Kale and Broccoli Salad with Lemon Poppy- Seed Dressing | Recipe

A salad featuring chopped kale, thinly sliced broccoli, toasted pine nuts, tart cranberries and a sweet and tangy poppy seed dressing.

Kale: I can’t tell you how over the whole “Kale Fad” of 2013 I was. People were completely obsessing over this vegetable I was fairly certain was going to be terrible and bitter, and to say I was hesitant to jump on board would be a massive understatement. In fact, I hesitated a solid three years. It wasn’t until a friend brought over a kale and broccoli salad to our potluck Christmas party that year that I finally decided to give it a go. And, as much as I hate to admit when I’m wrong, man did I have that poor cabbage wrongfully pegged. Kale is indeed delicious.

When I was in the midst of recipe development for fall and winter salads this year, kale was the first piece of vegetation that came to mind. Plus, I kind of felt like after all those seriously bad vibes I had been sending its way for so long, I sort of owed it.

My mission for this recipe was this: To create a simple, healthy, and flavorful salad that folks could easily put together in 15 minutes or less. I began with kale, chopped into bite-sized pieces, and incorporated very thin slices of broccoli as well.

I think it’s kind of important that people shouldn’t have to struggle to eat a salad. Don’t you? Solution? Just pay attention to your knifework when preparing the kale and broccoli. Raw broccoli can be difficult to chew if it is left too big. I found cutting the broccoli into thin slices, made this salad much more enjoyable. For tips on cutting fresh broccoli, see the video below. And, then, feel free to subscribe to TAK’s YouTube Channel here!

To balance out the bitter notes from the broccoli and kale, I added sweet and tangy cranberries, as well as a creamy lemon and poppy seed dressing, made with freshly squeezed lemon juice for a burst of acidity and honey for a little more sweetness. The last addition came in the form of toasted pine nuts. They added a buttery and savory quality to the salad, rounding it out perfectly. Walnuts would also make for a lovely addition.

This salad came with so many bonuses. Kale and broccoli both tend to keep longer than other delicate greens  (e.g. Romaine or Arugula), and therefore, can be made in advance. And, let me tell you: I am all for make-ahead dishes. Especially, when it comes to salads that I can pull from come lunchtime.

The make-ahead aspect of this broccoli and kale salad also makes it perfect for entertaining, but especially love it for entertaining in the fall and winter months. It is hearty and filling, and absolutely lovely alongside roasted turkey and chicken. Serve it alongside your Thanksgiving feast, use it as a make-ahead lunch or just a simple side and quick salad for a weeknight dinner, and please, enjoy.

5 MORE SALAD & DRESSING COMBOS YOU’LL LOVE

• Easy Ranch Dressing features the perfect blend of mayonnaise, sour cream, minced garlic and a simple mix of herbs and spices. It’s perfect on top of a Classic House Salad…or anything with lettuce, really.
• Honey Mustard Sauce at home is just as good, if not better than your favorite restaurant’s! Perfect for both drizzling and dipping, this Honey Mustard Dressing Recipe is sweet, tangy perfection, and it all comes together in 2 minutes or less. Use it to top the Classic House Salad, proteins, and more!
• Creamy Cilantro Lime Dressing is a healthy take on Ranch Dressing, made up of Greek yogurt and comes with a kick thanks to chipotle and lime. Use it to top Southwest Chopped Chicken Salad Tacos or any salad with a Southwest vibe.
• Watermelon and Arugula Salad features cubed watermelon, arugula, cucumbers, Feta cheese and a perfect Serrano-Lime Vinaigrette to top it all off. A flavorful, healthy salad recipe for warm weather and summer days!
• Balsamic Dressing is tangy, a little sweet and way easier to make from scratch than you might think. Use it to top off Bruschetta Chicken Salad.

5 from 2 votes

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Broccoli and Kale Salad

Prep Time

15 mins

Total Time

15 mins

 

A salad featuring chopped kale, thinly sliced broccoli, toasted pine nuts, tart cranberries and a sweet and tangy poppy seed dressing.

Course: Salad

Cuisine: American

Servings: 6

Calories: 115 kcal

Author: Kelly Anthony

Ingredients

• 3 tablespoons salted sunflower seeds
• 4 cups chopped kale
• 3 cups thinly sliced broccoli
• 1/3 cup dried cranberries
• 3 tablespoons lemon-poppy seed dressing see recipe below

Instructions

1. Place a sauté pan over medium-low heat and add the sunflower seeds. Stir often, and allow to toast until fragrant, about 3-4 minutes. Set aside until ready to use.

2. Add kale, broccoli, cranberries and sunflower seeds to a serving bowl, and drizzle with dressing. Toss to combine, and serve.

Nutrition Facts

Broccoli and Kale Salad

Amount Per Serving

Calories 115 Calories from Fat 36

% Daily Value*

Total Fat 4g 6%

Cholesterol 2mg 1%

Sodium 168mg 7%

Potassium 395mg 11%

Total Carbohydrates 16g 5%

Dietary Fiber 1g 4%

Sugars 8g

Protein 4g 8%

Vitamin A 94.9%

Vitamin C 114.2%

Calcium 9.5%

Iron 7.1%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

5 from 1 vote

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Lemon-Poppy Seed Dressing

Prep Time

5 mins

Total Time

5 mins

 

A sweet and tangy dressing, featuring fresh lemon juice, honey and poppy seeds.

Course: Salad Dressing

Cuisine: American

Servings: 6

Calories: 107 kcal

Author: Kelly Anthony

Ingredients

• 1/3 cup + 1 tablespoon mayonnaise
• 2 tablespoons honey
• 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
• 1/2 teaspoon poppy seeds
• 1/8 teaspoon Kosher salt

Instructions

1. Combine ingredients in a bowl and whisk to combine.

Recipe Notes

Makes about a 1/2 cup.

Nutrition Facts

Lemon-Poppy Seed Dressing

Amount Per Serving

Calories 107 Calories from Fat 81

% Daily Value*

Total Fat 9g 14%

Saturated Fat 1g 5%

Cholesterol 5mg 2%

Sodium 127mg 5%

Total Carbohydrates 6g 2%

Sugars 6g

Vitamin C 1.2%

Calcium 0.4%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.