Warm Kale Maple Mustard (Printable)

Tender massaged kale with warm maple-mustard glaze, toasted pecans, and dried cranberries for a vibrant, nourishing bowl ready in 20 minutes.

# What You’ll Need:

→ Salad

01 - 1 large bunch curly kale, stems removed, leaves torn (about 8 cups)
02 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
03 - 1/4 teaspoon sea salt
04 - 1/3 cup dried cranberries
05 - 1/3 cup toasted pecans or walnuts, roughly chopped
06 - 1/4 small red onion, thinly sliced
07 - 1/4 cup crumbled feta cheese, optional

→ Maple Mustard Dressing

08 - 3 tablespoons pure maple syrup
09 - 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
10 - 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
11 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
12 - 1/4 teaspoon salt
13 - 3 tablespoons olive oil

# How-To:

01 - Place kale in a large bowl, drizzle with 1 tablespoon olive oil, and sprinkle with sea salt. Massage the kale for 2-3 minutes until it becomes vibrant green and tender.
02 - In a small saucepan over low heat, whisk together maple syrup, Dijon mustard, apple cider vinegar, black pepper, and salt. Once combined and warm, slowly whisk in 3 tablespoons olive oil until emulsified. Remove from heat.
03 - Pour the warm maple mustard dressing over the massaged kale and toss to coat thoroughly.
04 - Add dried cranberries, toasted pecans or walnuts, and sliced red onion. Toss gently to combine.
05 - Transfer to a serving platter or individual bowls. Top with crumbled feta cheese if desired. Serve immediately while warm.

# Expert Hints:

01 -
  • The kale actually becomes silky and pleasant to eat instead of tough, which honestly changed my entire relationship with raw greens.
  • That warm maple-mustard dressing hits different than cold vinaigrettes—it's like a cozy hug in salad form.
  • It comes together in 20 minutes flat, making it perfect for those nights when you're tired but still want something real.
02 -
  • The massaging step isn't optional—I learned this the hard way by trying to skip it once, and the salad was unpleasant and chewy instead of silky.
  • The dressing truly needs to be warm when it hits the kale; cold dressing won't have the same magic or flavor penetration, so don't make it ahead.
03 -
  • If your kale is particularly tough or older, give it an extra minute of massaging—there's no such thing as over-massaging kale, only kale that hasn't been massaged quite enough.
  • Toast your own nuts if possible; the flavor difference between fresh-toasted and pre-packaged is significant enough that it's worth the five minutes.
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