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Home » Type » Salads » Leafy Green Salads » Simple Pear Kale Salad with Candied Almonds and Crumbled Feta

Simple Pear Kale Salad with Candied Almonds and Crumbled Feta

November 30, 2022 by Faith 6 Comments

Jump to Recipe

This satisfying Pear Kale Salad with Candied Almonds and Crumbled Feta pairs sweet and savory flavors with creamy and crunchy textures.

candied almond kale pear salad

This salad is for those of you who love kale, as well as those of you don’t! I’ve had a lot of people ask me for a kale salad that tastes good, and this is it.

Hopefully you dig kale as much as I do, but if not you might enjoy the other components of this salad that you really don’t mind the kale.

With fresh sweet pear, creamy salty feta, and crunchy candied almonds, there’s something for everyone. And this salad lends itself well to substitutions, so you can customize it to suit your tastes!

close up of pear kale salad in white bowl

In This Article

  • Pear Kale Salad Recipe with Feta and Candied Nuts
  • Pro Tip: Best Kale for Kale Salad
  • Variations on This Recipe
  • More Salad Recipes to Try
  • Pear Kale Salad with Candied Almonds and Crumbled Feta

Pear Kale Salad Recipe with Feta and Candied Nuts

This pear salad is a great combination of sweet, salty, creamy, and crunchy.

There isn’t really one star of the show.

Velvety-textured aromatic pear is a nice contrast with the savory earthy flavor and crunchy texture of kale. 

Sweet candied almonds provide nutty crunch and go well with the creamy tang of crumbled feta.

It’s a very flavorful salad, and perfect as lunch for two or as a dinner side dish for four.

It has a very harvest-time fall-ish feel to it, so it would be great if you’re planning an autumnal dinner party.

fresh red pears on marble countertop

Ingredients

  • Apple cider vinegar – adds a bit of tangy flavor to our quick vinaigrette and helps to tenderize the kale
  • Extra-virgin olive oil – this healthy fat is part of our salad dressing
  • Salt and pepper – to season our salad
  • Onion – for savory flavor; its flavor mellows as it sits in the dressing
  • Kale – the leafy green base of our salad
  • Red pear – for creamy sweetness
  • Crumbled feta – adds creamy texture and salty flavor
  • Candied almonds – gives this salad a delicious sweet crunch

Step by Step Instructions

Step 1: Make the Vinaigrette:

Whisk together the vinegar, oil, salt, and pepper in a large bowl, and then toss in the onion. Or you can use store-bought salad dressing to skip this step.

Step 2: Tenderize the Kale:

Stir the kale into the dressing, making sure that it’s coated well in the dressing, and let the salad sit for 15 minutes. This helps tenderize the kale.

Step 3: Add the Goodies and Serve:

Transfer the kale mixture to individual salad bowls. Top each with pear, feta, and candied almonds. Serve!

Pro Tip: Best Kale for Kale Salad

If you want the most tender kale for your salad, Tuscan kale (also called Lacinato kale or dinosaur kale, is a great choice. If you use this type of kale, you can skip the 15 minutes for the kale to tenderize.

fresh kale leaves in wooden box on wooden table

Variations on This Recipe

  • You can use a store-bought salad dressing. I would go for a balsamic vinaigrette!
  • Instead of kale, use any type of leafy greens you like. Swiss chard, Romaine lettuce, and baby spinach are all good options.
  • If pear isn’t your thing, use whatever fruit you like. Sliced apple works well, or use berries, such as blueberries or raspberries.
  • Instead of feta, you can use crumbled goat cheese or Mexican queso fresco. Blue cheese is another great option in this salad with kale and pear.
  • To cut down on the sugar, you can use regular almonds instead of candied almonds. Or use any type of nuts (candied or not) that you like. Walnuts are another favorite of mine because I love them with pear.
pear kale salad with feta

More Salad Recipes to Try

  • Winter Salad Recipe with Kale and Pomegranate
  • Roasted Pear Salad with Marinated Carrot Zucchini Ribbons
  • Chopped Kale Salad
  • Creamy Poppy Seed Kale Slaw with Red Pear, Toasted Pepitas, and Golden Raisins
pear kale salad recipe

Let’s Connect

I love hearing from you!
Did you make this recipe? Please rate it and leave a comment.
You can also tag @anediblemosaic on social media.
To stay up-to-date, follow me on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and Twitter!
xoxo, Faith

pear kale salad featured image

Pear Kale Salad with Candied Almonds and Crumbled Feta

By: Faith Gorsky
This satisfying Pear Kale Salad with Candied Almonds and Crumbled Feta pairs sweet and savory flavors with creamy and crunchy textures.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 10 mins
Cook Time 0 mins
Time for the Kale to Tenderize 15 mins
Course Salad
Cuisine American
Servings 2 servings
Calories 364 kcal

Ingredients
 
 

  • 1 1/2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/8 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1/2 small onion thinly sliced
  • 4 ounces kale de-stemmed, washed, and chopped
  • 1 red pear I used a red Anjou pear, quartered, cored, and thinly sliced
  • 1 1/2 ounces feta crumbled
  • 6 tablespoons candied almonds homemade or store-bought, chopped

Instructions
 

  • Whisk together the vinegar, oil, salt, and pepper in a large bowl, and then toss in the onion.
  • Stir in the kale, making sure that it’s coated well in the dressing, and let the salad sit for 15 minutes to tenderize the kale.
  • Transfer the kale mixture to individual salad bowls. Top each with pear, feta, and candied almonds. Serve.

Faith’s Tips

  • Recipe Yield and Serving Size: This recipe serves 2 as a light meal, or 4 as a first course.
  • What Type of Kale to Use: I used regular curly leaf kale for this recipe, which is why I like to let it sit in the vinaigrette for 15 minutes to tenderize. If you want the most tender kale for your salad, Tuscan kale (also called Lacinato kale or dinosaur kale, is a great choice. If you use this type of kale, you can skip the 15 minutes for the kale to tenderize.

Nutrition

Nutrition Facts
Pear Kale Salad with Candied Almonds and Crumbled Feta
Amount Per Serving
Calories 364 Calories from Fat 180
% Daily Value*
Fat 20g31%
Saturated Fat 5g31%
Polyunsaturated Fat 3g
Monounsaturated Fat 12g
Cholesterol 19mg6%
Sodium 571mg25%
Potassium 396mg11%
Carbohydrates 38g13%
Fiber 4g17%
Sugar 30g33%
Protein 10g20%
Vitamin A 5757IU115%
Vitamin C 56mg68%
Calcium 305mg31%
Iron 2mg11%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Keyword Kale Pear Salad, Pear Kale Salad
Tried this recipe?Let me know how it was!
pear kale salad recipe pin

This post was first published on An Edible Mosaic on October 23, 2014. I updated it with more information on November 30, 2022.

Filed Under: Gluten Free, Leafy Green Salads Tagged: Kale Pear Salad, Pear Kale Salad

Comments

  1. Joan says

    November 14, 2015 at 9:24 pm

    My daughter requested this salad for her birthday this year. We both agreed it’s delicious. Thanks for sharing it.

    Reply
  2. Sonali- The Foodie Physician says

    October 31, 2014 at 11:36 pm

    I’m a huge fan of kale salads and this one looks amazing! I love the addition of pear and goat cheese!

    Reply
  3. Hannah says

    October 25, 2014 at 8:08 pm

    Kale salads are always welcome on my table, especially when they’re so fresh and colorful! I love the idea of adding in some pear for sweetness, it sounds like an excellent addition to balance out the natural bitterness of he greens.

    Reply
  4. Joanne says

    October 25, 2014 at 8:51 am

    I shall never ever tire of kale. Or kale salads. Love the candied nuts in this! They add so much excitement to every bite!

    Reply
  5. Laura (Tutti Dolci) says

    October 23, 2014 at 3:34 pm

    I love pear salads and the candied almonds look so addictive!

    Reply
  6. Katrina @ Warm Vanilla Sugar says

    October 23, 2014 at 3:27 am

    This salad is perfect for fall! Loving the big pear in there. So yummy!

    Reply

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Hello and welcome to An Edible Mosaic! This is my recipe collection of international favorites and updated American classics with an emphasis on seasonal dishes. Here you’ll find a focus on real foods that sustain body and mind, bring people together, and make a house a home.

 

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I’m Faith Gorsky, the writer, cook, and photographer behind An Edible Mosaic. My goal is to inspire you to get in the kitchen and try something new! Feel free to email me with questions or comments.

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affiliate disclosure

An Edible Mosaic is monetized in part though affiliate links, and as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. This means that if you click on an affiliate link and/or purchase an item after clicking on an affiliate link, I may receive a percentage of the sales price. I only recommend products that I love and use. To learn more, please read my Privacy Policy.

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