Kale and Chard Green Power Salad
I spent some time with my family this weekend, and as per usual, my grandpa sent me home with some home grown goodies. During the winter his trees are bursting with tons of citrus like tangerines, grapefruits and lemons and my car gets loaded up with plenty of gorgeous fruit, but this time around I came home with a huge bag of Swiss chard. He must have known I’ve been craving greens lately. This Kale and Chard Green Power Salad with Maple Vinaigrette definitely satisfied that craving.
I’ve been craving greens in the worst way. I am pretty sure I felt the same way this time last year, because I remember making and eating a super salad like this one every day for lunch for almost a month. I have to say, I’ve never tried Swiss chard raw in a salad before, at least not that I remember. I usually eat it sauteed in olive oil with lots of garlic, in soup or in tomato sauce over pasta. Swiss chard is one of my favorite greens, and I have a hard time resisting picking it up every time I pass by it at the produce market. As excited as I am to have so much Swiss chard in my possession (only half is shown in the picture above), I’m slightly concerned I may run out of ideas of how to cook it up in the next week.
Have you tried Swiss chard? What’s your favorite way to cook it up?
This salad is riff off a classic that you’ve surely seen before. It’s been made with spinach, even with kale alone, but this time I bulked it up with even more nutrition from the raw chard. What makes this salad a little more special is the maple vinaigrette. I normally use honey to sweeten up my homemade vinaigrettes, but this time around I thought the maple would really complement the heavy greens, walnuts and blue cheese, and you know what – it did. It added such a warm mellow sweetness to the salad, and with a little extra brightness from the sweet paprika added I threw in at the last minute.
I am picturing this salad topped with a nice piece of broiled spicy-sweet salmon as a perfect “entree” salad. That might just have to happen for dinner tonight.
Enjoy!
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PinIngredients
For the salad:
- lacinato kale, thinly sliced
- Swiss chard, thinly sliced
- crumbled blue cheese
- chopped walnuts
- dried cranberries
- thinly sliced or chopped apple (I used Pink Lady – so crisp and perfectly sweet)
Maple Vinaigrette
Instructions
- Combine your greens in a bowl. Pour a couple of tablespoons of Maple Vinaigrette over your greens and toss to combine. Massage gently with your hands, or let sit for a few minutes to tenderize the greens.
- Add your blue cheese crumbles, walnuts, cranberries and apple to salad, gently toss and drizzle additional vinaigrette if desired.
More kale and chard recipes to enjoy:
Sesame Noodles with Edamame and Kale
Winter Kale Salad with Meyer Lemon Vinaigrette
Citrus Sesame Kale | Oh My Veggies
Chopped Kale Salad with Pomegranate & Avocado | Cookin’ Canuck
Swiss Chard with White Beans in Tomato Sauce over Pasta
Swiss Chard, Mozzarella & Feta Egg Bake | Kalyn’s Kitchen
Quick Chicken Soup with Carrots, Beans & Chard | Everyday Maven
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That dressing sounds amazing!!!! Healthy and yummy!!
Oh good gosh, YES.
Yes please!!! I want greens at all times. Every day.
I’m not a huge chard fan, but this salad look like it’s worth a try…I’ll be at your house at 630 to give it a try (wink)!!! I use maple syrup in everything, just ordered my gallon from the local maple syrup farm!
This salad looks spectacular! I’m always making the same old salad over and over every day and getting terribly bored with it. I’m definitely going to have to make this. Yum!
So fresh and so good! I have been eating a lot of kale lately and love it.
The maple vinaigrette – I love it! This salad is great, Aggie!
We love swiss chard! It’s nice to have this green dish in the midst of all the chocolate this week. Yum!
That looks like a wonderful salad and the vinaigrette sounds great, too!
The maple vinaigrette sounds divine – yum!
Gorgeous salad and photos. I just got some chard and kale in my latest CSA – I am making this salad tomorrow!!
Your grandpa sounds super cool. How nice that he has his own produce to share! I’ve taken my kids plum picking at my father’s house and it’s such a beautiful experience- the generations together, picking fruits or veggies…especially if you eat them together, too! Recipe looks delish.
I love chard–and am sad that the extreme cold temps last month seem to have done in my really old plants. Ah, well. I love Swiss chard on pizza, creamed, or with salmon Swiss chard artichoke dip.
But this salad–Aggie, your photos are making me drool.
Thanks!
I love fruit and vegetable salads. That’s a winning combination and the dressing really sounds interesting.
I love fruit and vegetable salads. That’s a winning combination and the dressing really sounds interesting.
I’ve never had chard raw before, I’ll have to pick up some when I go to the farmer’s market and try this out! Great healthy idea!
I love that your grandpa sends you home with fruits and veggies. And no I haven’t tried Swiss Chard, though I now cannot wait to! As always your salads are amazing and can’t wait to try this one. You are an inspiration GirlFriend!!!
I love the flavors in that vinaigrette! Sounds like something that would make me crave salad – even in these chilly months we have here in NJ!
I know what you mean about craving greens. I am completely and totally hooked on this kale salad kit from Costco and have been wanting to find a good recipe to make at home myself. This looks wonderful Aggie! Pinning.
Yum! This is beautiful and colorful and delicious–perfect combo!
Looks delicious- even better- a perfect way to balance all these sinful Valentine’s treats I’m seeing-
That is an awesome salad Aggie! One of my favorite dinners is a robust green salad like this with grilled shrimp or salmon 🙂
Thanks for linking to my soup!
I have not used Swiss chard much, but you make it look so good I am going to give it a try!
I just picked up rainbow shard. was going to make a stir fry but this looks really tempting.
this is my FAVORITE kind of salad. ever. so easy and so fresh!!
Boy I would love to have a garden full of that stuff. Looks like a great salad!
I love chard, but I’ve never had it in a salad before. You always have the best healthy meal ideas!
This salad is fabulous! The maple vinaigrette sounds so good!
i haven’t had a chance to make this yet but your recipe – especially the dressnig sounds divine! I’ve included you in a round up of the 25 tastiest kale recipes I could find on the interwebs. It lives here: http://www.creativegreenliving.com/2013/02/25-great-ways-to-eat-kale.html
Thanks again for the great recipe!
Full Circle just delivered my groceries with a bag full of chard. I’ve never used it in a salad, but why not? The leaves are certainly tender enough for a salad. I’m looking forward to giving this a try.
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I may be late to this party but this salad is five stars! Â My hubs and I loved the vinagrette.