Walnut 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 to eat your greens. The secret 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 made with fresh lime juice, garlic, honey, and a whisper of cumin ties everything together with a citrusy kick that coats every leaf. Creamy diced avocado, crisp cucumber, juicy cherry tomatoes, and thin-sliced red onion round out the bowl with color and crunch. Toasted pepitas add a satisfying nuttiness and a little pop without any tree nut concerns — they're toasted right in a dry skillet so you get maximum flavor with zero fuss. This is a salad that holds up beautifully on its own as a light meal or works as a vibrant side alongside grilled proteins or tacos. Serve it immediately after adding the pepitas so they stay crisp and the avocado stays gorgeous.
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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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