This cherry salad just might take the title of “best kale salad”. There, I said it. Because I really believe it might be one the best kale salads out there. 

It’s made with not one, but two types of cherries, is flavored with fresh thyme and a killer white balsamic vinaigrette, and gets finished with diced brie (yaas!) and pistachios. 

Best. Kale. Salad. 

Photograph of a kale salad with cherries and pistachios in a white bowl on a blue table

How To Make the Best Kale Salad 

There are a few steps to make the ultimate kale salad. Here they are:

Tip 1: Use Tuscan Kale 

I find that Tuscan kale is the ideal variety for salads. The leaves of Tuscan kale—also referred to as Dinosaur or Lacinato kale—have a bubbly smooth look to them. Those “bubbles” do a fantastic job of holding on to vinaigrettes and dressings. 

Similar to regular curly kale, Tuscan kale benefits from a bit of massaging before assembling and serving. However, if you’re short on time or want to skip that step, go right ahead. I don’t find the toughness of Tuscan kale to be distracting. 

Tip 2: Make a Homemade Vinaigrette or Dressing

I find this to be true for most any salad. Homemade vinaigrettes and dressings make all the difference. 

My go-to classic vinaigrette is always a great choice. But for this Tuscan kale salad I opted to use white balsamic vinegar in the vinaigrette for an added dose of flavor. 

Tip 3: Add an Herb (or two) 

This tip also pertains to salads in general, adding fresh herbs to the mix really ups the ante! Depending on the herb, it can even take the place of some of the greens.

For this salad I add a few tablespoons of thyme, but any hearty herb, like rosemary or oregano, also work well in kale salads. 

Tip 4: Add a Nut! 

Kale salads benefit hugely from the addition of a nut. The crunch of a nut offsets the toughness of kale, which balances out the textures wonderfully. For this kale salad I opted for pistachios because they pair well with cherries and brie. However, you can choose whatever nut you like best. Almonds, pecans, pepitas, and pine nuts are all great options. 

Photograph of a kale salad with cherries and pistachios in a white bowl on a blue table
Tip 5: A Little Sweetness

I like to add a sweet component to just about any salad, but this kale salad in particular has quite the presence of sweetness. Instead of using just one sweet ingredient, I’m using two—fresh and dried cherries. Fresh cherries offer a mild fruity flavor while dried cherries add a much sweeter and “in your face” component to the salad. 

Tip 6: Last But Not Least…Cheese! 

I think all salads need cheese. But then again I have an addiction. 

Feel free to use whatever cheese you like. A few of my favorites are; gruyere, chèvre, Pecorino and of course, brie. 

I chose brie for this salad because it pairs well with cherries, but also because the creaminess offers a textural reprieve from the tough and heavy textures of the other ingredients. 

Photograph of a kale salad with cherries and pistachios in a white bowl on a blue table

How to Serve Cherry Salad

This salad makes a great side dish but can also easily be served as a main dish salad. 

As a side dish, serve this cherry salad with:

As a main dish, add: 

Photograph of a kale salad with cherries and pistachios in a white bowl on a blue table

Kale & Cherry Salad with Brie

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Prep Time 15 minutes
Total Time 15 minutes
Yield 8 cups + ⅓ cup vinaigrette (4 servings)
Category Salad
Cuisine American
Author Lauren

Description

Cherry and Kale Salad with Brie! Both fresh and dried cherries are used in this flavorful kale salad that’s complete with fresh thyme, pistachios and a delicious white balsamic vinaigrette!

Ingredients

Salad

  • 8 cups torn Tuscan kale, or one 10-ounce bag
  • 1 cup pitted and halved bing cherries
  • ½ cup chopped dried cherries
  • ½ cup (2 ounces) diced brie
  • ¼ cup chopped pistachios
  • 1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves

Vinaigrette

  • 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons white balsamic vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon minced shallot
  • 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
  • 1 teaspoon honey
  • ¼ teaspoon minced fresh garlic, from 1 medium clove
  • ¼ teaspoon each salt and pepper

Instructions

  • Toss together kale, cherries, dried cherries, brie, pistachios and thyme. 
  • Whisk together oil, vinegar, shallot, Dijon, honey, garlic, salt, and pepper for the vinaigrette. 
  • Divide salad between serving dishes and drizzle with vinaigrette.

Notes

Make it vegan: leave brie cheese out of the salad and use pure maple syrup in place of the honey in the vinaigrette.

Nutrition

Serving: 2cupsCalories: 266kcalCarbohydrates: 28gProtein: 8gFat: 15gSaturated Fat: 2gSodium: 298mgFiber: 4gSugar: 6g
Like this? Leave a comment below!I love hearing from you and I want to hear how it went with this recipe! Leave a comment and rating below, then share on social media @zestfulkitchen and #zestfulkitchen!
Photograph of a kale salad with cherries and pistachios in a white bowl on a blue table

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About The Author

Lauren Grant is a professional culinary food scientist, food writer, recipe developer, and food photographer. Lauren is a previous magazine editor and test kitchen developer and has had work published in major national publications including Diabetic Living Magazine, Midwest Living Magazine, Cuisine at Home Magazine, EatingWell.com, AmericasTestKitchen.com, and more.

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