Lemon Dressing: Chopped Kale and Avocado Salad

This chopped kale salad is bursting with texture and flavor. It is made with avocado, sliced almonds, raisins and a satisfying lemon dressing. It makes for a wonderful lunch or side dish.

Say hello to your new favorite kale salad! A simple yet tasty nourishing recipe that is both satisfying and really simple to make.

All you need are a handful of ingredients to make this crunchy, sweet, lemony, wholesome salad. Add some baked chicken tenders, a tuna quiche, or a quiche lorraine and you have yourself quite the satisfying meal.

Why this recipe is great

• It is crunchy and full of flavor.
• The lemon mustard dressing balances out the bitterness that kale can have.
• The kale is not dry, since it massaged with dressing.
• It makes a great side salad or meal.
• It is a satisfying way to add kale to your diet.

Recipe ingredients

• Kale– we like to buy kale that is already shredded or chopped. If you buy a bunch of kale, make sure to remove the stems before chopping it.
• Olive oil– any good quality olive oil works for this recipe.
• Apple cider vinegar– this adds a nice acidity to the dressing.
• Dijon mustard– this adds nice flavor to the dressing.
• Lemon juice– this is what gives the lemon flavor to the overall salad. Try this romaine salad with lemon dressing for another lemon salad recipe!
• Avocado– make sure to use ripe avocado here.
• Sliced almonds– these add a nice nutty taste and great texture to the salad.
• Raisins– these add a pop of sweetness.

See recipe card below for a full list of ingredients and measurements.

Additions/Substitutions

• Instead of apple cider vinegar, use red wine vinegar or white wine vinegar.
• Instead of sliced almonds, you can use walnuts, pecans, or pine nuts.
• Instead of raisins, you can use dried cranberries, figs, or dates.
• If you want a sweeter dressing, you can add honey or maple syrup to the dressing.

Step by step instructions

Step 1

Step 1: Make the lemon mustard vinaigrette. Mix the olive oil, apple cider vinegar, mustard, lemon juice, salt and pepper together.

Step 2

Step 2: Put the kale into a large bowl and pour the lemon dressing on top.

Step 3

Step 3: Massage the kale so that all of it is covered in dressing.

Step 4

Step 4: When the kale is glistening, let it rest for 5-10 minutes.

Step 5

Step 5- Add the sliced almonds, diced avocado and raisins to the bowl.

Step 6

Step 6– Mix everything together and serve.

Expert tips

• If you do not like the hard texture of regular kale, tuscan kale is softer in texture, and would also work well.
• How to make-ahead: you can make this salad a few hours ahead of time, just refrigerate until it is ready to be served.
• How to store: store in an airtight container for 2-3 days. It is best to just store the kale and cut fresh avocado right before serving.
• How to serve:
  • Serve with veggies: add some grilled asparagus, turmeric carrots or beet salad on the side for a satisfying finish.
  • Serve with protein: add this turkey chicken meatloaf, maple chicken thighs, or turkey oat meatballs on the side for added protein.
  • Serve as a side dish: serve this salad as a side to these stuffed peppers or this or this spicy meat sauce.