Kale Slaw with Apples, Carrots and Raisins

This simple Kale Slaw with Apples, Carrots and Raisins is delicious, colourful, and healthy.   It is also quick and easy to make.  With only a few ingredients and about 15-20 minutes, this fresh, light, salad or slaw is ready to eat.  It is a beautiful combination of flavours.

Kale, apple, carrots, raisins and chives on a cutting board
Prepping kale, apple, carrots, raisins and chives.

Kale is easy to grow!

Kale grows beautifully in Pacific Northwest gardens where it overwinters and will be one of the first vegetables to start growing again in the spring.  As it grows, enjoy the young leaves while they are very tender and sweet.  There are many varieties and I really enjoy this Tuscan variety which has a mild taste. Although this slaw reminds me of a fall dish with the apples and carrots, I like it best in the spring, made with the young kale leaves.

Kale plant in a garden
Tuscan Kale plant

Kale:  Love it or joke about it?

There are a lot of jokes about kale.  Are you a person who likes kale or prefers their “kale” without the k?

Kale is vegetable that really needs flavour added to it. One thing that improves the taste is to really massage flavour into the leaves.  This softens the leaves to make them tender and brings out the natural sweetness.  Massaging the kale with salt, oil and apple cider vinegar until they are bright green is the most important step.

Kale Slaw with Apples, Carrots and Raisins in a bowl
Kale Slaw with Apples, Carrots and Raisins

Another kale recipe my family enjoys is this Caesar Salad (with Kale and Romaine)  It is a creamy style with smoked paprika croutons.

I love how colourful this simple salad slaw is and how tangy it is with the easy dressing.  I hope you enjoy it too!  Hearing from my readers brightens my day and I welcome your questions or comments.  If you try this recipe please let me know how it goes and rate it by hitting those rating stars or tag me on social media.

Kale Slaw with Apples,Carrots and Raisins in a pretty bowl
5 from 4 votes
Print

Kale Slaw with Apples, Carrots and Raisins

Course Salad
Cuisine American
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 0 minutes
Servings 4 people
Author makinghealthychoicesca

Ingredients

  • 1 bunch kale
  • 1-2 carrots
  • 1 apple
  • 1/2 cup raisins
  • 1/4 cup chives
  • 1 tbsp olive oil extra virgin
  • 1 tsp apple cider vinegar
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 1 tbsp lemon juice
  • 1 tsp honey
  • salt and pepper

Instructions

  1. Wash and tear or chop up kale leaves, removing large stems. Place in a medium size bowl and sprinkle with apple cider vinegar, 1 tsp olive oil, and 1/4 tsp salt. With clean hands, massage the kale until it is shiny and bright green. Set aside while you prepare the dressing and the rest of the ingredients.

  2. In a large bowl, add the remaining 2 tsp olive oil, lemon juice, honey and salt and pepper. Mix well.

  3. Grate the carrots, dice the apple and mince the chives and add everything to the dressing and toss.

  4. Add the raisins and kale and toss together well. Sprinkle with a little salt and serve.

This recipe was first published on April 29, 2015 and was updated (rewritten and photographed) on April 26, 2020.

Kale Slaw with Apples, Carrots and Raisins collage
Kale Slaw with Apples, Carrots and Raisins

Caesar Salad (with Kale and Romaine)

Caesar Salad

 I recently attended a special dinner at a new creative local restaurant and tried the Kale Caesar salad.  It was delicious!   I loved the smoked paprika on the croutons which gave the salad a smoky flavour…kind of like bacon.   Adding a variety of lettuce and greens to a salad just makes it more interesting (and nutritious) too!

 My kids love this salad dressing.  It alone is the reason they eat more greens!  My daughter even uses it on a cabbage salad she makes.  She calls it Caesar Slaw.

Enjoy!

Caesar Salad Dressing

1/2 cup yogurt

2 tbsp olive oil

1/2 hard boiled egg

1/4 cup water

2 tbsp Parmesan cheese or more to taste

4 tsp lemon juice or to taste

1 tbsp red wine vinegar

2 cloves garlic

1/2 tsp Dijon mustard

1/2 tsp Worcestershire sauce

salt and pepper

Combine all ingredients in food processor or blender and blend until smooth.

 

Whole grain croutons

Rub whole grain bread with a cut garlic clove, brush with olive oil, and sprinkle with smoked paprika.   Cut in cubes and toss, bake at 350 until toasted on the outside but still soft on the inside, about 10 minutes.

 

Mix of Romaine lettuce and Kale (tender, small leaves work well)

Toss lettuce, kale and dressing in a large bowl until lightly coated.   Add croutons and sprinkle lightly with Parmesan cheese.   Serve immediately.

 

The Caesar salad dressing is adapted from Looneyspoons Low Fat Foods Made Fun.