Recipe: Crunchy Detox Kale Salad

Lunch Recipes, Salad Recipes, Vegetarian Recipes

White bowl filled with kale salad including shaved carrots, pomegranate seeds, green apple and mango

This crunchy detox kale salad is one of our go-to’s. It’s simple enough for a healthy side dish at dinner, but delicious enough to make for a packed work lunch. This delicious vegan and gluten-free salad is the perfect crunchy salad that tastes so refreshing. This detox salad recipe will keep you feeling energized, light, and healthy all year round.

We tend to eat this salad most often in the fall and winter months but really can be made at any time. Feel free to substitute seasonal ingredients in and out as you see fit!

Let’s Talk Detox

Chopped kale on cutting board with knife and colander in background

Did you know that your body already comes with several built-in detoxification systems? That’s right—your colon, liver, kidneys, lungs, and skin to name a few all work to naturally eliminate toxins and keep things functioning properly every day. But there are foods that can help with the detoxification process. In this detox salad, we chose several detoxifying ingredients to assist your body’s natural process.

Kale: the base of this salad is a detox powerhouse boasting one of the highest antioxidant levels of any vegetable making it great for detoxing the liver and reducing inflammation
Carrots: great for stripping the liver of fats
Lemon: the atomic structure is similar to your stomach’s digestive juices, which causes the liver to produce bile which helps keep food moving through your body
Pomegranate Seeds: methionine and glycine betaine found in pomegranate are powerful fighting factors to clean your body’s system
Green apple: due to the high fiber content, apples can assist your body’s detoxifying process
Cilantro: cilantro leaves have potent antifungal, anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, and antimicrobial properties that bind to heavy metals
Garlic: rich in organo-sulfur compounds (OSCs) supplementing the detox process
Red/Green Onion: improves the elimination of toxins

Let’s Talk Crunch

Halved avocados, shaved carrots, wedges of lemon and green onions on cutting board

We love a crunchy salad around here – the texture and just the satisfying feeling of knowing you’re eating something that is so good for your body. Plus, have you ever noticed that you have to eat salads slower due to all the chewing? That’s actually a very good thing and can help you recognize when you feel full earlier.

This crunchy salad gets its crunch from apples, carrots, kale, and almonds! Yum!

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Crunchy kale salad in white bowl with shaved carrots, pomegranate seeds, mango and green apple

Total Time: 10 minutes

Yield: 4 serving(s)

Ingredients

For the salad
6 cups kale, chopped
1 green apple, chopped
1 cup shaved (or shredded) carrots
1/4 cup red or green onion, diced
1/2 cup cilantro, chopped
1/4 cup sliced or slivered almonds
1 avocado, diced
Optional: Mango or other seasonal fruit
For the Vinaigrette
Juice of 2 lemons
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 cloves garlic, grated
1 teaspoon honey (if desired for sweetness)
Salt & pepper, to taste

Directions

Combine vinaigrette ingredients in a jar with lid and shake. Set aside if using right away or refrigerate if making ahead.
Toss kale in a large bowl and add half of your dressing. Massage with clean hands or tongs and let sit for 10-15 minutes.
Add chopped veggies, additional dressing to taste, pomegranate seeds, other optional seasonal fruit, almonds and toss.