This cruciferous crunch salad is the perfect recipe to take to a party or serve with your favorite grilled meat. A bag of cruciferous crunch turns into the ultimate salad with a massage of homemade maple dijon vinaigrette that is then tossed with salty feta, slivered almonds, crunchy bacon pieces and tart green apple. It all comes together in 20 minutes!
Trader Joe’s Cruciferous Crunch Recipe
Store-bought shredded veggies are a fantastic way to eat more greens quickly without spending extra time in the kitchen! I’m especially fond of Trader Joe’s mix of cruciferous vegetables. It’s crunchy, slightly sweet, and ready to use in just seconds!
This cruciferous crunch salad brings out the best of those earthy flavors by adding sweet, savory, and tart flavors. It’s so crave-worthy, you’ll want to make it every week (I definitely do)!
For more crunchy salads, you’ll also want to check out this Chick Fil A Kale Crunch Salad Recipe and Kale Salad with Cranberries and Almonds!
Why We Love This Salad
- Loaded with cruciferous veggies, which may improve heart health, decrease blood pressure, and regulate blood sugar levels
- Packed with fiber to keep you full for longer
- Relies on storebought shredded veggies to speed up prep time
- Perfect mix of fall flavors like maple, tart apples, and Dijon
- Great side dish any night of the week or for your holiday meals!
Ingredient Notes
Maple Dijon Vinaigrette
- Light olive oil: For a neutral base.
- Maple syrup: Use 100% pure maple syrup, not the type with corn syrup. You can also sub in honey or your favorite sweetener.
- Apple cider vinegar: For a little acidity.
- Dijon mustard: For a little heat and to emulsify the dressing.
- Garlic: I like the bite of fresh garlic, but you can use garlic powder instead if needed.
- Salt and pepper to taste
For the salad
- Bag of Cruciferous Crunch mix: This is the heart of this recipe! It all hinges on these shredded greens.
- Green apple: Thinly slice the apple into small bites.
- Sliced almonds: Almonds can be substituted with walnuts, pecans or cashews. Another good addition or alternative is sunflower seeds.
- Crumbled bacon: It complements the other ingredients so well! Look for a reduced-sodium bacon if possible. Turkey bacon can be used in place of the regular bacon.
- Red onion: Slice these really thin to get a little crunch and heat.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Step 1: Prepare the Dressing
- Place all dressing ingredients in a mason jar, top with a lid and shake until well combined. Taste for seasoning and adjust. Set aside.
Step 2: Massage the Salad
- Place the cruciferous crunch mix in a large mixing bowl or salad bowl. Add 2 tablespoons of dressing and massage into the salad mix with your fingers, rubbing the dressing into the kale.
Step 3: Add Remaining Ingredients & Serve!
- Add in the apple slices, feta cheese, sliced almonds, bacon and red onion and an additional 2 tablespoons of dressing. Toss to combine. Divide into bowls or place on a serving platter. Enjoy!
Keep scrolling to the recipe card below for the full printable recipe!
Expert Tips
- If you can’t get cruciferous crunch you can use a mix of shredded green and red cabbage, brussel sprouts, shredded kale and broccoli.
- I only used half of the dressing for the entire salad, so the nutritional information is based on using half the dressing split across 4 servings. You can use the remaining dressing on other salads throughout the week as well!
Recipe FAQs
Cruciferous Crunch is a bag of shredded brassica veggies sold at Trader Joe’s, made with kale, Brussels sprouts, red and green cabbage, and broccoli stems. It’s a cult classic thanks to its versatility and incredible flavor. It makes the best salads, but it can also be cooked, steamed, stir-fried, and more! It’s very versatile (and good for you)!
If you can’t find Cruciferous Crunch or don’t live close to a Trader Joe’s, you can use another similar salad blend (other grocery stores carry them too) or you’ll need to mix the veggies separately.
One bag contains 3 cups of food with a greater amount of kale than anything else. I’d use about 1.5 cups of kale, then 1.5 cups of shaved Brussels sprouts, sliced cabbage, and shredded broccoli stem to get the perfect blend.
Yes! As a registered dietitian, I recommend trying to incorporate cruciferous veggies into your diet often as they are an excellent source of fiber as well as omega-3s, Vitamin C, Folic Acid, Iron, Selenium, and more. The slightly bitter flavor you taste in kale and collard greens comes from glucosinolates, which are powerful antioxidants.
These veggies can also help support heart health, improve cholesterol, and potentially even reduce risk of cancer. With such a long list of benefits, you can see why this bag of greens is a staple in my fridge all the time!
Storage Guidelines
Leftovers can be stored in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to 3 days. The longer the salad sits, the more wilted the kale mix will become and the apple slices will start to brown.
Serving Suggestions
This nutty apple salad is a fantastic side to pair with your main dish! The fall flavors are ideal for pairing with the following entrees:
- Apple and Brie Stuffed Chicken Breast
- Walnut Crusted Salmon
- Pulled Pork with Homemade BBQ Sauce
- Slow Cooker Whole Chicken
- Air Fryer Boneless Turkey Breast
Recipe Variations
- Add more kale: I love a good kale salad! Feel free to add extra sliced kale and massage it gently with the dressing.
- Change the fruit: For even more of a holiday flavor, replace the apple with fresh pear.
- Switch up the cheese: A tangy goat cheese, like chevre, would also be delicious in this salad. For a little funk, try some blue cheese crumbles.
More Delicious Salads
- Kale and Beet Salad
- No Mayo Waldorf Salad
- Quinoa Salad with Pomegranate
- Cranberry Walnut Coleslaw
- Christmas Wreath Salad
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Trader Joe’s Cruciferous Crunch Salad Recipe
Ingredients
For the maple Dijon vinaigrette
- 1/3 cup light olive oil
- 3 tablespoons maple syrup
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- Salt and pepper to taste
For the salad
- 1 (10 ounce) bag cruciferous crunch mix
- 1/2 large green apple, sliced
- 1/3 cup feta cheese, crumbled
- 1/4 cup sliced almonds
- 4 strips cooked bacon, crumbled
- 1/4 of a red onion, sliced thin
Instructions
- Place all dressing ingredients in a mason jar, top with a lid and shake until well combined. Taste for seasoning and adjust. Set aside.
- Place the cruciferous crunch mix in a large mixing bowl or salad bowl. Add 2 tablespoons of dressing and massage into the salad mix with your fingers, rubbing the dressing into the kale.
- Add in the apple slices, feta cheese, sliced almonds, bacon and red onion and an additional 2 tablespoons of dressing. Toss to combine. Divide into bowls or place on a serving platter. Enjoy!
Notes
- If you can’t get cruciferous crunch you can use a mix of shredded green and red cabbage, brussel sprouts, shredded kale and broccoli.
- I only used half of the dressing for the entire salad, so the nutritional information is based on using half the dressing split across 4 servings. You can use the remaining dressing on other salads throughout the week as well!
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