Salads don’t have to be cold or boring! Try a delicious warm kale salad with eggplant and mushrooms, topped with tangy goat cheese, walnuts and balsamic vinaigrette. It’s the perfect side dish for cold weather! (gluten-free, vegetarian)
It’s finally starting to feel like fall! Hopefully it won’t warm back up to 100° next week. I’m ready to be eating my favorite fall comfort foods.
This roasted Warm Eggplant, Mushroom, and Kale Salad is the perfect fall salad. It is served hot straight from the oven with warm fall flavors like thyme and balsamic vinegar, with creamy goat cheese that make the mushrooms, kale and eggplant so comforting and perfect for cooler temperatures when you don’t want a cold salad.
If you don’t want to mess with making the dressing, a drizzle of balsamic vinegar works just fine too! Or you could use your favorite balsamic vinaigrette. Whatever you’d like. I like to serve this salad with roasted bone-in chicken or pork loin, but experiment with what you like. You can also make it a vegetarian meal by throwing in some chickpeas or tofu, or topping with a poached egg.
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PrintWarm Eggplant, Mushroom and Kale Salad
A delicious warm eggplant, mushroom and kale salad with tangy goat cheese, walnuts and balsamic vinaigrette. It’s the perfect side dish for cold weather! (gluten-free, vegetarian)
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 4-6 servings 1x
- Category: salad, side dish
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 tbsp olive oil, divided
- 1 large eggplant
- 1 pint cremini mushrooms
- 4 large leaves of kale
- 1/2 cup walnuts, toasted
- 1/4 cup goat cheese, crumbled
- 4 sprigs thyme, leaves removed
For dressing:
- 1 clove garlic, crushed
- 2 tbsp balsamic vinegar
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1/2 tsp honey
- Freshly cracked black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425°F. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment or silicone baking mats.
- Cut eggplant into uniform 1 inch cubes. Toss with 1/2 tbsp of the olive oil and spread onto one of the cookie sheets. Wash mushrooms and cut each in half. Toss with 1/2 tbsp olive oil and add to cookie sheet with eggplant.
- Roughly chop kale into uniform pieces and toss with 1/2 tbsp of olive oil. Spread onto other cookie sheet.
- Roast kale 10 minutes or until crispy but not burned. Roast eggplant and mushrooms 20 minutes, stirring every 5 minutes or so. Let vegetables cool slightly before handling.
- Meanwhile, prepare the dressing: In a small saucepan, and garlic, balsamic, oil and honey. Heat on low until thickened, about 10 minutes. Remove garlic cloves and stir in cracked pepper to taste. Set aside.
- In a large bowl combine roasted vegetables, dressing, walnuts, goat cheese, and thyme. Gently stir and serve immediately.
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Julie @ RDelicious Kitchen says
October 27, 2016 at 9:30 pmMy favorite combo! I’m on a kale kick lately
Kaleigh says
October 31, 2016 at 6:59 amThanks Julie! I love kale and luckily my hubby does too!
Julie says
February 20, 2017 at 3:44 pmThis is absolutely delicious! My mother immediately made the salad because I raved about it and she enjoyed it as well. I am now in the process of making it again ?
Kaleigh says
February 21, 2017 at 9:37 amHi Julie, I’m so glad to hear that y’all enjoyed this salad! Thanks for stopping by!
Eva says
October 8, 2017 at 5:23 pmIt is confusing – it says to use a crushed clove of garlic for the dressing but then it says “remove garlic clove”…other than being poorly written – its a great recipe!
Kaleigh says
October 8, 2017 at 5:39 pmGlad you enjoyed this recipe, Eva! The garlic is gently crushed so that it remains whole to infuse into the dressing while it cooks, then it is removed. Hope that clarifies the steps a little.
Lindsay says
October 9, 2017 at 7:40 pmVery good, love this recipe! Maybe weird but I added a sprinkle of cinnamon to the eggplant and mushrooms for a fall vibe and it worked out well for me!
Kaleigh says
October 9, 2017 at 10:16 pmHi Lindsay, thanks for stopping by. I think the cinnamon sounds like a lovely addition! Glad you enjoyed the recipe!
Anne P says
October 9, 2018 at 5:58 pmThis is a fave in my house! I’m always looking for winter/cold weather salads, and I’ve been making this one for a while and now. I thought it was time I let you know 🙂 It is the perfect combination of yummy stuff! Thank you!
Kaleigh says
October 10, 2018 at 6:34 amHi Anne,
Thanks so much for your comment! I’m so glad you enjoy it! 🙂