Say hello to your new fav fall salad! Crunchy Kale Salad with Sweet Potato Fries and Avocado is fresh veg loaded with kale and roasted sweet potato fries that are tossed in a tangy vinaigrette and topped with creamy avocado, boiled eggs, toasted pepitas and feta. It’s a hearty mountain of flavor, nutrients and deliciousness!
Fries? Or salad? Fries? Salad? Or how about both?! This Crunchy Kale Salad has it all! I love this fall veggie combo of hearty kale with crunchy roasted sweet potato fries. And then add in some creamy avocado for a harmonious pairing of some very simple ingredients. The dressing, eggs, pepitas and feta just bring it all to the next level.
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, kale in salads has never been a go-to for me. I would’ve given up on this hearty green, but it’s just so darn pretty to look at! So I’m always hell bent on finding ways to love it and right now I’m ALL about loving it! And as far as salads go, I discovered a few tricks for making kale taste absolutely delicious. For me, it’s all about how you prepare the kale, as well as creating a balance of hearty ingredients and tossing it with the perfect dressing.
Kale is tough. So chewing a fork full of tough kale is….not pleasant. A lot of people say to ‘massage’ kale to make it more tender, which works great but who has time for that? Instead, all you need to do is thinly slice it and toss it with an acidic vinaigrette. The more you cut into the kale the more you break down those tough fibers. And adding an acid such as lemon or vinegar also helps to tenderize the kale making it much easier to chew. The acid will also help to cut the harsh bitter taste. So, this acid step is a MUST in my book.
What You Need for This Crunchy Kale Salad:
- EVOO
- Sweet potatoes – You’ll need about 2 or 3 medium potatoes cut into about 1/4 to 1/2 inch sticks.
- Smoked paprika – I love smoky paprika on sweet potatoes. I you don’t have any, use regular paprika as a substitute. Or skip it all together and they’ll still taste great.
- Garlic Powder – This gives the fries a nice garlicky seasoning.
- Kale – I used lacinato kale. Any curly kale will work great as well. To slice the kale, gather a few leaves (stems removed) and roll into a tight bunch. Then thinly slice. Chop a few more times in the opposite direction to break down the strips even further.
- Hard-boiled eggs – If you’re not into hard-boiled eggs, add in some beans for protein.
- Avocados – Don’t skip!!! It makes for such a tasty bite when paired with the kale and sweet potatoes.
- Toasted pepitas – Toasted sunflower seeds, walnuts or almonds would taste great too.
- Feta – The tanginess of feta pairs so well in this salad.
- Fresh lemon juice
- White wine vinegar
- Dijon mustard
- Cumin
- Salt
If you make this Crunchy Kale Salad with Sweet Potato Fries and Avocado make sure to leave a comment or give it a rating! And if you’re into taking photos of your food (like me), be sure to give me a tag on Instagram!
Crunchy Kale Salad with Sweet Potato Fries & Avocado
- Prep Time: 15 Minutes
- Cook Time: 20 Minutes
- Total Time: 35 minutes
- Yield: About 4 Main Salad Servings 1x
- Category: Salad
- Cuisine: American
Description
Fresh veggie loaded with kale and roasted sweet potato fries that are tossed in a tangy vinaigrette and topped with creamy avocado, boiled eggs, toasted pepitas and feta. It’s a hearty mountain of flavor, nutrients and deliciousness!
Ingredients
Sweet Potato Fries:
2 to 3 medium sweet potatoes, cut into 1/4 to 1/2 inch wide sticks
2 Tbsp. EVOO
1 tsp. smoked paprika
1/2 tsp. garlic powder
Kale Salad:
1 large bunch kale, stems removed and thinly sliced
4 eggs, hard-boiled
2 large avocados, cubed
1/3 c. toasted pepitas
5 oz. feta, crumbled
Vinaigrette:
1/4 c. EVOO
1 lemon, juiced (about 2 Tbsp.)
1 Tbsp. white wine vinegar
1 tsp. dijon mustard
1 tsp. maple syrup
1/2 tsp. cumin
Instructions
- To make the fries, toss the sweet potatoes with the EVOO, paprika, and garlic powder on a parchment lined baking sheet/s. Arrange the fries evenly and bake at 425 to 20 to 30 minutes.
- Meanwhile, make the vinaigrette by whisking together the EVOO, lemon juice, vinegar, mustard, maple syrup, cumin and salt.
- Arrange the kale and sweet potato fries in a serving bowl. Add the vinaigrette and toss to lightly coat. Top with the boiled eggs, avocados, pepitas and feta. Enjoy!
Keywords: kale, salad, sweet potato fries, fall salad, feta, pepitas, pumpkin seeds
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