Chicken Free Cilantro-Lime Kale and Avocado Salad
This vibrant salad is a masterclass in fresh, bold flavors — massaged kale, creamy avocado, crisp cucumber, and juicy cherry tomatoes all brought together by a zesty cilantro-lime dressing that tastes like it took way more effort than it did. The technique of massaging the kale with salt is the real secret here, breaking down the tough leaves until they're silky, deeply flavored, and nothing like the raw, chewy kale you might be dreading. A quick toast of the pepitas in a dry skillet adds a nutty, satisfying crunch that makes every bite feel complete. The dressing — built from fresh lime juice, olive oil, cilantro, garlic, honey, and a touch of cumin — comes together in one small bowl and does double duty, soaking into the kale first and then finishing the whole salad. This is the kind of plant-forward dish that genuinely satisfies, whether you're serving it as a main or alongside something else entirely. Every ingredient here is whole, simple, and easy to source, so there's no guesswork about what's in your bowl.
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Learn more →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
- 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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