Your search for the ultimate blend of comfort, vibrant health, and incredible flavor in one dish ends here! This exquisitely prepared roasted vegetable salad, featuring crisp apple, hearty kale, and a luscious balsamic dressing, is a culinary masterpiece designed to come together efficiently in just 30 minutes. It’s not merely a side dish; it’s an experience, meticulously crafted to deliver a symphony of textures and a burst of flavors in every single delightful bite.
Whether you’re meticulously planning a festive holiday spread, aiming for nourishing and easy meal prep throughout a busy week, or simply seeking a quick yet impressively flavorful side dish for any evening, this wonderfully comforting warm salad is the perfect solution. It masterfully combines the rustic, deep flavors of perfectly roasted root vegetables with the refreshing zest of crisp produce, establishing itself as a truly versatile and indispensable addition to any discerning menu. Experience the magic of healthy eating without compromising on taste or satisfaction, all while enjoying the ease of preparation this recipe offers.
Why You’ll Adore This Flavorful Roasted Vegetable Salad
Imagine a salad that effortlessly defies all conventional expectations – it’s warm, profoundly flavorful, and utterly satisfying to both the palate and the soul. That’s precisely the experience offered by this exquisite roasted vegetable salad. The thoughtful inclusion of tender sweet potato, perfectly caramelized Brussels sprouts, and sweet red onion elevates this dish from an ordinary salad to an extraordinary culinary delight. These roasted elements contribute an incredible depth of flavor, a delightful textural contrast with their crisp edges and soft interiors, comforting warmth, and a significant boost of essential nutrition, ensuring that every single forkful is a pure joy.
Beyond its tantalizing taste and appealing aroma, this healthy roasted vegetable salad generously offers a multitude of practical benefits, making it a standout choice for any occasion:
- Wholesome & Inclusively Delicious: This recipe is thoughtfully crafted to be naturally vegan and entirely gluten-free, making this a universally appealing and satisfying salad that caters gracefully to a wide array of dietary preferences without ever compromising on its magnificent taste or rich texture.
- Effortlessly Simple Preparation: Created with a selection of readily available and easy-to-source everyday ingredients, this recipe is remarkably simple to follow. It’s an ideal choice for both novice cooks seeking confidence in the kitchen and seasoned chefs desiring a quick yet impressive dish.
- Nutritionally Dense & Deeply Satisfying: Brimming with essential vitamins, vital minerals, and abundant fiber, this is truly a meal that not only nourishes your body from the inside out but also keeps you feeling comfortably full, energized, and completely content for hours.
- A Meal-Prep Masterpiece: All of its components hold up beautifully when prepared in advance, positioning this warm roasted vegetable salad as an ideal candidate for healthy and efficient meal prep throughout your busy week. Enjoy it freshly made, or conveniently save it for later!
- Versatile Serving Options: This vibrant salad is magnificent when enjoyed as a complete, light meal on its own. Alternatively, you can effortlessly enhance it by pairing it with your favorite lean protein – such as grilled chicken, baked tofu, or pan-seared salmon – for a more substantial and well-rounded plate.
- Endlessly Adaptable to Your Taste: The base recipe serves as an incredible and flexible foundation, warmly inviting your culinary creativity. Feel free to easily customize it with your preferred seasonal vegetables, grains, legumes, or a variety of proteins to truly make it your signature dish.
- Flexible Serving Temperature: Delight in this exquisite salad either warm, directly from the oven for a cozy experience, or as a wonderfully refreshing cold dish, making it perfectly suitable for enjoyment in any season or according to your personal preference.
If the concept of warm, hearty, and deeply flavorful salads truly excites your palate, then you will undoubtedly love exploring these other equally delicious roasted veggie creations from our collection: our vibrant Pesto Farro Salad, the seasonal and comforting Fall Harvest Salad with Tahini Maple Dressing, the nutrient-rich Quinoa Salad with Roasted Vegetables, and our deeply satisfying Roasted Vegetable Lentil Salad. Each offers a unique blend of flavors and textures, perfect for any occasion.
The Star Ingredients: What You’ll Need & Smart Substitutions
Crafting this delightfully wholesome and satisfying roasted vegetable salad requires a careful selection of fresh, high-quality ingredients that harmonize beautifully to create its signature complex flavor profile. Below is a comprehensive and detailed overview of the key components, along with ingenious substitutions you can effortlessly make to perfectly tailor this recipe to what you have readily available in your pantry or to suit your personal taste preferences. For precise measurements and the complete ingredient list, please graciously refer to the comprehensive recipe card conveniently located at the very end of this illuminating post.
- Sweet Potato: This wonderfully versatile root vegetable serves as the comforting backbone of our roasted element. When roasted, it offers an irresistible natural sweetness and a luxuriously creamy, tender texture. Both the familiar orange-fleshed sweet potatoes and varieties of purple or white yams work absolutely beautifully here, each contributing a lovely depth of flavor and a vibrant splash of color to the overall dish. They are rich in beta-carotene and dietary fiber, making them a nutritious choice.
- Brussels Sprouts: Often unfairly misunderstood, Brussels sprouts undergo a magical transformation when roasted. They evolve into nutty, subtly sweet, and wonderfully tender bites, adorned with irresistibly crispy, caramelized edges. These miniature cabbages are absolutely essential for providing that delightful savory contrast and unique texture within this dynamic salad. They are packed with Vitamin K and C.
- Red Onion: The process of roasting red onion miraculously mellows its characteristically sharp pungency. This gentle heat coaxing brings forth its inherent natural sweetness, creating tender, beautifully caramelized pieces that are profoundly flavorful and add a delightful aroma. If a red onion isn’t readily available, a white or yellow onion will also perform admirably, offering a slightly different, yet equally delicious, flavor profile.
- Kale: As a universally recognized superfood green, kale provides a robust, nutrient-dense base for this salad, brimming with vitamins, minerals, and a slight earthiness that perfectly balances the inherent sweetness of the roasted vegetables and the crispness of the apple. Any variety of kale you prefer – whether it’s the curly type, the elegant lacinato (also known as dinosaur kale), or even red kale – will be an excellent choice. A vital tip: remember to gently massage it with just a touch of olive oil before incorporating it. This crucial step softens its texture, enhances its palatability, and significantly improves its flavor.
- Apple: The addition of apple introduces a truly delightful crunch and a refreshing burst of fresh, crisp sweetness that beautifully brightens the entire salad. It provides a crucial counterpoint to the rich, savory roasted vegetables. While any apple variety you personally enjoy will certainly work, firm and sweet-tart options such as Cosmic Crisp (as skillfully utilized in the original recipe), Honeycrisp, Gala, or Fuji are particularly recommended for their exceptional texture retention and outstanding flavor contribution to the overall harmony of the dish.
- Almonds: These provide a fantastic and much-needed textural counterpoint – a satisfying, earthy crunch and a subtle, delightful nutty flavor that elevates the salad. You can certainly use raw almonds, but for an even more enhanced and dynamic experience, consider using salted roasted almonds. These add an extra layer of savory depth and a wonderful roasted aroma. Not a fan of almonds, or have dietary restrictions? Feel utterly free to substitute with other complementary nuts such as pecans or walnuts. Alternatively, opt for seeds like sunflower seeds or pumpkin seeds for a delicious and completely nut-free alternative that still delivers on crunch and nutrition.
- Balsamic Dressing: The simple yet elegantly crafted balsamic dressing is the unifying element that harmoniously ties all the diverse and vibrant flavors of this salad together. Its perfectly balanced sweet and tangy notes provide an irresistible complement to the inherent richness of the roasted vegetables and the refreshing crispness of the kale and apple. Made with high-quality balsamic vinegar, robust olive oil, sharp Dijon mustard, and a touch of sweet maple syrup, it’s a wonderfully balanced, emulsified, and utterly irresistible coating that ensures every single ingredient in your salad is a flavorful delight.
Customize Your Creation: Exciting Additions & Clever Swaps for Your Roasted Vegetable Salad
This roasted vegetable salad recipe is wonderfully flexible and incredibly forgiving, wholeheartedly inviting you to personalize it with a myriad of delicious additions and clever substitutions. This allows you to effortlessly tailor it to your unique taste preferences, specific dietary needs, or simply to utilize whatever fresh ingredients you happen to have conveniently on hand. Do not hesitate to experiment freely and joyfully make this fantastic salad truly your own culinary masterpiece!
- Boost the Heartiness: For those seeking a more substantial and filling meal, consider the delightful addition of up to 1 cup of cooked grains. Options like fluffy couscous or nutrient-rich quinoa not only significantly add to the salad’s substance but also possess the wonderful ability to soak up the delicious balsamic dressing beautifully, enhancing every bite.
- Legume Love & Protein Punch: Introduce a robust protein boost and a generous dose of additional fiber by incorporating up to 1 cup of cooked lentils. French, green, or brown lentils are all excellent choices. Alternatively, a single can of thoroughly rinsed and well-drained chickpeas or white beans (suchini as cannellini or navy beans) makes for a fantastically easy, nutritious, and convenient addition that elevates the salad’s nutritional profile.
- Green Alternatives: While robust kale provides an exceptional and nutrient-dense base, offering a unique texture and flavor, you can effortlessly swap it for delicate fresh spinach for a milder taste or serve the warm roasted vegetables artistically over a generous bed of mixed greens for a lighter, more refreshing touch, expanding the salad’s versatility.
- Dairy Delights (Optional): If your dietary preferences are not strictly vegan, a delightful sprinkle of crumbled feta cheese or a dollop of creamy, tangy goat cheese on top of the finished salad adds a wonderfully salty and tangy dimension. This expertly complements and beautifully balances the inherent sweet and savory flavors present in the roasted vegetables and dressing.
- Herbaceous Freshness: Elevate the aromatic profile of your salad with the vibrant inclusion of fresh herbs. Finely chopped parsley, fragrant cilantro, or a touch of earthy rosemary (which can be added alongside the vegetables before roasting for infused flavor) can introduce a wonderful, aromatic layer that truly brightens the entire dish.
- Dried Fruit Sweetness: For an intriguing and satisfying textural contrast, along with an extra hint of delightful sweetness and chewiness, consider incorporating dried cranberries, finely chopped dried apricots, or sweet golden raisins. These additions bring a burst of concentrated fruit flavor and a pleasant chewiness to the salad.
- Avocado Creaminess: Just before serving, carefully add some freshly diced avocado. This addition lends a luxurious, creamy texture and contributes healthy monounsaturated fats, enriching the salad’s overall mouthfeel and nutritional profile, creating a truly decadent experience.
- Subtle Spicy Kick: For those who appreciate a touch of warmth and excitement, a small pinch of red pepper flakes, sprinkled over the vegetables before roasting, or a quick dash of your favorite hot sauce mixed into the balsamic dressing can impart a subtle, yet invigorating, spicy warmth that awakens the palate.
- Explore Different Veggies: Don’t limit yourself to the suggested vegetables! Feel completely free to experiment with a wide array of other roast-friendly vegetables. Wonderful options include tender cauliflower florets, crisp broccoli, earthy parsnips, sweet carrots, or even colorful bell peppers, allowing you to discover new flavor combinations and textures.
How to Make the Ultimate Roasted Vegetable Salad: A Step-by-Step Guide
Creating this incredibly flavorful, deeply comforting, and satisfying roasted vegetable salad is surprisingly simple and straightforward, even for those new to the kitchen. By meticulously following these clear and concise steps, you will effortlessly achieve a perfectly balanced dish that will undoubtedly impress your taste buds and comprehensively nourish your body. The ultimate key to success lies in employing proper preparation techniques and precise roasting methods to skillfully bring out the absolute best in each and every ingredient, ensuring maximum flavor and ideal texture.
Step 1: Prepare and Expertly Roast the Vegetables. Begin this culinary journey by thoroughly preheating your oven to a robust 400°F (200°C). This high temperature is essential to ensure a hot roasting environment, critical for achieving that desirable golden-brown caramelization. While your oven diligently heats, meticulously chop your sweet potato, Brussels sprouts, and red onion into uniform, bite-sized pieces. Consistency in size is paramount here, as it guarantees even cooking and prevents some pieces from burning while others remain undercooked. Carefully distribute these precisely chopped vegetables evenly across two large baking sheets. This crucial step is paramount; remember, overcrowding the pans will cause the vegetables to steam rather than roast, resulting in a soft, undesirable texture instead of beautifully browned, crisp perfection. Drizzle precisely half of the total olive oil over the vegetables on each pan, then season them generously with both salt and freshly ground black pepper. Utilize your clean hands to gently yet thoroughly toss and coat all the vegetables, ensuring they are impeccably covered in the oil and seasonings. Roast them for approximately 20-25 minutes, or continue until they are beautifully browned, exquisitely tender on the inside, and delightfully crispy on their edges. Make sure to turn them once halfway through the roasting process to achieve uniformly even caramelization and browning on all sides.
Step 2: Expertly Prepare the Kale and Fresh Add-ins. While your aromatic vegetables are diligently roasting in the oven, direct your attention to preparing the fresh components of the salad. Take your finely chopped kale and place it into a generously sized mixing bowl. Add the remaining 1/2 teaspoon of high-quality olive oil (or use a little extra if you prefer a richer texture) and a small, delicate pinch of salt. Now, with impeccably clean hands, gently but thoroughly massage the kale for a full 1-2 minutes. This seemingly simple yet absolutely crucial step performs a magnificent transformation: it effectively breaks down the kale’s naturally tough fibers, rendering it significantly more tender, wonderfully palatable, and considerably easier to both chew and digest. This massage technique is a true game-changer for raw kale in salads. Once the kale has been beautifully softened through this process, proceed to add the crunchy chopped almonds and the freshly diced apple to the bowl, mingling them harmoniously with the massaged kale. The crisp apple introduces a refreshing burst of sweetness and a delightful crunch, while the almonds contribute a deeply satisfying nutty texture and an extra layer of flavor.
Step 3: Whisk Together the Exquisite Balsamic Dressing. In a small bowl, or ideally, in a lidded container (which is perfect for effortless shaking!), meticulously combine all the carefully measured ingredients for the luscious balsamic dressing. This includes the sweet and tangy balsamic vinegar, robust olive oil, sharp and savory Dijon mustard, and the rich, natural sweetness of maple syrup, along with a dash of salt and freshly ground black pepper, adjusted precisely to your personal taste. Whisk vigorously with a small whisk, or if using a lidded container, shake it thoroughly and energetically until all the distinct ingredients are completely emulsified and perfectly smooth. This ensures the dressing is beautifully well-combined, creamy, and boasts a uniform consistency. This tangy-sweet dressing is masterfully designed to provide the perfect complementary counterpoint, tying together the rich, earthy roasted vegetables and the fresh, crisp greens with unparalleled harmony.
Step 4: Artfully Combine and Serve Your Masterpiece. Once your roasted vegetables have emerged from the oven, exquisitely tender and beautifully caramelized, carefully transfer them to the large mixing bowl. This bowl should already contain the perfectly massaged kale, the crunchy almonds, and the freshly diced apple. Now, generously pour the freshly whisked balsamic dressing directly over all these vibrant ingredients. Employing large tongs or a pair of spacious serving spoons, gently yet thoroughly toss everything together. Continue to mix until every single piece of roasted vegetable, every tender kale leaf, and every crisp apple chunk is beautifully coated in the rich, glossy dressing. Serve this incredible roasted vegetable salad immediately to fully savor its warmth and the complex, harmonious flavors that have developed. While it is undeniably at its peak when enjoyed fresh and warm, straight from the oven, it remains wonderfully delicious at room temperature, and surprisingly, even chilled, making it a truly versatile and enjoyable dish for any occasion.
Expert Tips for a Flawless and Delicious Roasted Vegetable Salad
Achieving a perfectly roasted vegetable salad that is consistently delicious and visually appealing is surprisingly easy with the application of a few insider tricks and expert techniques. These invaluable tips will help you maximize the flavor, perfect the texture, and ensure your salad is a consistent and undeniable hit every single time you prepare it:
- Never Crowd the Pan: This stands as arguably the single most important and foundational tip for successfully roasting any vegetables. Spreading your chopped vegetables in a single, uncrowded layer across your baking sheets is absolutely critical, as it directly prevents them from steaming. When vegetables are packed too tightly together, they inevitably release moisture, creating steam that renders them soft and often mushy, instead of allowing them to achieve that beautifully caramelized, slightly crispy, and deeply flavorful exterior. Always use two baking sheets if necessary, generously giving each individual vegetable piece ample space to breathe and roast properly.
- Ensure Uniform Cuts: Strive to cut all of your diverse vegetables into roughly the same size and shape. This careful uniformity is essential as it directly ensures that they cook evenly and simultaneously. No one desires a salad where some vegetable pieces are unfortunately burnt to a crisp while others remain unpleasantly raw! Aim for easily manageable, bite-sized pieces, which are ideally suited for the delightful experience of eating a salad.
- High Heat is Absolutely Key: Roasting your vegetables at a consistently high temperature, specifically 400°F (200°C), is paramount. This robust heat allows for rapid cooking and facilitates excellent caramelization, a process that skillfully brings out the natural sugars inherent in vegetables such as sweet potato and red onion, creating a deeper, richer flavor.
- Always Massage Your Kale: Never, ever skip this transformative step! Gently but thoroughly massaging raw kale with just a little olive oil and a delicate pinch of salt for a minute or two is a game-changer. This crucial action physically breaks down the inherently tough cellular fibers of the kale, making it dramatically more tender, significantly less bitter, and considerably easier to chew and digest. It truly elevates the entire raw kale salad experience.
- Master the Balance of Textures: This exceptional salad truly excels because of its wonderfully varied and harmonious textures. You’ll find the luxurious creaminess of the sweet potato, the satisfying, slightly crisp exterior of the Brussels sprouts, the refreshing crunch of the fresh apple, and the firm, nutty bite of the almonds. To maintain this exquisite balance, be vigilant about not overcooking or, conversely, undercooking any single component.
- Taste and Adjust the Dressing: Before you generously pour the dressing over your carefully prepared salad ingredients, always take a moment to taste it. This critical step allows you to adjust the sweetness (by adding a bit more maple syrup), the tanginess (with an extra splash of balsamic vinegar), or the overall seasoning (more salt and pepper) precisely to your personal preference, ensuring the dressing perfectly complements your salad.
- Embrace Warmth or Coolness: This versatile salad is truly exceptional when served warm, directly from the oven. The warmth allows the deeply roasted flavors to fully develop and truly shine, providing a comforting and hearty meal. However, it is equally delicious when enjoyed at room temperature or even refreshingly cold, making it a wonderfully flexible option perfect for meal prep, picnics, or a light lunch.
- Prioritize Freshness: For optimal flavor and texture, aim to add the freshly diced apple and the prepared dressing just before you intend to serve the salad. This intelligent timing helps to keep the apple wonderfully crisp and crucially prevents the entire salad from becoming soggy or losing its vibrant appeal, especially if you anticipate storing any delicious leftovers.
- Smart Storage Savvy: If you are strategically meal prepping, a highly recommended tip is to store the dressing separately from the main salad components. Then, simply add the desired amount of dressing just before you sit down to eat each individual portion. This method is incredibly effective for maintaining the optimal freshness, crispness, and vibrant texture of your healthy salad over several days.
Frequently Asked Questions About This Roasted Vegetable Salad
Absolutely! Roasted vegetables are incredibly versatile and can be thoroughly enjoyed both warm, straight from the oven, and refreshingly cold. Many individuals prefer them chilled in salads, as part of healthy meal prep bowls, or even as a standalone snack. The flavors of roasted vegetables often deepen and meld together beautifully once they have had a chance to cool and chill. This particular roasted vegetable salad is thoughtfully designed to be utterly delicious whether you choose to serve it warm, allowing its comforting aromas to envelop you, at room temperature for a relaxed meal, or even straight from the fridge as a wonderfully refreshing cold salad. If you do prefer to reheat them, a quick warm-up in the microwave or a few minutes in a moderate oven will easily do the trick, often without compromising much on their delightful flavor or texture.
The most frequent and common reason why roasted vegetables fail to achieve that coveted crispy exterior is typically overcrowding on the baking sheet. When you pack vegetables too tightly together on a single pan, they release moisture, and instead of truly roasting and beautifully caramelizing, they end up steaming in their own juices. This undesired process invariably results in soft, often mushy textures rather than the highly sought-after crispy, golden-brown edges. To consistently achieve perfectly crispy roasted vegetables, it is crucial to ensure you use generously sized baking pans that allow you to spread your chopped veggies in a single, even layer, with a little space deliberately maintained between each individual piece. Furthermore, always make sure your oven is thoroughly preheated to the correct high temperature (around 400°F or 200°C) and consciously avoid opening the oven door too frequently during the cooking process, as this action causes a significant drop in internal oven temperature, hindering crispness.
While lining baking pans with aluminum foil or parchment paper can sometimes offer a perceived convenience in terms of cleanup, it is generally not a necessary step for achieving the absolute best roasting results, especially if your primary goal is to produce genuinely crispy vegetables. Many experienced chefs and enthusiastic home cooks universally find that roasting vegetables directly on an unlined, hot metal pan consistently provides superior caramelization and an unparalleled crispness, as the direct contact with the searing hot metal surface significantly enhances the browning process. Moreover, it’s not uncommon for vegetable juices to seep underneath foil or parchment paper, which can unfortunately negate any potential cleanup benefits. For truly optimal and consistently delicious results with beautifully caramelized and crispy vegetables, we highly recommend roasting them directly on a bare baking sheet. If sticking is a minor concern, a light and even spray of cooking oil or utilizing a well-seasoned baking sheet usually proves to be more than sufficient to prevent adherence.
This absolutely delicious and vibrant roasted vegetable salad can be reliably stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for a commendable period of up to 4 days. For optimal freshness and to meticulously maintain the crispness of the kale and the refreshing crunch of the apple, it is highly advisable to store the balsamic dressing separately and only add it just before you intend to serve each individual portion. However, even when the salad has been fully dressed, it holds up remarkably well for a few days without significant degradation. You have the flexibility to enjoy the delectable leftovers cold, at a comfortable room temperature, or you can gently reheat them in the microwave until they are warmed through, transforming it into a perfect and convenient meal prep option that tastes great every time.
Absolutely! This roasted vegetable salad is an outstanding candidate for efficient and healthy meal prepping. You can conveniently chop and perfectly roast all your desired vegetables a day or even two days in advance, storing them in a well-sealed, airtight container in the refrigerator until ready to use. The flavorful balsamic dressing can also be meticulously mixed and stored separately in a lidded container in the fridge for up to a full week, ready whenever you need it. While you can chop the kale ahead, it’s best not to massage it until just before you plan on serving to maintain its texture. Similarly, dice the apple just prior to final assembly to prevent any undesirable browning. By having the roasted vegetables and dressing readily prepared, assembling this incredibly flavorful and nutritious salad becomes an absolute breeze, making it an ideal choice for quick, healthy, and satisfying weeknight meals or lunches.
For the most exquisite and well-rounded flavor in your dressing, we highly recommend opting for a good quality balsamic vinegar. You don’t necessarily need to invest in an exceptionally expensive, traditionally aged balsamic vinegar, but selecting a decent, everyday balsamic will certainly make a noticeable and positive difference in the overall depth, complexity, and richness of your dressing. When choosing, look for brands that proudly list “grape must” as their primary or first ingredient. This typically indicates a higher quality product that boasts a natural sweetness and a deeply rich, nuanced flavor that pairs wonderfully and harmoniously with all the other vibrant ingredients in this delectable roasted vegetable salad, elevating the entire culinary experience.
We sincerely hope that you thoroughly enjoy the delightful experience of creating and savoring this incredible Roasted Vegetable Salad recipe! If you decide to give this recipe a try, or indeed any other delightful recipe from our collection at Running on Real Food, we would be absolutely thrilled and immensely grateful if you would generously share your culinary experience. Please don’t hesitate to leave a thoughtful comment and a sparkling ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating in the comment section conveniently located below. Your invaluable feedback is incredibly beneficial, as it not only helps other aspiring cooks confidently discover and prepare this delicious dish but also provides us with immense joy to hear from you. We truly love seeing your beautiful culinary creations! Feel completely free to tag us on Instagram @runningonrealfood so we can admire your delicious work and celebrate your success. Thank you immensely for choosing and trying our cherished recipes!
Roasted Vegetable Salad Recipe
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Ingredients
For the Salad
- 1 medium sweet potato, about 2 heaping cups cubed
- 2 cups quartered Brussels sprouts
- 1 red onion, chopped
- 1 tbsp olive oil, divided
- 2 cups lightly packed chopped kale
- 1 apple, diced
- 1/4 cup almonds, chopped
For the Dressing
- 3 tbsp balsamic vinegar
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tbsp dijon mustard
- 1 tbsp maple syrup
- salt and pepper
Instructions
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Preheat the oven to 400F (200°C) and prepare two large baking sheets.
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Chop the sweet potato, red onion and Brussels sprouts into uniform pieces and spread them evenly on the baking sheets in a single layer to avoid overcrowding.
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Drizzle 1 tsp olive oil onto each pan and season generously with salt and pepper. Use your hands to thoroughly mix and coat the veggies in the oil and seasoning.
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Roast the vegetables for 20-25 minutes, turning once halfway through, until they are tender, slightly browned, and caramelized.
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Add the finely chopped kale to a large bowl with the remaining 1 tsp olive oil and a pinch of salt. Massage with your hands for 1-2 minutes to soften. Then, add the chopped almonds and diced apple to the bowl.
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Combine the balsamic vinegar, olive oil, Dijon mustard, maple syrup, and a pinch of salt and pepper in a small bowl. Whisk vigorously to create a smooth, emulsified dressing.
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Once roasted, add the warm vegetables and the prepared dressing to the bowl with the kale, almonds, and apple. Toss everything together thoroughly until all ingredients are well-coated. Serve immediately for best flavor.