By Becky Hardin
Published Oct 11, 2018
This Autumn Kale Salad recipe is the salad of the season! Made with kale, apples, onions, pumpkin seeds, bacon, fried goat cheese and a maple pumpkin salad dressing, it is the perfect fall salad idea. This delicious kale apple salad makes a tasty and healthy meal you’ll want to eat all season long!
Autumn Kale Salad Recipe
This seasonal kale salad recipe is the perfect fall salad idea. Kale, apples, fried goat cheese & more tossed with a maple pumpkin autumn salad dressing. Yum!
I’m not usually one to rave about salads, but this kale salad recipe deserves all the praise. I wanted to come up with some tasty fall salad ideas to honor the season, and all of the ingredients in this seemed like the definition of autumn: kale, apples, maple pumpkin dressing, pumpkin seeds. Of course I had to throw them all together to create the perfect autumn salad!
There are a few things that makes this kale apple salad truly amazing. Everything tastes SO good together, and every ingredient is important. But I do have some favorites. Mostly it’s the fried goat cheese discs served on top of the salad, because FRIED CHEESE. I may be eating a healthy salad, but I still want my cheese! And the homemade maple pumpkin dressing is the perfect kale salad dressing of the season. Maple and pumpkin mixed together? It’s such an amazing flavor combination, with just the right balance.
This Autumn Kale Salad recipe works as a side salad to serve with dinner, but it also works as a meal on its own. With all of the hearty ingredients, it’s plenty filling and definitely full of nutrients!
Celebrate the season with this Autumn Kale Salad recipe. Filled with apples, bacon, onions, pumpkin seeds, and more, it’s the perfect fall salad idea!
Fall Salad Ideas
With every season comes different flavors and ingredients. The best food reflects the time of year, so this autumn we need some great fall salad ideas! This kale salad recipe is exactly that. Kale is a hearty green with substance, apples are fresh and crisp this time of year , the toasted pumpkin seeds are a great representation of fall, and it’s all topped off with a maple pumpkin salad dressing.
It’s the perfect mix of autumn flavors, and it brings a real warmth to the stomach. I love this autumn kale apple salad for a nice lunch, because it’s not only delicious, but it’s also filling and full of nutrients!
Kale Apple Salad with Fried Goat Cheese
This kale salad recipe is soooo good. Filled with kale, apples, onions, bacon, pecans and toasted pumpkin seeds, it’s undeniably delicious. But the fried goat cheese is what REALLY makes it amazing for me. It takes it from tasty side salad to full on meal. I love goat cheese because it always adds something special to any recipe, and it’s extra delicious fried up in breadcrumbs. It adds the perfect texture into this fall salad!
Maple Pumpkin Kale Salad Dressing
This kale salad recipe wouldn’t be complete without the perfect kale salad dressing! To finish off this fall salad, we’re using a homemade maple pumpkin salad dressing. It’s a blend of pumpkin puree, cider vinegar, maple syrup, olive oil, Dijon mustard, and herbs & spices. This dressing goes so well with this kale apple salad! You can find the full recipe for this autumn salad dressing here .
How to Make Autumn Kale Salad
This fall salad recipe has a few different components, but overall it’s still an easy thing to throw together. Make the kale salad dressing first, so you can store it in the refrigerator and have it ready when you make the salad. Next, work on the fried goat cheese discs. You’ll need to freeze and cut the goat cheese starting about 30-45 minutes before frying it, so keep that in mind when preparing. Then it’s time to put everything together and finish off the kale salad!
- After washing and preparing the kale, place it in a large bowl.
- Drizzle on a small amount of the maple pumpkin dressing and massage it into the kale.
- Add half the apples slices, crisped bacon, pecans, and toasted pumpkin seeds in, and gently toss the salad.
- Place the remaining ingredients on top before serving.
I recommend serving the kale salad with one fried goat cheese disc per person, along with a side of the dressing to drizzle on. Check the recipe card for full instructions for the salad and to see how to make the fried goat cheese.
This kale salad recipe is the perfect fall salad, complete with apples, fried goat cheese, and a maple pumpkin autumn salad dressing. It’s so delicious, so festive, and healthy too! I know you’re going to love this kale apple salad, and I can’t wait for you to try it. Get ready to fall in love with a salad!
See the recipe card below for details on how to make this Autumn Kale Salad Recipe. Enjoy!
If you like this kale salad recipe, try these other salad recipes too:
- Mandarin Orange Salad Recipe
- Shaved Brussels Sprout Salad with Dijon Vinaigrette
- Tequila Lime Salmon Salad
- Strawberry Salad with Poppy Seed Dressing
- Classic Caesar Salad Recipe
- Waldorf Salad Recipe
Ingredients1x2x3x
For the Fried Goat Cheese:
- ▢ 11- ounce goat cheese log
- ▢ ¼ cup all-purpose flour
- ▢ 2 eggs lightly beaten
- ▢ 1 tablespoon water
- ▢ ¾ cup Seasoned Panko Breadcrumbs
- ▢ Olive oil or Mediterranean Blend oil for frying
For the Pumpkin Maple Dressing:
▢ Maple Pumpkin Dressing Click for Recipe
▢ 8 Fried goat cheese discs
▢ 6 cups loosely-packed kale; washed ribs removed & torn into small pieces
▢ 2 crisp apples washed & cut into slices
▢ ½ red onion very thinly sliced
▢ 6 slices bacon cut into 1/8-inch slices & crisped
▢ ½ cup honey roasted pecans
▢ ¼ cup toasted pumpkin seeds
Instructions
For the Fried Goat Cheese:
- Freeze the cheese log 20-30 minutes before cutting. Line a small baking sheet with parchment paper and spray the paper with non-stick cooking spray. When the cheese is cold, use floss to “cut” the log into ¼” rounds and, if necessary, reshape the cheese slices into smooth circles. Place the cheese rounds on the parchment-lined baking sheet and place in the freezer 10-15 minutes before frying.
- When ready to fry, pour enough oil in a small, heavy-bottom pan/skillet to come halfway up the cheese circles. Heat the oil, over medium heat, to 340°F-350°F.
- Place the flour, the eggs whisked with water and the Panko in separate bowls and set the bowls next to each other.
- Press a cheese round in the flour (both sides), then in the egg/water mixture and then in the Panko breadcrumbs. Place it in the hot oil, and, once the bottom, pan-side of the round is crispy and golden, turn the cheese over to fry the other side. Repeat with all cheese rounds, working in batches, until all are fried.
- Transfer cooked rounds to a paper towel-lined plate and set aside.
For the Pumpkin Maple Dressing:
See recipe
Place the prepared kale in a large bowl and drizzle with 2 tablespoons Pumpkin Maple Dressing. With clean hands, gently massage the kale with the dressing, for a few minutes, until each kale piece is coated and has softened just a little.
Add half the apples, half the bacon, half the pecans and half of the pumpkin seeds.
Toss the salad gently.
Top with the remaining half of each ingredient. Serve with one Fried Goat Cheese disc per person and extra Pumpkin Maple Dressing (on the side).
Enjoy!
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Autumn Kale Salad with Apples and Fried Goat Cheese
Ingredients
For the Fried Goat Cheese:
- 11- ounce goat cheese log
- ¼ cup all-purpose flour
- 2 eggs lightly beaten
- 1 tablespoon water
- ¾ cup Seasoned Panko Breadcrumbs
- Olive oil or Mediterranean Blend oil for frying
For the Pumpkin Maple Dressing:
Maple Pumpkin Dressing Click for Recipe
8 Fried goat cheese discs
6 cups loosely-packed kale; washed ribs removed & torn into small pieces
2 crisp apples washed & cut into slices
½ red onion very thinly sliced
6 slices bacon cut into 1/8-inch slices & crisped
½ cup honey roasted pecans
¼ cup toasted pumpkin seeds
Instructions
For the Fried Goat Cheese:
- Freeze the cheese log 20-30 minutes before cutting. Line a small baking sheet with parchment paper and spray the paper with non-stick cooking spray. When the cheese is cold, use floss to “cut” the log into ¼” rounds and, if necessary, reshape the cheese slices into smooth circles. Place the cheese rounds on the parchment-lined baking sheet and place in the freezer 10-15 minutes before frying.
- When ready to fry, pour enough oil in a small, heavy-bottom pan/skillet to come halfway up the cheese circles. Heat the oil, over medium heat, to 340°F-350°F.
- Place the flour, the eggs whisked with water and the Panko in separate bowls and set the bowls next to each other.
- Press a cheese round in the flour (both sides), then in the egg/water mixture and then in the Panko breadcrumbs. Place it in the hot oil, and, once the bottom, pan-side of the round is crispy and golden, turn the cheese over to fry the other side. Repeat with all cheese rounds, working in batches, until all are fried.
- Transfer cooked rounds to a paper towel-lined plate and set aside.
For the Pumpkin Maple Dressing:
See recipe
Place the prepared kale in a large bowl and drizzle with 2 tablespoons Pumpkin Maple Dressing. With clean hands, gently massage the kale with the dressing, for a few minutes, until each kale piece is coated and has softened just a little.
Add half the apples, half the bacon, half the pecans and half of the pumpkin seeds.
Toss the salad gently.
Top with the remaining half of each ingredient. Serve with one Fried Goat Cheese disc per person and extra Pumpkin Maple Dressing (on the side).
Enjoy!
Nutrition
By Becky Hardin
Published Jul 12, 2017
This Essential Grocery List is an absolute life saver for my family on the busy weeks. When I started this journey to learn how to cook, I quickly realized that the first step in cooking is having staple ingredients on hand. I want to avoid having to run out to the grocery store every single time I prepare a new recipe. Having a well-stocked pantry has made my life in the kitchen so much simpler, because when it’s time to cook, I have what I need.
Essential Grocery List
It’s so helpful to have a basic grocery list to help me remember which foods to buy at the store. This food shopping list is my go-to!
It’s better to stock up on things like grains, seasonings and spices, baking essentials, oils, condiments, canned and frozen foods, etc. so I can just grab them when I need them. These things have a long shelf life , so I keep them in my kitchen for convenience.
However, I do have to go to the supermarket sometimes, and there’s a way to make that trip easy and hassle-free: I keep a grocery list! If I go in blindly, I’ll leave with things I don’t need, and nothing that actually helps me prepare a good meal.
In the list below, I’ve compiled everything I always have on my stock-up grocery list.
I’ve got you covered! I created an easy grocery list filled with all of the essentials. Plus there’s a free printable version that you can take with you to the grocery store. It has everything you need to stock your pantry, your freezer, and your refrigerator.
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List
What to Buy at the Grocery Store
This is the perfect grocery list filled with all the basics and essentials. It should help get you going if you’re new to cooking, or if you’re just left staring helplessly at an empty pantry and don’t know how to fill it.
When I first started cooking, things could seem overwhelming. I quickly realized that they more prepared I could be, the more confident I felt. If you already have the basics in your kitchen, then you can shop stress-free.
So print out our easy grocery list, stock up your pantry and fridge, and you’ll be cooking in no time!
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Fresh Produce
- Apples
- Bananas
- Strawberries
- Avocados
- Bell Peppers
- Carrots
- Broccoli
- Garlic
- Lemons/Limes
- Onion
- Parsley
- Cilantro
- Basil
- Potatoes
- Spinach
- Tomatoes
GRAINS
- Breadcrumbs
- Pasta
- Quinoa
- Rice
- Sandwich Bread
- Tortillas
MEAT/PROTEIN
- Chicken
- Eggs
- Ground Beef
- Sliced Turkey
- Lunch Meat
DAIRY
- Butter
- Sliced Cheese
- Shredded Cheese
- Milk
- Sour Cream
- Greek Yogurt
BAKING GOODS
- Baking powder
- Baking Soda
- Granulated Sugar
- Brown Sugar
- Flour
- Honey
- Vanilla Extract
- Dry Yeast
- Chocolate Chips
- Cocoa Powder
- Powdered Sugar
FREEZER
- Fruit and Berries
- Frozen Veggies (Corn, Peas, Broccoli, etc)
- Juice Concentrate
- Pizza or Other Convenience Meals
- Pie Crust
- Cookie Dough
CANNED/DRIED GOODS
- Chicken stock/broth
- Salsa
- Diced Tomatoes
- Jam/Jelly
- Peanut Butter
- Pasta Sauce
- Beans (Black Beans, Chickpeas, Baked Beans, etc)
- Soups
- Tuna
- Green Chiles
- Canned Veggies
- Coffee or Tea
Get more details on the best non-perishable and pantry foods
CONDIMENTS/SPICES
- Black Pepper
- Chili Powder
- Cinnamon
- Crushed Red Pepper
- Cumin
- Garlic Powder
- Ketchup
- Mustard
- Mayo
- Nutmeg
- Paprika
- Salt (Course Sea Salt and Kosher Salt)
- Soy Sauce
- Steak Sauce
- Hot Sauce/ Buffalo Sauce
- Salad Dressings
OILS/VINEGARS
- Apple cider vinegar
- Balsamic vinegar
- Coconut Oil
- Olive Oil
- Vegetable/Canola Oil
- Red Wine Vinegar
- White Vinegar
- Cooking Wine
- White Wine Vinegar
SNACKS
- Crackers
- Nuts
- Quick Oats
- Popcorn
- Tortilla Chips
- Cereal
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Click ☝🏻 for my FREE Grocery List Printable!
I hope this essential grocery list can help you buy what you need and make your home cooking so much easier!
Stock Your Kitchen
Find more ideas for your grocery list, stock up your kitchen, and print more cooking guides and charts to keep handy!
Non-Perishable Foods to Stock Up On
Frozen Vegetables to Stock Up On (and Recipes to Make)
Ultimate List of Cooking Herbs for Your Kitchen
Ultimate List of Cooking Spices for Your Kitchen
Cooking Oil 101: Types of Cooking Oils to Use
26 Types of Pasta and When to Use Them
What Fruits and Vegetables are in Season?
Meat Temperature Chart (Free Printable)
How to Meal Prep (Guide for Beginners)
Basic Cooking Measurements & Kitchen Conversion Chart
