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    Home » Recipes » Salads

    Kale Citrus salad

    Published: Jan 15, 2020 · Updated: Apr 7, 2020 by Sapana Chandra, MS, CHC · 15 Comments

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
    Pin for kale citrus salad.

    This kale citrus salad is delicious, flavorful, tangy, sweet, and so easy to make. Made with kale, citrus, almonds, onions, avocado, and jalapeno, it comes together in less than 15 minutes.

    A bowl of kale citrus salad.

    Editor's note: This recipe was originally published on February 18, 2019. Since then, it’s been freshened up with new commentary and made even more delicious.

    If you're just starting to add more kale to your diet, you'll love how tasty this kale citrus salad is.

    The citrus adds a delicious tanginess to it while the dried cranberry adds some sweetness. The thin slices of jalapeno add a little heat to the salad while the avocado adds the delicious creamy texture.

    This salad is a winner in my books and one of my favorites.

    Ingredients you'll need

    You'll need the following ingredients to make this salad:

    • Kale: Remove the ribs of the kale and thinly slice. You should have a big pile of shredded kale.
    • Extra-virgin olive oil: The oil helps massage the kale.
    • Avocado: Dice the avocado into small pieces.
    • Jalapeno: Remove the seeds from the jalapeno and thinly slice. If you don't enjoy spicy ingredients, omit completely.
    • Citrus fruit: This could be any citrus fruit of choice, including caracara orange or blood orange.
    • Almonds: Roughly chop the almonds. You could also use slivered almonds.
    • Red onion: Finely diced or thinly sliced.
    • Dried cranberries: Substitute with fresh pomegranate arils, if needed.
    • Balsamic vinaigrette

    How to make a kale citrus salad

    Once you have the ingredients, making the salad takes less than 15 minutes.

    1. Prepare the dressing: Prepare the Balsamic Vinaigrette dressing by whisking the olive oil, balsamic vinegar, Dijon mustard, garlic, salt, and pepper. Set aside.

    2. Massage the kale: In a large bowl, combine kale with olive oil. Using your hands, massage the kale for 2 minutes until the kale softens.

    3. Add remaining ingredients: Add avocado, jalapeno, citrus, almonds, onions, and cranberries to the massaged kale. Toss with balsamic vinaigrette and serve immediately.

    Why massage your kale?

    Massaging makes the kale more flavorful, tender, and more enjoyable.

    Kale salad served with a glass of water.

    Tips for making ahead of time

    If you want to make this kale citrus salad for later, here are some tips:

    • Massage the kale without any oil: It still makes the kale tender and easy to enjoy but will prevent it from getting soggy.
    • Store the dressing separately: Add the dressing up to 15 minutes before you're going to enjoy the salad.
    • Don't add the avocado until you're ready to enjoy it: If it's too much of a hassle, skip the avocado entirely.

    Substitutions and variations

    What I love about salads is how you can them based on what you have on hand. While I love to eat this salad as a light lunch, here are some ways to make it more filling and boost the nutrient-level:

    • Chickpeas: Add a cup of cooked chickpeas to make this a more filling meal by adding protein.
    • Quinoa: Add a cup of cooked grains. Quinoa is my favorite but you could try any other grain as well.
    • Seeds: I love adding hemp seeds to this salad.
    • Pistachios: If you're craving more fat, pistachios make a delicious addition.
    • Pomegranate: Swap out the cranberries with fresh pomegranate seeds or use a mixture of both.
    A close-up of the kale salad.

    More easy salad recipes

    • Italian Potato Salad
    • Strawberry Arugula Salad
    • Mediterranean Quinoa Salad
    • Apple Spinach Salad
    • Arugula Persimmon Salad
    • Shaved Brussels Sprouts Salad

    I hope you love this kale citrus recipe as much as I do. Sign up for email updates to receive new recipes delivered to your inbox or check out my new cookbook Plant Power Bowls.

    Bowl of kale citrus salad with hand

    Kale Citrus Salad

    5 from 9 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Total time: 15 minutes
    Servings: 4
    Calories: 253kcal
    Author: Sapana Chandra
    This kale citrus salad is delicious, flavorful, tangy, sweet, and so easy to make. Made with kale, citrus, almonds, onions, avocado, and jalapeno, it comes together in less than 15 minutes.

    Ingredients

    Salad

    • 1 bunch kale, destemmed and roughly chopped
    • 1 avocado, peeled and diced
    • 1 jalapeno, seeded and sliced
    • 1 citrus fruit, i.e. caracara orange or blood orange, peeled and sliced
    • ¼ cup almonds, roughly chopped
    • ¼ cup red onions, thinly sliced or finely diced
    • ¼ cup pomegranate, or dried cranberries
    • 1 teaspoon extra-virgin olive oil, for massaging the kale

    Dressing

    • ¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil
    • 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
    • ½ teaspoon Dijon mustard
    • 1 tablespoon maple syrup
    • pinch of garlic powder
    • sea salt and black pepper, to taste

    Instructions

    • Prepare the dressing. In a small bowl, whisk the olive oil, balsamic vinegar, Dijon mustard, balsamic vinegar, garlic, salt, and pepper. Set aside.
    • In a large mixing bowl, massage the kale with olive oil and lemon juice until tender, for about a minute or two.
    • Add the avocado, jalapeno, citrus fruit, almonds, onions, pomegranate (or cranberries). Drizzle with the vinaigrette and toss gently. Serve immediately.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 253kcal, Carbohydrates: 16g, Protein: 4g, Fat: 21g, Saturated Fat: 3g, Sodium: 10mg, Potassium: 492mg, Fiber: 6g, Sugar: 7g, Vitamin A: 1608IU, Vitamin C: 46mg, Calcium: 64mg, Iron: 1mg
    Course: Salad
    Cuisine: American
    Tried this recipe?Mention @realandvibrant and hashtag #realandvibrant!
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    About Sapana Chandra, MS, CHC

    Sapana Chandra is a certified health coach, author of Plant Power Bowls, and founder of Real +Vibrant. Here you’ll find simply delicious vegetarian recipes with step-by-step photo instructions – recipes you’ll be excited to enjoy and share with your loved ones.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Nicole De Guia says

      May 25, 2020 at 8:53 am

      I have made this salad several times and it is outstanding! I’ve added quinoa and chickpeas to make it more filling. Is the calorie count including a serving of the dressing? I’m trying to eat a plant based diet but have gained weight.5 stars

      Reply
    2. Krissy Allori says

      December 09, 2019 at 10:59 am

      I love that pop of citrus in this salad. It was so good. It's a great combination of flavors and it's good to the last bite.5 stars

      Reply
      • Sapana Chandra, MS, CHC says

        December 09, 2019 at 12:06 pm

        Thanks so much, Krissy! So glad you enjoyed it!

        Reply
    3. cheflolaskitchen says

      July 24, 2019 at 2:16 pm

      Love citrus addition to salads! Surely trying out this one!5 stars

      Reply
      • Sapana Chandra says

        July 24, 2019 at 7:56 pm

        So glad you like it!

        Reply
    4. Jess says

      July 24, 2019 at 1:08 pm

      I want to dive right into this kale salad! I'm sure the citrus slices take it over the top with flavor!5 stars

      Reply
      • Sapana Chandra says

        July 24, 2019 at 7:56 pm

        Thank you, Jess! The citrus adds a lot to the salad.

        Reply
    5. Kristine says

      July 24, 2019 at 1:04 pm

      I am always looking for fresh new salads, so I was excite to find this recipe. It was delicious and I can't wait to make it again. Thank you!5 stars

      Reply
      • Sapana Chandra says

        July 24, 2019 at 7:57 pm

        So glad you loved it, Kristine!

        Reply
    6. Sara Welch says

      July 24, 2019 at 11:13 am

      This is everything a gourmet salad should be, and then some! Excited to have this for dinner tonight!5 stars

      Reply
      • Sapana Chandra says

        July 24, 2019 at 7:57 pm

        I hope you enjoy it, Sara!

        Reply
    7. Jessica Formicola says

      July 24, 2019 at 11:06 am

      I've been struggling to get my family on board with kale. I know this salad will do the trick! It looks absolutely delicious!5 stars

      Reply
      • Sapana Chandra says

        July 24, 2019 at 7:58 pm

        I think they'll love it! And it's really easy to customize.

        Reply
    8. Chelsea says

      April 02, 2019 at 5:57 pm

      I love this salad! I've been making it for lunch a few times a week. Sometimes I throw in beans in there.5 stars

      Reply
      • Sapana Chandra says

        April 13, 2019 at 12:51 pm

        So happy to hear, Chelsea!

        Reply

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    Sapana Chandra

    Hi, I'm Sapana! I’m a recipe developer and author of the cookbook Plant Power Bowls. Here you'll find simple, delicious, vegetarian recipes made with fresh, seasonal ingredients. Learn more about me

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