Crunchy Kale Rooster Salad Recipe with Cranberries

My husband loves rotisserie hen, however I don’t, so I all the time search for methods to show his leftovers into wholesome hen recipes. Lately, I tailored a straightforward kale salad recipe into one which makes use of up leftovers, saves cash, and serves as a scrumptious spring or summer time major dish salad. 

Picture credit score: Recipes From Leftovers.

Get the complete recipe particulars beneath. You’ll additionally discover concepts for substitutions and variations.

Make this a full meal by including a slice of Dutch oven sourdough bread. Or serve it year-round with a bowl of Carrot and Pink Lentil soup. Comply with it up with a few Lemon Meltaway Cookies for a colourful and cheap household meal.

Elements for Rooster Kale Salad

Right here’s what I used to make this simple salad with juicy hen items. Nonetheless, it’s simple to make use of leftovers to make this recipe appropriate for a particular weight-reduction plan or choosy eaters.

The ingredients for a salad with chicken, kale and cranberries.
Picture credit score: Recipes From Leftovers.
  • 1 bag of chopped candy kale OR (½ cup every chopped broccoli, inexperienced cabbage, kale, brussel sprouts, and radicchio torn into bite-sized items)
  • 2 hen breasts, diced
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ¼ teaspoon pepper
  • 1 apple, diced
  • 1 avocado, diced
  • ¼ cup dried cranberries or craisins
  • ¼ cup barely chopped walnuts
  • ¼ cup pumpkin seeds or pepitas
  • 2 tablespoons poppyseed dressing or to style

Instructions

  1. Start by slicing the hen breast into 1-inch items.
  2. Warmth 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a medium-sized skillet over medium-high warmth.
  3. Add the diced hen items to the skillet and season with salt and pepper.
  4. Prepare dinner the hen till it’s cooked by and starting to show golden brown, then set it apart in a small bowl.
  5. Cube the apple into 1-inch cubes and lower the avocado into bite-sized chunks.

To Assemble Salad

  1. Layer the leafy greens, cooked hen, diced apples, avocado chunks, walnuts, and dried cranberries or craisins in a big salad bowl or perhaps a fairly mixing bowl.
  2. Drizzle your favourite poppyseed dressing over the salad to style.
  3. Toss the whole lot collectively till nicely mixed, and benefit from the scrumptious mixture of flavors and textures!

Substitutions and Variations

Chicken salad with apples and walnuts on a white plate.
Picture credit score: Recipes From Leftovers.

In the event you don’t have all of the elements available, don’t fear. This Crunchy Kale Rooster Salad recipe is flexible and could be personalized to fit your preferences and what you will have accessible in your pantry. Listed below are some substitutions and variations you’ll be able to strive:

  • Greens: Swap out the kale for different varieties, akin to curly kale, Tuscan kale, lacinato kale, or child kale.
  • Protein: As a substitute of grilled hen, you need to use leftover roasted hen, shredded rotisserie hen, and even canned tuna or chickpeas for a vegetarian choice.
  • Nuts and Seeds: Be at liberty to make use of any nuts and seeds you will have available, akin to almonds, pecans, sunflower seeds, or sesame seeds.
  • Dressing: In the event you don’t have poppyseed dressing, you need to use a selfmade French dressing made with dressing elements like olive oil, balsamic vinegar, apple cider vinegar, mustard, and honey. 
  • Further Toppings: Get inventive with further toppings like sliced pink onion, a pinch of salt, crumbled feta or goat cheese, a sprinkling of garlic powder, shaved parmesan cheese, diced bell peppers, or sliced strawberries.

Experiment with totally different combos to create your individual distinctive twist on this recipe.

FAQs

1. Can I make this salad forward of time for meal prep?

Completely. This Crunchy Kale Rooster Salad is ideal for meal prep so long as you don’t mix the elements forward of time

As a substitute, put together all of the elements and retailer them individually in hermetic containers within the fridge. Whenever you’re able to get pleasure from your salad, assemble the whole lot in a big bowl, drizzle with dressing, and toss to mix.

2. How lengthy will this salad final within the fridge?

When saved correctly in an hermetic container within the fridge, this salad will usually final for a day or two. Simply be sure you wait so as to add the dressing till you’re able to eat to forestall the greens from wilting. However actually, this hen kale salad doesn’t style pretty much as good the following day. Eat it the day you make it!

3. Can I take advantage of leftover dressing for different salads?

Sure. Any leftover dressing could be saved in an hermetic container within the fridge for future use. Simply give it a very good shake earlier than utilizing it once more, and be at liberty to apply it to some other salads you make all through the week.

Chicken kale salad with cranberries and walnuts on a white plate.

Rooster Kale Salad Recipe with Cranberries, Walnuts and Avocado

Sarita Harbour

This is my scrumptious and budget-friendly Crunchy Kale Rooster Salad recipe with cranberries, walnuts and avocodo in a creamy poppy seed dressing. Excellent for utilizing up leftovers and maintaining a healthy diet!

Prep Time 20 minutes

Prepare dinner Time 0 minutes

Course Salad

Delicacies American

  • 1 bag of chopped candy kale OR ½ cup every chopped broccoli, inexperienced cabbage, kale, brussel sprouts, and radicchio
  • 2 hen breasts diced
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ¼ teasoon pepper
  • 1 apple diced
  • 1 avocado diced
  • ¼ cup dried cranberries or craisins
  • ¼ cup barely chopped walnuts
  • ¼ cup pumpkin seeds or pepitas
  • 2 tablespoons poppyseed dressing or to style
  • Minimize hen breast into 1 inch items

  • To a medium measurement skillet add 1 tablespoon of olive oil

  • Add raw hen items and season with salt and pepper

  • Prepare dinner over medium-high warmth till cooked by and starting to show golden brown.

  • Set hen apart.

  • Cube apple into 1-inch cubes.

  • Minimize and cube avocado into chew measurement chunks.

  • To Assemble Salad:

  • Add greens, hen, apple items, diced avocado, walnuts and cranberries or craisins. Toss, then prime it off together with your favourite dressing.




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A colorful chicken kale salad recipe presentation.
Colorful chicken and kale salad recipe featuring cranberries, walnuts, apples, and avocados.
A bowl of chicken kale salad with cranberries, apples, avocado, and walnuts.

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