Looking for a tasty take-away salad that is easy to prepare in advance, high in flavor and packed with protein, minerals and dietary fiber? This Warming Avocado Kale Salad will help to boost your immune system and fire up your fat-burning metabolism during wintertime! I’ve combined it with antioxidant filled sweet potatoes and protein rich adzuki beans to keep you satisfied for hours.
Warming Avocado Kale Salad
SERVES: 1 person
EQUIPMENT: large mixing bowl
INGREDIENTS:
1 small bunch of kale
½ avocado, pitted and roughly chopped
1 tablespoon of lemon juice
¼ teaspoon of Himalayan Crystal salt or sea salt (or more to taste)
¼ to ½ teaspoon of chili flakes (optional)
2 baby heads of Romaine lettuce (or ½ large), finely shopped
1 large stalk of white celery, finely sliced
½ small cucumber, finely chopped
½ cup of beans or lentils of your choice, soaked overnight and cooked until soft
1 small sweet potato, steamed or oven-baked
DIRECTIONS:
- Wash and dry your kale. Now it’s time to remove the tough ribs from the leaves! Grab a stalk of kale, hold it by the stem with one hand and place the pointer finger and thumb of your other hand around the stem just above the leaves. Then pull your fingers along the stem to tear off the leaves. I find this is the quickest en easiest way to de-stem kale.
- Finely chop the kale – this is essential for a tasty kale salad!
- Add the finely chopped kale to a mixing bowl. Top with the roughly chopped avocado, lemon juice, salt and chili flakes.
- Now it’s time for a nice massage! Take a large handful of kale in your hands and squeeze it between your hands. Repeat until the avocado is completely mashed and the kale looks and feels tender. This should take about 30 seconds. Kale is one of the toughest leafy greens when you serve it in its raw state, so this process will help to make it softer + easier to digest.
- Serve your massaged kale with Romaine lettuce, white celery, cucumber, cooked legumes and steamed or oven-baked sweet potato.
- If your salad isn’t creamy enough, add a drizzle of olive oil or creamy dressing like this Basil Vinaigrette.
JULIE’S TIPS & TRICKS:
- This Warming Avocado Kale Salad with stay fresh for at least 2 days in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
- Want to save time during the week? Soak and cook your legumes during the weekend – if you store them well (in an airtight container in the fridge), they will stay fresh for at least 5 days. Likewise, I always steam one or two large sweet potatoes during the weekend. Once steamed, these will stay fresh for at least 4 days in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
- I used adzuki beans for this salad, which take at least 1 hour to cook if they’ve been properly soaked. Lentils will only take 5 to 10 minutes so they are your best option if you need a quick fix!
- This salad makes a delicious dinner too! If you are craving something more substantial, add steamed or oven-roasted veggies of your choice. Or a side of guacamole!
Now I would love to hear from you! Do you have tips to stay warm during wintertime? Please let me know by leaving a comment down below.
