Winter Kale Salad

Last Updated on April 26, 2026 by Lisa Keys

What will you be serving for holiday dinner? Prime Rib, Roast Turkey, Beef Tenderloin? Whatever your main course I have the perfect side dish to go with it. The merriest Christmas pear winter kale salad featuring fresh USA Pears. It is total "eye candy" and mouthwateringly (is that a word?) delicious.

Last, but certainly not least, this easy recipe is my final entry in the USA Pears Blogger Recipe Challenge Appetizers/Side Dishes category. It could be my favorite entry of all or maybe this pear poundcake is my favorite. Or, I don't know, I really liked this pear crostini and this pear dessert. But then, this pear pad Thai salad. You can't go wrong with recipes featuring fresh USA Pears.

With a bright lemony dressing and dazzling superfood colors, textures and flavors this fresh holiday pear and winter kale salad with be a feast for your eyes and party in your mouth.

Salad Dressing For Kale Salad

Nothing could be easier than filling a screw top jar with the dressing ingredients and giving it a shake, shake, shake. I bet every single ingredient for this bright lemon vinaigrette is already in your kitchen. It's a simple mix of extra-virgin olive oil, fresh lemon juice, honey, salt and pepper.

As for the rest of the ingredients, if you don't like kale or getting your fingers messy (kale requires massaging to make it more tender) then feel free to sub in some other salad greens. If you choose a tender green like fresh spinach or Boston lettuce no massage is required.

And if you can't find manchego cheese try asiago, cheddar or even gorgonzola. Whatever is your favorite will be fine. And go ahead and make this a cranberry kale salad by using dried cranberries in place of pomegranate seeds. It's all good

Winter Kale Salad

Lisa Keys

Festive pear and kale salad with lemon vinaigrette an.d pomegranate

5 from 1 vote

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Prep Time 15 minutes mins

Total Time 15 minutes mins

Course Salad

Cuisine American

Servings 6

Calories 284 kcal

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

Dressing

• ½ cup extra virgin olive oil
• 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice (1 lemon)
• 1 tablespoon honey
• ½ teaspoon fine sea salt
• ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Salad

• 6 cups torn kale leaves
• ¼ cup baby arugula
• 2 USA Pears sliced
• ¼ cup honey glazed sliced almonds or nuts of your choice
• ¼ cup pomegranate seeds
• 2 tablespoons roasted sunflower seeds
• Shards of manchego cheese

Instructions

 

• Combine all dressing ingredients in a jar with a screw top lid; shake to blend.
• Place kale in a large bowl. Drizzle kale with a tablespoon or two of dressing. Massage kale with your hands for 1 to 2 minutes or until it becomes tender and a deeper green in color.
• Pour remaining dressing into a small serving bowl and place in center of a large round serving plate.
• Arrange kale around the bowl on the plate forming a wreath. Top with arugula, sliced pears, almonds, pomegranate seeds and cheese.
• Spoon dressing over salad just before serving. 

Notes

No pomegranate seeds? Substitute dried cranberries.

Nutrition

Calories: 284kcalCarbohydrates: 22gProtein: 3gFat: 22gSaturated Fat: 3gPolyunsaturated Fat: 4gMonounsaturated Fat: 15gTrans Fat: 0.01gSodium: 232mgPotassium: 211mgFiber: 4gSugar: 16gVitamin A: 2.134IUVitamin C: 25mgCalcium: 75mgIron: 1mg

Keyword Christmas, holiday, kale, lemon vinaigrette, salad, side dish

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

Cheers to 2020. May you resolve to eat more pears

For more information and delicious recipes check out the website USA Pears and their social media platforms @usapears.