Cashew Crunch Salad With Sesame Dressing

This Cashew Crunch Salad with Sesame Dressing is a kale-based salad with a creamy sesame dressing. Cashew kale salad has almost an Asian flavor profile with sesame, pepper, scallions, and sesame seeds.

A delicious cashew kale salad with creamy sesame dressing

Salads don’t have to be boring. In fact, I don’t think they should be… ever! With all of the ingredient combinations and toppings out there, they’re a great way to enjoy a meal that’s filling and satisfying and packed to the brim with flavor. Not to mention all of the nutrients they provide!

This cashew crunch salad with sesame dressing is one of my favorites. It’s a kale-based salad with a creamy sesame dressing. It has almost an Asian flavor profile with sesame, peppers, scallions, and sesame seeds.

It begins with a kale, onion, red pepper, and carrot base, and we sneak in scallions and avocados for even more flavor and nutrients! Then, it’s finished off with cashews and sesame seeds and dressed with a delicious tahini and lemon juice homemade dressing.

Ingredients in cashew crunch salad with sesame dressing

The ingredients for this dish are made of two parts: the salad and the dressing. We’ll use a lot of veggies for the salad base, and then we’ll use items like tahini, lemon juice, and maple syrup to create the savory, tangy, and sweet dressing.

Salad

• Kale: The base of the salad will begin with 2 large bunches of lacinato kale.
• Salt: Next, we’ll add 1 tsp of salt for flavor.
• Red onion: Onion is always a great salad addition. Use 1/2 of a red onion, sliced thin.
• Pepper: Next up, we’ll add 1 thinly sliced red bell pepper.
• Carrots: We’ll add some crunch with 1 cup of shredded carrots.
• Scallions: Then, we’ll follow the carrots with 1 bunch of chopped scallions.
• Avocados: For some healthy fats, we’ll use 2 avocados. They’ll need to be diced before adding to the salad.
• Cashews: Add the star ingredient, cashews, in the amount of 1 cup! I recommend a roasted and salted version, chopped.
• Sesame seeds: Last but not least for the salad ingredients will be 3 tbsp of sesame seeds.

Dressing

• Tahini: First up for the dressing is 1/3 cup of tahini.
• Water: Next, 1/4 cup of water will be used to help the dressing reach the correct consistency.
• Lemon juice: We’ll add a bit of tangy flavor with 2 tbsp of lemon juice.
• Maple syrup: Sweeten things up a bit with 1 tbsp of maple syrup.
• Sesame oil: Next, 2 tsp of sesame oil will add some extra oomph.
• Garlic: 1 clove of minced garlic will contribute even more flavor.
• Salt: Last but not least, we’ll include 1/2 tsp of salt.

Tools you’ll need to make this homemade kale salad

To make this recipe, you will need 4 main kitchen tools in addition to a handful of measuring cups. Before you get started, gather the following:

• Cutting board
• Cutting knife
• Mixing bowl
• Whisk
• Measuring cups: 1/2 tsp, 1 tsp, 1 tbsp, 1/4 cup, 1/3 cup, and 1 cup

How to make a cashew crunch salad with sesame dressing

When it comes to making this kale cashew salad, the steps are quite easy. The most labor-intensive part involves prepping the kale, which is a great indicator that you’ll have this dish in front of you and ready to enjoy in no time!

Start by washing and drying the kale, and then remove the stems and chop the leaves into small pieces. Once chopped, add 1 tsp of salt to the kale and massage it well to break it down. Set aside.

Prepare the dressing by whisking together the dressing ingredients in the order listed. Set aside.

To the kale mixture, add the sliced onion, red pepper, carrots, and scallions. Then, add the avocado, cashews, and sesame seeds.

Pour the dressing over the salad and toss until well combined. Top with more cashew pieces and sesame seeds if desired.

Optional mix-ins

Salads are one of the dishes that allow you to get extra creative in the kitchen. When it comes to this cashew salad, you can mix and match so many different ingredients! If you’re looking to add extra items to your salad, here are a few ideas you can try:

• Chickpeas
• Bacon
• Pumpkin seeds
• Feta cheese
• Blue cheese

If course, you can always add extra protein by including some grilled chicken on top!

Storing leftovers

This recipe yields 8 servings, making it a pretty hefty dish! If you need to store extras for later, place them in an airtight container before transferring to the fridge.

A pre-dressed salad will keep for about a day. If you store the dressing separately, you can enjoy the leftovers for about 3 days! I definitely recommend the latter option.

If you liked this recipe, you’ll want to try these!

Dive into some more delicious salad recipes with these yummy options. The Chicken Cobb Salad is always a hit!

• Grilled Veggie and Shrimp Orzo Salad
• Chicken Cobb Salad with Avocado Dressing
• Grilled Steak and Peach Salad
• Fresh Watermelon Salad with Feta

Recipe by Erin Morrissey and Photos by The Mindful Hapa