or just to snack on, but I love the idea of throwing them on a salad!
This looks so delicious!! Seriously I love everything in this salad, except I’ve never eaten an actual pomegranate. I’ve only eaten pomegranate-flavored things. This is dumb and I should probably buy a pomegranate next time I’m at the grocery store.
You had me at “fresh gouda.” Gotta love a little cheese to balance out the kale.
You know I love kale salads as I have about 10 of them on my blog :) There’s always room for another one though! I love pomegranates, but I don’t getting out all of the seeds. I always manage to get some of the juice on my clothes or the juice gets splattered everywhere on the kitchen counter. I tend to be lazy and get the prepackaged seeds. I also love aged Gouda in a salad. It’s got such a great salty flavor to it! xoxo, Jackie
I’m torn when it comes to pomegranates. I don’t hate them.. but I don’t love them either. I absolutely hate taking the seeds out. I always manage to get the juice everywhere and then I get mad that I stained my shirt, pants, hands, etc. I do love the taste of them though. And this salad looks beautiful!
The salad looks so fresh and tasty! It’s a good reminder for the season when we slip into endless soups & chilis to still get in a nice salad :)
I like my pomegranate straight from the refrigerated section of Costco. But for real I cannot bring myself to cut and seed a pomegranate. Also I made a very similar salad last week but with pear! Great minds think alike ;)
Such a PRETTY salad! You’re right, that is the perfect holiday dish. Especially to bring for yourself to have at least ONE healthy dish amongst all of the indulgent goodies.
Looks amazing! I love kale and kale salads. Believe it or not, I’ve never actually bought a pomegranate! They just seem like so much work, haha. This salad did inspire me to buy some kale, though!
Very lovely looking salad :) I like eating the seeds straight up Though I do mix them in to things like oatmeal, maltomeal, pumpkin bread :) Getting the seeds out, well my kitchen looks like Dexter’s blood splatter heaven.
Oh this looks so delicious! I want this for lunch right now! I love pomegranates!
Yum! I love the combination of pomegranate and kale! I made a similar salad a few weeks ago, but the maple glazed pecans bring it to the next level!
Great salad Sarah! I am appreciating pomenagrate more and more, kale is my fave green, apple is a fruit I am crazy about. I’ve never tried all these together… Must try!
Wow – this salad sounds amazing!! I love buying the pomegranate seeds from Trader Joes. I put them on oatmeal a lot of times; however I’m now going to have to stock up for this salad. Thanks for sharing.
Lol I love your description ‘barely adapted’
This salad looks and sounds so so good! I have not had Kale for ages but need to start having it again as I always enjoy it when I do. I love pomegranates on salads mainly but will also have it in yoghurt mixed with other things too.
I wish there was a pomegranate tree near me!
This looks divine! I love kale and pomegranates, but I don’t think I have tried them together. It sounds delicious.
Yum, I am so eyeing those pomegranate seeds. Yesterday I ate so much that my stomach hurt after! I was so addicted I couldn’t stop.
I love the colors in this salad! Definitely holiday-ish! ha sometimes I imagine sneaking an apple from my neighbor’s tree but really I know I would never do it : ) I’m way too rule-abiding to go there!
I have been loooooving pomegranates lately! They’re sort of a pain to eat, but totally worth it ;)
Raw kale kindaaa scares me a little bit! I love it cooked with some salt and pepper because it’s basically a really thin chip – but raw? I’m nervous about that.
Haha when I read that you stole that fruit I was like there is NO way she did that! Glad to read you truly are a decent citizen – all my assumptions about you were correct!
Aw, girl, everyone in blogland who is planning a wedding seems to be distracted by everything it entails… Makes me scared for if/when I actually have to plan one. I’m the opposite of organized, so it’ll probably be the end of my blog, LOL!
And dinner on the couch with TV is about on par with how I eat my dinners!
You had me at maple glazed pecans and gouda! Holy smokes…this looks like a total winner. I know what you mean about recipes not flowing super freely. I’m not planning a wedding or anything, but work has got me so bogged down lately! Vegetarian Times to the rescue!
Mmm I’m with Alexis above…any salad with maple glazed pecans is a good one in my book :)
Um I totally would not have judged you for poaching a pomegranate! That’s like $2.50 saved… or maybe they’re cheaper in CA :) I took the time to clean a few the other day, so I have a big ol’ bucket of seeds on hand for this salad – perfect!
Oh the salad really is pretty, perfect for holiday gatherings. My mom makes candied pecans to put on her spinach and orange salad, such a great addition. I usually just toss some simple veggies together and call it good to go.
This salad looks so delicious! I totally don’t have patience for pomegranate’s though I do love them!
Not only does this look beautiful, but I’m sure it tastes amazing as well! Now I’ve just have to find someone who deseed a pomegranate for me… I hate doing it myself! ;)
Did you say maple glazed pecans? They are my weakness and I love them in salad. Love the addition of the apple, Gouda and pomegranate.
I was just wondering what kind of salad I should make with all the kale I bought yesterday. This will be perfect for this weeks work lunches! Exciting. My mouth is watering just thinking about the pecans. Mmm. I’m going to make myself a cookbook that just contains all of your recipes.
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