Emulsifier Free Pomegranate & Mint Beet Kale Slaw
This vibrant slaw is a showstopper — jewel-toned beets, deep green kale, and ruby pomegranate arils make it look like something you'd order at a fancy restaurant, but it comes together in your own kitchen with zero fuss. So many store-bought dressings and packaged slaws rely on emulsifiers to hold everything together, but this one proves you simply don't need them. The dressing is a clean, bright whisk of olive oil, lemon juice, honey, apple cider vinegar, and warm spices — it emulsifies naturally and coats every strand beautifully. Massaging the kale with a little olive oil first is the secret move here; it softens the leaves and mellows any bitterness before the dressing even touches them. Toasted pumpkin seeds add a satisfying crunch and nutty depth that makes this feel like a complete, hearty dish rather than a side thought. The pomegranate arils and torn mint bring bursts of sweetness and freshness that balance the earthy beets perfectly. It's the kind of salad that genuinely gets better as it sits, making it ideal for meal prep or bringing to a gathering.
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Learn more →Ingredients
4 servings
For the slaw
- 1 bunch lacinato kale (about 8 oz), stems removed, leaves very thinly sliced
- 2 medium raw beets (about 10 oz total), peeled and coarsely grated
- ¾ cup pomegranate arils
- ¼ cup fresh mint leaves, roughly torn
- ⅓ cup raw pumpkin seeds (pepitas)
For the dressing
- 3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
- 1 tbsp raw honey
- 1 tsp apple cider vinegar
- ½ tsp ground turmeric
- ¼ tsp ground ginger
- ¼ tsp salt
- ⅛ tsp black pepper
Instructions
- 1
Place the sliced kale in a large mixing bowl. Drizzle 1 tbsp of the olive oil over the kale and massage with your hands for about 2 minutes, until the leaves soften, darken slightly, and reduce in volume by about a third.
- 2
In a small bowl, whisk together the remaining 2 tbsp olive oil, lemon juice, honey, apple cider vinegar, turmeric, ginger, salt, and black pepper until the dressing is smooth and uniform in color.
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