Celery Free Cilantro-Lime Kale and Avocado Salad

Total time25 min

Prep time20 min

Cook time0 min

Celery Free Cilantro-Lime Kale and Avocado Salad

Bright, zesty, and packed with texture, this kale and avocado salad is the kind of bowl that makes you genuinely excited about eating your greens. The trick starts with massaging the kale with a pinch of salt until it softens and darkens — a simple step that transforms tough leaves into something tender and almost silky. A punchy cilantro-lime dressing with garlic, honey, and cumin ties everything together, hitting that perfect balance of tangy, herby, and just a little warm from the optional red pepper flakes. Creamy avocado, crisp cucumber, juicy cherry tomatoes, and thinly sliced red onion round out the bowl with color and crunch. Toasted pepitas scattered over the top add a nutty, satisfying finish that makes every bite interesting. Every ingredient here is naturally free from celery and celery derivatives, so there's no need to scrutinize labels or swap anything out — just fresh, whole produce doing all the work. It comes together quickly and holds up beautifully as a lunch or a vibrant side at dinner.

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Ingredients

4 servings

For the salad

1 large bunch curly or lacinato kale (about 8 oz), stems removed, leaves torn into bite-sized pieces
¼ tsp fine sea salt
2 ripe avocados, pitted, peeled, and diced
1 english cucumber, halved lengthwise and sliced into half-moons
½ cup cherry tomatoes, halved
¼ cup red onion, thinly sliced
⅓ cup raw pepitas (pumpkin seeds)

For the dressing

3 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
Private Selection Italian Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Bertolli Extra Virgin D'Italiia Olive Oil 16.9oz
Extra Virgin Olive Oil FIELD DAY OLIVE OIL EXTRA VIRGIN Olitalia Extra Virgin Olive Oil
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3 tbsp fresh lime juice (from about 2 limes)
½ cup fresh cilantro leaves, roughly chopped
1 clove garlic, finely minced
1 tsp honey
¼ tsp ground cumin
¼ tsp fine sea salt
¼ tsp black pepper
¼ tsp red pepper flakes (optional)

Instructions

1
Place the torn kale leaves in a large mixing bowl and sprinkle with 1/4 tsp salt. Using clean hands, massage the kale firmly for 2–3 minutes until the leaves darken, soften noticeably, and reduce in volume by about half.
2
In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, lime juice, cilantro, garlic, honey, cumin, salt, black pepper, and red pepper flakes, if using, until the dressing is well combined and slightly emulsified.

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