Gut Friendly Smoky Paprika Kale and Blueberry Salad
This salad is a genuinely exciting combination of flavors and textures — smoky, bright, creamy, and a little sweet all at once. The star move here is massaging the kale with a pinch of salt until it softens and darkens, which breaks down the tough fibers that can make raw kale hard on digestion and transforms it into something tender and almost silky. From there, a smoked paprika and cumin dressing brings serious depth, while fresh blueberries add bursts of sweetness that play beautifully against the savory base. Toasted walnuts and pumpkin seeds give every bite a satisfying crunch and pack in healthy fats alongside the creamy avocado slices layered on top. The whole thing is built around whole, minimally processed ingredients — leafy greens, fresh fruit, seeds, and a lemon-olive oil dressing — which is exactly the kind of eating that tends to keep your gut happy. It comes together in one bowl with minimal cleanup, making it just as practical as it is nourishing. A scatter of fresh parsley over the top before serving pulls everything together and makes it look as good as it tastes.
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Learn more →Ingredients
4 servings
For the salad
- 1 bunch curly or lacinato kale (about 8 oz), stems removed, leaves torn into bite-sized pieces
- ¼ tsp fine sea salt
- 1 cup fresh blueberries
- ¼ small red onion, very thinly sliced
- ½ cup raw walnuts
- ¼ cup pumpkin seeds (pepitas)
- 1 avocado, pitted and sliced
For the dressing
- 3 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
- 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- ½ tsp ground cumin
- 1 tsp raw honey
- 1 small garlic clove, finely minced
- ¼ tsp fine sea salt
- ¼ tsp black pepper
For serving
- 2 tbsp fresh flat-leaf parsley, roughly chopped (optional)
Instructions
- 1
In a large skillet over medium heat, add the walnuts and pumpkin seeds and toast, stirring frequently, until the walnuts are fragrant and lightly golden and the pumpkin seeds begin to pop, about 3–4 minutes. Transfer to a plate and let cool.
- 2
In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, lemon juice, smoked paprika, cumin, honey, garlic, salt, and black pepper until fully combined and slightly emulsified.
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