• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Hunger Thirst Play

Delicious Recipes for Every Season

  • Recipe Index
  • About
  • eBooks
  • Work with Me
  • Subscribe
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Recipe Index
  • About
  • eBooks
  • Work with Me
  • Subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • Recipe Index
    • About
    • eBooks
    • Work with Me
    • Subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • ×

    Home » Hunger

    Winter Kale Salad with Pomegranate and Blue Cheese

    By Lauren on December 4, 2018, Updated April 27, 2021 1 Comment

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
    bowl of winter salad with kale and pomegranate
    bowl of winter salad with kale and pomegranate
    bowl of winter salad with kale and pomegranate

    Crisp greens, salty blue cheese and sweet pomegranate, crunchy brown bread croutons and the balance of tangy cider-maple vinaigrette. Winter Kale Salad with Pomegranate and Blue Cheese is bringing all the best things about winter produce into the lime light in the freshest way possible.

    Overhead photo of winter kale salad

    So. Many. Good. Things.

    Both in this salad and during the winter season. Well, ok, I guess it's not technically winter yet but Thanksgiving has come and gone and we're in the thick of the holiday season. To me, that says cozy things, comfort food, holiday treats, cocktails and cold weather.

    When it's cold out do you ever have a hard time finding cravings for cold food? In the winter we usually gorge on hidden veggie soups and easy instant pot go tos. But then I finally sit down to a salad and I'm like, "where have you been all month?!"

    Is that you too? It doesn't have to be, you can still enjoy this super tasty winter salad. I'm just asking for the sake of solidarity.

    close up view of winter kale salad

    Why you should be making winter kale salad

    Can you already hear the kale haters out there groaning? Ugh. We're just some people that love kale ok? Let us live.

    You can always substitute kale for other lettuces or spinach, but I love this type of kale because it's a little softer and more lettuce-like than regular curly kale. Sometimes it's called Tuscan Kale, Lacinato Kale or Dino Kale. The leaves look more like a dark green version of romaine if you pulled all the leaves off the root.

    winter kale salad with blue cheese and pomegranate

    In the chaos of pre-Thanksgiving gatherings, I brought this for lunch to my mom and dads to watch it disappear before my eyes. Then at the request of my sister, made the same salad for Thanksgiving two days later. It's nice when something tasty is also real easy to make, huh?

    Here's why this bowl of green winter goodness is a winner:

    Tuscan Kale

    • not as 'tough' as curly kale
    • holds up to dressing really well for a long time without wilting
    • stems aren't as bitter
    • cut first, then wash and dry to soften the leaf

    Pomegranate

    • currently in season, so you'll get the juiciest, sweetest seeds
    • bring both sweet and acid to this winter kale salad
    • have a snap and crunch texture
    • and c'mon, they're pretty

    Blue Cheese

    • use a block blue cheese for creamier texture
    • salty flavor balances the acid and sweet from the pomegranate
    • the natural fat from the cheese helps to balance flavors and to help make it feel like a more filling dish
    • if you don't like blue cheese, a rich goat cheese would be a good substitution

    Overhead photo of winter kale salad

    Brown Bread Croutons

    • the bread is naturally a little sweet
    • olive oil and salt add simple flavor and seasoning
    • crunchy bread texture

    Maple Apple Cider Vinaigrette

    • this will never not be my favorite fall/winter salad dressing
    • not too sweet, slightly acidic, and the right amount of salt and pepper
    • minced garlic and dijon mustard balance the sweet of the maple and apple
    • shakes up quick in a mason jar

    If you're looking to make this into a meal rather than a starter or side salad, I'd recommend grilling or broiling up some steak to go with it. A flank steak would be perfect and simple to sear on a cast iron or under the broiler with simple salt and pepper, then slice it thin. Grilled chicken or a quick seared ahi tuna steak would do you good, too.

    Or just maybe eat it out of the serving bowl because you just can't help yourself...

    kale salad with pomegranate and blue cheese in a bowl

    Winter Kale Salad with Pomegranate and Blue Cheese

    Winter Kale Salad loaded with crisp and light tuscan kale, sweet pomegranate, creamy blue cheese, and brown bread croutons tossed in a well-balanced maple apple cider vinaigrette.
    No ratings yet
    Print Pin SaveSaved! Rate
    Course: Salads
    Cuisine: American
    Keyword: kale salad, salads for entertaining, tuscan kale, winter salad, winter salad with blue cheese
    Prep Time: 20 mins
    Cook Time: 10 mins
    Total Time: 30 mins
    Servings: 4 to 6 servings
    Calories: 516kcal
    Author: Lauren
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Ingredients

    • 6 cups lacinato kale (1 head chopped)
    • ½ cup pomegranate seeds
    • 4 ounces blue cheese block (cut in thin slices so it crumbles)
    • 4 cups brown bread croutons
    • maple apple cider vinaigrette

    Brown Bread Croutons

    • 1 small loaf sweet brown bread (about 4 cups, cut in cubes)
    • 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
    • ¼ teaspoon salt

    Maple Apple Cider Vinaigrette

    • ¼ cup apple cider vinegar
    • 1 tablespoon pure maple syrup
    • 2 tablespoons apple cider
    • 1 teaspoon dijon mustard
    • 1 clove garlic (finely minced)
    • ¼ teaspoon salt
    • ¼ teaspoon black pepper
    • ½ cup extra virgin olive oil
    • optional ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes

    Instructions

    • Make the croutons:  Preheat the oven to 350°F.  Cut or tear the brown bread into bite sized pieces.  Toss with olive oil and spread into an even layer on a baking sheet.  Bake for 10 minutes until crispy.
    • Make the dressing:  In a bowl, whisk together apple cider vinegar, maple syrup, apple cider, dijon, garlic, salt and pepper.  Slowly pour in olive oil while whisking quickly.  Alternatively:  Combine all ingredients in a mason jar, cover tightly and shake vigorously until blended.  Set aside.
    • Assemble the salad:  Remove the bottom ¼ to ⅓ of the kale leaves.  Chop the kale in ½-inch to 1-inch strips, wash and dry.  In a large bowl, toss the kale and croutons with ¾ of the salad dressing.  Transfer to a serving bowl and top with pomegranate seeds and blue cheese.

    Notes

    • The kale holds up great to the dressing and can sit dressed for a while.  If making ahead with the dressing, wait to add the croutons until serving.
    • When shopping for brown bread, I use the Cheesecake Factory loaves they sell in the grocery store or you can make your own brown bread with this recipe.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 516kcal | Carbohydrates: 34g | Protein: 11g | Fat: 38g | Saturated Fat: 10g | Cholesterol: 21mg | Sodium: 779mg | Potassium: 349mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 3365IU | Vitamin C: 40mg | Calcium: 232mg | Iron: 2mg
    « 14 Gifts for the Wino in Your Life
    Grapefruit Thyme Paloma »
    624 shares
    • Share5
    • Tweet

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Amy says

      December 09, 2018 at 10:33 pm

      This looks wonderful! This looks like a wonderful winter treat for lunch. I love how you incorporated pomegranates!

      Reply

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    Hi, I'm Lauren! This is my slice of the internet to share seasonally-inspired recipes. I live in the heart of New England with my husband, two kiddos, English bulldog and our two local restaurants. Life is busy AND delicious!

    More about me →

    Trending Recipes

    • Low-Calorie Spicy Thai Peanut Dressing
    • Trader Joe's Kale Gnocchi with Arrabbiata
    • Whole Wheat Sourdough Pumpkin Bread
    • Iced Lavender Matcha Latte

    Get my Thanksgiving eCookbook!

    Hi, I'm Lauren! This is my slice of the internet to share seasonally-inspired recipes. I live in the heart of New England with my husband, two kiddos, English bulldog and our two local restaurants. Life is busy AND delicious!

    More about me →

    Trending Recipes

    • Low-Calorie Spicy Thai Peanut Dressing
    • Trader Joe's Kale Gnocchi with Arrabbiata
    • Whole Wheat Sourdough Pumpkin Bread
    • Iced Lavender Matcha Latte

    Get my Thanksgiving eCookbook!

    Footer

    About

    • About Me
    • Privacy Policy
    • Inquiries + Collabs
    • Subscribe for updates!

    Recipes

    • All Recipes
    • Dinner Recipes
    • Dessert Recipes
    • Instant Pot Recipes

    Our Restaurants

    • Bonefish Harrys
    • Portsmouth Feed Company
    • Thirsty Butcher Hospitality
    • Restaurant Photography

    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2021 Hunger Thirst Play

    Copyright© 2023 Hunger Thirst Play · Privacy Policy ·