It is amazing how excited I can get about a kale salad. This Kale & Lentil Salad with Cranberries & Coconut Bacon is really delicious & reminds me of something you could order at an upscale vegetarian restaurant.
This kale salad is full of beautiful. It has gorgeous color from the cranberries & the kale itself. The texture is great with curly kale, chewy dried cranberries & crunchy coconut bacon. The cranberries are a nice sweet touch while the coconut bacon adds amazing smokey & salty flavor.
Kale Tip
Kale is different from other salad greens as it is not as delicate. I love this about kale because you can dress it and put it in the refrigerator to eat the next day, as the leaves will not get soggy like typical salad leaves.
I like kale chopped up small like in this salad, with the dressing “massaged” into the leaves to help soften them a bit. It is best to do this before adding the other toppings to your salad.
Kale Nutrition
This salad is full of protein & fiber, phytonutrients & antioxidants. You can read more about the amazing nutrition of kale here. It is filling and can be a meal in itself or makes a great side dish, too. It is a great recipe for potlucks, and can be enjoyed all year but is especially festive looking at Christmastime.
Coconut Bacon
Did you read the post I wrote about coconut bacon? It is SO DELICIOUS & very easy to make. Most regular bacon has nitrates in it that are cancer causing and harmful to your health. This coconut bacon has a nice smokey flavor from smoked paprika & has a great salty flavor like bacon, thanks to the addition of soy sauce. The oven crisps the coconut flakes up just right for the perfect crunchy texture to top salads and soups. Coconut bacon is great sprinkled on top of lentil soup or even just eaten straight from a jar!
Lentils
I use precooked lentils that you can get at Trader Joes in the refrigerator section. If you don’t have a Trader Joes near you, lentils are super easy to make, or you can get canned lentils. Want more ideas of what to make with lentils from New Nostalgia? Try Easy Taco Seasoned Lentils or Sloppy Joe Lentils. Both make great Meatless Monday/ Vegetarian meals.
This salad has a simple homemade dressing made with apple cider vinegar which gives it great flavor. It is the perfect dressing for an amazing salad!
Kale & Lentil Salad with Cranberries & Coconut Bacon
{Serves: 6 small or 4 large servings}
1 medium head curly kale, stems removed, washed, dried and chopped (about 7-8 ounces after preparation)
1/2 cup dried cranberries
1 1/2 cups cooked lentils (or one can of cooked lentils, rinsed & drained)
1 cup coconut bacon
1 1/2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
2 1/2 tablespoons olive oil
1 tsp maple syrup
1/2 tsp salt
Black pepper to taste
2 tablespoons chopped shallots
Instructions:
Whisk together the olive oil, vinegar,maple syrup, salt, pepper, and shallots. Set them aside.
Place the kale in a large mixing bowl. Toss the dressing over it and massage thoroughly with your hands, until all of the leaves are coated with the dressing. Add the cranberries, lentils, and coconut bacon, and toss everything to combine. Pile the salad into serving bowls & serve.
Note: Leftover salad will keep in an airtight container in the fridge for up to two days. I love storing it in smaller mason jars for a quick, grab & go lunch.
Michelle Freemark
August 25, 2016 at 9:26 pmHi there… You wrote that this salad has a simple homemade dressing with apple cider vinegar, but I don’t see the vinegar in the list of ingredients. Am I missing something? Thanks!
AmyNewNostalgia
August 25, 2016 at 9:47 pmGah! I cannot believe I left that key ingredient out. I’m so glad you caught it. Thank you. The post is updated with 1 1/2 Tablespoons of apple cider vinegar.
Sandra
February 10, 2016 at 8:35 pmThis looks delicious! Can’t wait to try it.
AmyNewNostalgia
February 11, 2016 at 11:07 amIt truly so yummy! Let me know what you think.
Cara
February 9, 2016 at 3:33 pmIs there a way to print your amazing recipes? I’m not seeing a print button…
AmyNewNostalgia
February 18, 2016 at 5:39 pmRight now I dont have a print option…just copy and paste. I will look into adding one. Thanks for reading!