Celery Free Turmeric-Ginger Kale and Avocado Salad
Bright, bold, and packed with texture, this kale and avocado salad is the kind of bowl that makes you feel genuinely good about what you're eating. The star move here is massaging the kale with a pinch of salt until it softens and darkens — it transforms the leaves from tough and bitter into something silky and almost sweet. A golden dressing built from turmeric, fresh ginger, lemon juice, honey, and garlic ties everything together with warm, zippy depth. Shredded purple cabbage and carrots add satisfying crunch, while creamy avocado slices and toasted pumpkin seeds round out every bite. Celery is a surprisingly common filler in packaged salad kits and store-bought dressings, so making this entirely from scratch means you stay in full control of every ingredient. The whole thing comes together in one large bowl with minimal cleanup, and the dressing can be whisked up in minutes. Serve it immediately after adding the avocado for the freshest, most vibrant result.
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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
- 2 ripe avocados, pitted and sliced
- 1 ½ cups shredded purple cabbage
- 1 cup shredded carrots
- ¼ cup raw pumpkin seeds (pepitas)
For the dressing
- 3 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
- 3 tbsp fresh lemon juice (from about 1 ½ lemons)
- 1 tsp ground turmeric
- 1 tsp fresh ginger, finely grated
- 1 tsp raw honey
- 1 small garlic clove, finely grated or pressed
- ¼ tsp black pepper, freshly ground
- ¼ tsp fine sea salt
For serving
- 2 tbsp fresh cilantro or flat-leaf parsley, roughly chopped (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 1–2 minutes, squeezing and working the leaves until they darken, soften noticeably, and reduce in volume by about one-third.
- 2
In a small bowl or jar, whisk together the olive oil, lemon juice, turmeric, grated ginger, honey, garlic, black pepper, and 1/4 tsp salt until the dressing is smooth and uniformly golden-yellow.
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