Nutmeg Free Turmeric-Ginger Kale and Avocado Salad
This vibrant salad is a full-on celebration of color and bold, earthy flavor — massaged kale piled high with creamy avocado, crunchy purple cabbage, shredded carrots, and toasted pumpkin seeds. The real star is the golden dressing, where turmeric and freshly grated ginger come together with lemon juice, honey, and garlic for something that tastes bright, warming, and a little bit electric. Massaging the kale with salt before dressing it is the move that transforms it from tough and bitter to silky and deeply savory — don't skip that step. Many spiced salad dressings and pre-made blends sneak in warm spices that aren't always welcome, but every ingredient here is straightforward and easy to verify. The dressing is whisked together from scratch, so you stay in complete control of what goes into the bowl. It comes together quickly and holds up well, making it just as good for a weekday lunch as it is for a dinner spread. Finish it with a scatter of fresh cilantro or parsley and serve right away while the avocado is still perfectly creamy.
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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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