Description
A hearty and flavorful salad featuring roasted sweet potatoes, crisp kale, tart apples, smoky bacon, and a tangy apple cider vinaigrette. Perfect as a side dish, light lunch, or potluck favorite, this Kale Sweet Potato Salad is as nutritious as it is delicious.
Ingredients
For the Salad:
- 1 sweet potato, peeled and diced
- ½ red onion, diced
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- Salt, to taste
- Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- 4 strips of bacon
- 1 bunch of kale, stems removed
- 1 Granny Smith apple, cored and diced
- 2 green onions, sliced
For the Dressing:
- ¼ cup apple cider vinegar
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 1 tablespoon honey (or to taste)
- ¼ cup bacon grease (or substitute with olive oil)
- Salt, to taste
- Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Optional Topping:
- ½ cup raw, unsalted sunflower seeds
Instructions
- Prep and Roast the Vegetables:
- Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C).
- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Toss the diced sweet potato and red onion with olive oil, salt, and pepper in a bowl.
- Spread the vegetables on the baking sheet in a single layer and roast for 20 minutes, or until the sweet potatoes are fork-tender. Let cool.
- Cook the Bacon:
- Cook the bacon in a skillet over medium heat until crispy (about 5–8 minutes).
- Remove the bacon and crumble into small pieces. Reserve ¼ cup of bacon grease for the dressing.
- Prep the Kale:
- Wash and dry the kale thoroughly.
- Remove tough stems and chop into bite-sized pieces.
- Place the kale in a large salad bowl.
- Add the Salad Ingredients:
- To the bowl of kale, add the roasted sweet potatoes, onions, diced apple, green onions, and half of the crumbled bacon.
- Make the Dressing:
- In a small jar or bowl, combine bacon grease (or olive oil), apple cider vinegar, Dijon mustard, honey, salt, and pepper.
- Shake or whisk until well combined.
- Assemble the Salad:
- Drizzle the dressing over the salad and toss to coat evenly.
- Garnish with the remaining bacon and sunflower seeds if desired.
- Serve:
- Serve immediately as a side dish or light main course.
Notes
- Massage the Kale: To soften kale, massage it with a pinch of salt and a drizzle of olive oil for 2-3 minutes before assembling the salad.
- Customize Toppings: Swap sunflower seeds for pumpkin seeds, chopped nuts, or dried cranberries.
- Vegetarian Option: Omit bacon and use olive oil or avocado oil in the dressing.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Salads
- Method: Roasting and Tossing
- Cuisine: American