MSG Free Cilantro-Lime Kale and Avocado Salad
Bright, zesty, and packed with texture, this salad is the kind of bowl that makes you genuinely excited about eating your greens. Massaging the kale with a pinch of sea salt is the secret move here — it breaks down the tough fibers so the leaves turn silky and soak up every drop of that cilantro-lime dressing. Speaking of the dressing, it comes together with just olive oil, fresh lime juice, garlic, honey, and cumin — every single ingredient is whole and unprocessed, so there's no need to squint at a label wondering what's hiding inside a packet or bottle. Toasted pepitas add a satisfying crunch and a nutty depth that makes this feel like a complete, restaurant-worthy dish rather than a side salad. The creamy diced avocado, crisp cucumber, juicy cherry tomatoes, and sharp red onion round everything out beautifully. It's the kind of recipe that proves clean, simple ingredients don't need any shortcuts to taste incredible.
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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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