This Sweet Potato Winter Salad is loaded with beautiful colors, seasonal flavors, and an amazing contrast in textures. It's the perfect salad for special occasions.

Jump to:

• ❤️ Why You'll Love This Winter Salad Recipe
• 🛒 Ingredients for Sweet Potato Winter Salad
• 🔪 How to Make a Winter Salad
• 💡 Top Tips
• ☑️ Storage Instructions
• 🍴 What to Serve with Sweet Potato Salad
• 🔄 Substitutions and Additions
• Is This Salad Good for You?
• Can I Make This Salad in Advance?
• What's the Best Way to Get the Seeds from a Pomegranate?
• Can I Use Frozen Kale for this Salad?
• 🍽️ More Salad Recipes

❤️ Why You'll Love This Winter Salad Recipe

• Caramelized roasted sweet potato chunks
• Kale tenderized with homemade Dijon honey vinaigrette
• Sweet, juicy pomegranate seeds and crisp green apples
• Creamy goat cheese, red onion slivers and toasted pecans
• A healthy salad with amazing contrast in textures
• A perfect special occasion salad

This recipe was inspired by the salad from Natasha's Kitchen that I absolutely fell in love with, so I decided to make my own version by changing up a few things. This amazing kale and tender sweet potato salad is a complete symphony of textures and flavors.

With the addition of creamy goat cheese, red onions, crispy apple slices, and crunchy pecans, this recipe is salad perfection. It's tossed with a sweet and tangy homemade Dijon honey vinaigrette that provides the ultimate balance of flavors.

This simple yet delicious salad is a celebration of winter all in one bowl. Be prepared, though; once you try it, you'll want to make it all year around.

Sweet potatoes are an important ingredient in this salad. They not only provide bites of creaminess; they also add subtle sweetness. For other sweet potato recipes, you should also try these Air Fryer Sweet Potatoes or this Sweet Potato and Chickpea Curry.

🛒 Ingredients for Sweet Potato Winter Salad

• Kale
• Sweet potato
• Green apple
• Goat cheese
• Toasted pecans
• Pomegranate seeds
• Red onion
• Butter
• Olive oil
• Apple cider vinegar
• Honey
• Dijon mustard
• Garlic
• Dried thyme
• Salt
• Ground black pepper

*Exact measurements are listed in the recipe card below.

🥣 Recommended Tools

• Baking sheet
• Mixing bowl
• Salad bowl

🔪 How to Make a Winter Salad

To Roast the Sweet Potatoes

Preheat the oven to 425°F.

Wash, peel, and cut your sweet potatoes into bite-size cubes.

Add the sweet potatoes to a mixing bowl, and drizzle the olive oil, melted butter, honey, salt, and pepper over the top. Toss until well combined and all the cubes are well coated.

Pour them onto a baking sheet that’s been brushed or sprayed with olive oil.

Bake for 15-18 minutes, or until they are cooked through and tender. 

Set them aside to cool before adding them to the salad.

To Make the Dressing

Add the dressing ingredients to a bullet blender cup, or you can use a bowl and a whisk. Blend until well combined and the dressing is emulsified, then set aside while you assemble the salad.

To Assemble the Salad

Wash, dry, and chop your kale. I like to use a salad spinner to make it easier.

Add the kale to a large salad bowl and pour half of the dressing over the top.  Massage the dressing into the kale.  This helps to tenderize it and also gives it great flavor.

Add the cooled sweet potatoes over the top. Wash, core, and slice your green apple into thin slices. Add the slices in small groups around the salad.

Add in the toasted pecans, sliced red onion, pomegranate seeds, and goat cheese.

Pour the remaining dressing over the top, toss, and serve.

💡 Top Tips

• Even sweet potato cubes: When roasting the sweet potatoes, try to cut the cubes all the same size. This helps them roast evenly.

• Massage the kale: To help the kale become tender, take just a minute to massage the leaves. It is one of the most important steps in this recipe.

• Cool the sweet potatoes: To keep the kale from wilting, let the sweet potatoes cool for a bit.

• Thin apple slices: Slice the green apple into thin pieces. This not only adds crispiness, it also adds a lot of visual appeal.

• Toss before serving: Combine all the ingredients and toss the salad just before serving. This helps your salad keep some of its crunchiness.

• Room temp is best: While it can be served cold, for the best result, allow the salad to come to room temperature before serving. This enhances the flavors and ensures that the goat cheese is at its creamiest.

☑️ Storage Instructions

You'll want to store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 2-3 days. I like to sit it out for about 30 minutes before serving, just to knock the chill off.

🍴 What to Serve with Sweet Potato Salad

You can serve this salad with just about any type of main course you prefer. Because it has so many flavors and textures, I like to serve it with a simple protein like Grilled Citrus Salad or Grilled Shrimp Skewers.

For special occasions or a heartier meal, you could serve this salad with this Pan Seared Filet or this Air Fryer Pesto Salmon.

🔄 Substitutions and Additions

• Added protein: Shredded rotisserie chicken, grilled, sliced steak, or crumbled bacon are great options.

• Cheeses: Swap the goat cheese for feta cheese, blue cheese crumbles, or shredded parmesan.

• Nuts: You can use chopped walnuts or almonds in addition to or instead of pecans.

• Other veggies: Roasted butternut squash cubes can be used instead of sweet potatoes. You can also throw in some green onions or shaved Brussels sprouts.

• Fresh herbs: Feel free to add herbs like basil, cilantro, or mint for added freshness

• Dressing: For other dressing options, you can try this Lemon Vinaigrette or this Homemade Italian Dressing.

Is This Salad Good for You?

Absolutely! This salad is a powerhouse of nutrients. It has vitamin A, fiber from sweet potatoes, and K from kale. It also has vitamin C from the pomegranate seeds. The salad, overall, is a great source of iron, potassium, and magnesium.

Can I Make This Salad in Advance?

Yes, you can prepare the sweet potatoes and kale and slice the other ingredients ahead of time. Store them separately in airtight containers, and assemble the salad just before serving.

What's the Best Way to Get the Seeds from a Pomegranate?

For me, the easiest way is to buy the seeds that are in the container in the produce department.

But if you have a fresh pomegranate, just cut the pomegranate in half, hold it over a bowl, and tap the back with a wooden spoon to release the seeds.

Another way is to submerge the halves in water and gently separate the seeds.

Can I Use Frozen Kale for this Salad?

While fresh is, without a doubt, the best option, you can use frozen kale if fresh isn't available. Make sure you thaw and drain it well. Keep in mind that the texture will differ.

🍽️ More Salad Recipes

• Mexican Street Corn Pasta Salad
• Italian Pasta Salad
• Pickled Beet Salad
• Greek Pasta Salad
• Quinoa Salad