Lacinato Kale Superfood Salad w/ Citrus Tahini Dressing

Lacinato Kale Superfood Salad – with avocado, apples, cucumbers, pecans, and a creamy citrus tahini dressing. A delicious, nutritious stand alone salad or perfect as a side dish for meals or even holiday menus.

The weather has turned cooler and all of a sudden I’m craving….salad. I know, I know – you expected me to say soup. Truth is, I’m always craving soup. But I’m not always craving salad. We eat a lot of traditional green salads with romaine, tomatoes, and cucumbers, but I don’t always go out of my way to create a fancier salad. The last few weeks, though, I’ve really had a taste for loaded leafy green salads with delicious dressings. They’re so easy to throw together for lunch. This Lacinato Kale Superfood Salad has been a favorite – filling and nutritious.

Bonus – kale is a sturdy green that can handle hanging out in salad dressing without getting wilted. So, make a big bowl, store leftovers in the fridge, and enjoy it all week!

Orange Tahini Dressing

I paired this hearty kale salad with my creamy Citrus Tahini Dressing. I love the sweetness of the oranges paired with the bitterness of the tahini. Apple cider vinegar adds some tang. If you like a sweeter salad dressing, a tablespoon of pure maple syrup whisked in would be wonderful.

Superfoods

Let’s talk about how I loaded up this beautiful salad:

Lacinato Kale: Also called Tuscan, Dinosaur, or Black kale, it’s leaves are long, dark, and wrinkly. Kale is a cruciferous vegetable (like broccoli, cauliflower, and cabbage) and is one of the most nutrient dense foods you can find. Super high in many vitamins and minerals (like A, K, C, B6, calcium, and potassium), kale also contains anti-oxidants, can help lower blood pressure, and may have protective effects against cancer.

Avocado: High in heart healthy fats, this creamy green fruit also contains lots of fiber, vitamin K, folate, vitamin E, potassium, vitamin C, and more.

Apple: “An apple a day, keeps the doctor away.” High in fiber and vitamin C, apples may help you regulate blood sugar.

Cucumbers: An incredible veggie for hydration, cucumbers also have anti-inflammatory properties.

Pecans: Satisfying and high in a numerous amount of vitamins, minerals, and protein, pecans also boast heart healthy fats and anti-oxidants.

Entrée or Side Dish

This superfood salad is satisfying enough to enjoy as an entrée, which I’ve been doing for lunches quite a bit. It will serve two a main dish. If you want to stretch it further, it will serve 4 or 5 as a side to a meal. And I think it would look gorgeous on the holiday table, too.

Lacinato Kale Superfood Salad

I hope you enjoy this Lacinato Kale Superfood Salad as much as I do. If you try it, please come back and leave me a comment below with your feedback and rating. You can also find me on social media. Be sure to tag @veggie_inspired and #veggieinspired so I’m sure to see it.  Enjoy!

5 from 1 vote

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Lacinato Kale Superfood Salad

Prep Time

20 mins

Total Time

20 mins

 

Lacinato Kale Superfood Salad - with avocado, apples, cucumbers, pecans, and a creamy citrus tahini dressing. A delicious, nutritious stand alone salad or perfect as a side dish for meals or even holiday menus.

Course: Entree, Salad

Cuisine: dairy free, egg free, gluten free, oil free, soy free, vegan

Servings: 4

Calories: 215 kcal

Author: Jenn Sebestyen

Ingredients

• 1 bunch lacinato kale (tough stems removed, leaves chopped)
• 1 apple (sliced or chopped)
• 1 avocado (sliced or chopped)
• 1/2 large cucumber (sliced or chopped)
• 1/4 cup dried cranberries (try to find them with no sugar added)
• 1/4 cup toasted chopped pecans*
• 1 recipe Citrus Tahini Dressing

Instructions

1. Add all salad ingredients to a large bowl, pour on the dressing, and mix well. 

Recipe Notes

*To toast pecans: Heat a small skillet over medium heat. Add the pecans and cook until they start to turn just a tad darker and you can smell them toasting, about 4-5 minutes. Continually shake the pan or stir the nuts around so they don't burn. Don't walk away from the skillet - nuts can burn quickly!! Once toasted, transfer to a plate in a single layer to cool.

**Nutrition facts calculated without dressing

 

 

 

Nutrition Facts

Lacinato Kale Superfood Salad

Amount Per Serving

Calories 215 Calories from Fat 81

% Daily Value*

Total Fat 9g 14%

Saturated Fat 1g 5%

Polyunsaturated Fat 1g

Monounsaturated Fat 4g

Sodium 64mg 3%

Potassium 936mg 27%

Total Carbohydrates 31g 10%

Dietary Fiber 10g 40%

Sugars 12g

Protein 5g 10%

Vitamin A 242%

Vitamin C 270%

Calcium 23%

Iron 14%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

More Delicious Healthy Salads to Love:

Black Eyed Peas Salad w/ Baby Power Greens

Broccoli & Shredded Brussels Sprouts Salad

Raw Veggie Chopped Salad