kale quinoa and apple salad

Lunch

Kale Quinoa & Apple Salad

This kale, quinoa and apple salad is perfect for fall. Fresh apples bring crisp autumn flavor, and the kale breaks down when it's massaged with the dressing. Nuts, fennel and quinoa add more layers of texture, while blue cheese lends a savory note.

Ingredients

2 tablespoons cider vinegar
1 tablespoon pure maple syrup
½ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon ground pepper
¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil
1 large bunch curly kale, stemmed and thinly sliced (about 8 cups)
2 medium honeycrisp or gala apples, unpeeled, roughly chopped
1 medium fennel bulb, cored and thinly sliced (3 cups)
2 cups cooked quinoa, at room temperature or chilled
½ cup slivered almonds, toasted (see tip)
⅓ cup dried cherries
¼ cup crumbled blue cheese

Directions

Whisk vinegar, maple syrup, salt and pepper together in a large bowl. Slowly drizzle in oil, whisking until combined. Add kale and massage into the dressing with clean hands until well coated and slightly tender, 3 to 5 minutes. Add apples, fennel and quinoa; toss until combined. Divide among 4 plates and top with almonds, cherries and blue cheese.