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    Home » Simple Vegan Recipes » Vegan Salad Recipes

    Crunchy Kale and Broccoli Salad with Cranberries

    Last Modified: Jun 7, 2022 by Becky Striepe

    Disclosure: This post may contain Amazon affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. See my Privacy Policy for more details.

    Recipe Video Print
    kale and broccoli salad with cranberries and macadamia nuts in a white bowl on tea towel
    image collage showing massaged kale, broccoli in the mixing bowl, adding the cranberries, carrots, and nuts, and the salad all mixed together
    image collage showing veggies, cranberries, dressing, and nuts in bowls on a slate table and a picture of the finished salad all tossed together

    Kale and broccoli salad with sweet cranberries and crunchy macadamia nuts in sweet balsamic dressing is a perfect side dish that comes together in minutes!

    kale and broccoli salad with cranberries and macadamia nuts in a white bowl on tea towel

    I've found that my kid is much more enthusiastic about eating veggies if he helps with the prep, and massaged kale salads like this are perfect for making with kids.

    Jump To:
    • Recipe tips
    • Serving and storage directions
    • Kale and Broccoli Salad Recipe

    Y'all, this salad was basically all my son's idea. He has been really into balsamic vinegar lately, and it was actually his suggestion that we make this a kale and broccoli salad mix. The original plan was just to make a kale salad.

    What we got instead was an epic bowl of magic.

    veggies, cranberries, dressing, and nuts in bowls on a slate table

    Recipe tips

    Massaged kale is the base for this salad recipe. With clean hands, just rub down that kale with balsamic vinegar, olive oil, and sea salt to get started. You're making the balsamic dressing right in the bowl!

    When you prepare the kale for this recipe, you don't want to use the stems. You can save the kale stems for a stir fry, though, so don't toss them!

    Now, either chop the broccoli or use your hands to pull it into small pieces. Chop the carrots, and add both of those in along with dried cranberries and macadamia nuts.

    Toss everything together, and you are ready to serve!

    It's a healthy, crunchy bowl of goodness that you can serve immediately or the next day.

    image collage showing massaged kale, broccoli in the mixing bowl, adding the cranberries, carrots, and nuts, and the salad all mixed together

    Serving and storage directions

    What's great about this salad is that you can prepare it a day or two ahead of time. The macadamia nuts, broccoli, and carrots will soften a bit overnight, as they absorb more of the delicious balsamic dressing.

    If you are preparing this ahead, you can leave out the nuts until just before serving to keep them crunchy.

    Serve this as a side dish, just like any other green salad. It's great alongside a sandwich or a bowl of soup. I also like to top it with air fryer tofu to make a one-bowl meal.

    You can use this for other bowl situations, too! Cooked white beans or chickpeas are both lovely ways to turn this side dish into a proper meal.

    It also makes a nice substitute for slaw at your next cookout.

    If grain bowls are your thing, this salad is a perfect addition. Just serve yourself up some of this broccoli salad and toss it with quinoa or your favorite cooked whole grain to bulk it up a bit.

    Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge. This salad will keep for around three days in the fridge.

    kale and broccoli salad with cranberries and macadamia nuts in a white bowl on tea towel

    Kale and Broccoli Salad Recipe

    Kale and broccoli salad with sweet cranberries and crunchy macadamia nuts in sweet balsamic dressing is a perfect side dish that comes together in minutes!
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    Course: Appetizer, Salad
    Cuisine: Vegan
    Keyword: kale and broccoli salad
    Prep Time: 10 minutes
    Total Time: 10 minutes
    Servings: 6
    Calories: 231kcal
    Author: Becky Striepe

    Ingredients

    • 4 loosely-packed cups chopped kale - stems removed. Think bite-sized pieces.
    • 3 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
    • 2 tablespoon olive oil
    • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
    • ¼ teaspoon sea salt
    • 2 cups small broccoli florets
    • 1 cup chopped carrots
    • ½ cup macadamia nuts
    • ¾ cup dried cranberries

    Instructions

    • In a large bowl, combine the kale, balsamic, olive oil, and salt. With clean hands, masssage the kale until it turns bright green.
    • Add the broccoli florets, tossing well to coat in the dressing.
    • Add the remaining ingredients, tossing well. Serve now, or chill up to overnight. Be sure to give the salad a good toss just before serving, because the nuts and cranberries do tend to work their way to the bottom as the salad sits.

    Video

    Notes

    This is a great make-ahead recipe! Feel free to put it together the night before and chill until you're ready to serve. If you want the nuts to stay super crunchy, you can leave them out until just before serving.
    Leftovers will keep for up to 3 days in the fridge.

    Nutrition

    Nutrition Facts
    Kale and Broccoli Salad Recipe
    Amount per Serving
    Calories
    231
    % Daily Value*
    Fat
     
    14
    g
    22
    %
    Saturated Fat
     
    2
    g
    10
    %
    Polyunsaturated Fat
     
    1
    g
    Monounsaturated Fat
     
    10
    g
    Sodium
     
    126
    mg
    5
    %
    Potassium
     
    547
    mg
    16
    %
    Carbohydrates
     
    22
    g
    7
    %
    Fiber
     
    8
    g
    32
    %
    Sugar
     
    3
    g
    3
    %
    Protein
     
    8
    g
    16
    %
    Vitamin A
     
    3820
    IU
    76
    %
    Vitamin C
     
    29
    mg
    35
    %
    Calcium
     
    66
    mg
    7
    %
    Iron
     
    2
    mg
    11
    %
    * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
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    More Vegan Salad Recipes

    • Israeli Couscous Salad Recipe with Creamy Avocado Dressing
    • Vegan mashed chickpea salad with grapes
    • Kale Salad with Apples, Walnuts, and Warm Cranberry Vinaigrette
    • Butternut squash kale salad

    About Becky Striepe

    Headshot of Becky Striepe in front of a teal wall

    Hi there! I'm Becky Striepe (rhymes with sleepy), and I love using gadgets and shortcuts to create easy vegan comfort food recipes for busy people. Whether you love your Instant Pot, your air fryer, or just love delicious plant-based meals, stick around. You'll like it here.

    Learn more about me >>>

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    About Me

    Glue and Glitter
    Hi! My name is Becky Striepe (rhymes with “sleepy”). I love using gadgets and shortcuts to create easy vegan comfort food recipes for busy people. Whether you love your Instant Pot, your air fryer, or just love delicious plant-based meals, stick around. You'll like it here. → READ MORE

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