Thanks for joining me and Sarah for Meatless Monday today. It’s kind of starting to feel like spring around here and one of my favorite things about spring is the amazing citrus. Today, I am sharing with you my Citrus Kale Spring Salad with Honey lime Dressing. I’ve so been enjoying the juicy oranges and grapefruits the last few weeks and love pairing them with greens. This salad has a lot going on but trust me, it’s delicious.
I absolutely love the combination of a tart grapefruit, sweet orange and crunchy kale and pepitas. I’ve also added avocado because well, avocado. Topped with freshly grated Parmesan cheese this salad has a great salty/sweet texture profile that will keep you satisfied.
I’ve used a combination of shredded kale and shredded brussels sprouts. If your store does not carry them, it’s easy to throw them into the food processor and shred them. The combo of kale and brussels brings a powerhouse of vitamins before we even get to the fruits and the vitamin C.
For my honey lime dressing, I’ve again gone with the sweet and tangy combo. I used Nektar Naturals honey crystals instead of traditional honey in my vinegarette. I first tried Nektar Naturals out at my visit to Canyon Ranch last month and loved that I could enjoy the honey taste without the sticky mess. In the past, I’ve had difficulty getting the honey to mix into my dressings and with the crystals, it’s super easy. They are readily available at local grocery stores and Walmart.
Citrus Kale Spring Salad with Honey Lime Dressing
Ingredients
- For salad:
- 6 cups of shredded kale and/or brussels sprouts
- 1 grapefruit & 1 orange peeled and sectioned
- 1 avocado cut into slices or chunks
- 1/2 C roasted and salted pepitas
- 1/2 C of yellow raisins and/or dried cranberries
- 1/3 c of shredded parm cheese top
- For dressing:
- 1/4 C apple cider vinegar
- 1/4 C of olive oil
- juice from 1 lime
- 3 packets of honey Nektar naturals (or 3 tsp of honey)
- pinch of salt
- 2 tsp Dijon mustard
Instructions
- chop kale/Brussels and add to large bowl
- top with grapefruit, orange and avocado slices
- Add pepitas and raisins/cranberries
- Prepare dressing:
- add all ingredients and shake to combine
- Drizzle over salad
- top with grated Parmesan cheese
- serve & enjoy!
A couple of cook’s tips:
-I find it really helps to “massage” the kale a bit to soften it up. Basically, add a pinch of kosher salt and a drop of olive oil and literally get your hands in there and rub it around to soften up the kale.
-Squeeze a bit of lime onto the avocado to keep it from turning brown.
-Using a vegetable chopper really makes it so much easier to prepare the salad.
This post is sponsored by Nektar Naturals however all opinions and recipes are as always my own.
Tell me-Do you like fruits in your salads?
Annmarie says
Hooray for spring salads! This looks delicious- thanks for the link up! 🙂
Deborah Brooks says
Thanks for joining us!
Renee @ Bendiful Blog says
Yumm I love citrus with kale it helps kill the bitterness. Great recipe I want to eat it right now.
Deborah Brooks says
Thanks I did love the flavors combos of this one
Angela says
Such a beautiful Spring salad! The dressing sounds amazing, Pinned 🙂 Have a Great Week!!
Deborah Brooks says
Thanks so much!Hope you enjoy it
Kaila @healthyhelperblog! says
So many things I love about this salad! Kale is a great base and the citrus adds just the right amount of sweetness. I make a similar ‘sunshine’ kale salad with oranges, red pepper, red onion, avocado, and sunflower seeds! Delish!
Deborah Brooks says
OH yeah sunflower seeds would be great as well! I am loving the citrus right now
Sarah @ BucketListTummy says
Oh my gosh, I love this combination. Not only is it beautiful, but so nutritious and the flavors sound amazing. Pinning!
Deborah Brooks says
Thank so much! I really loved how all the flavors meshed together.
Debbie @ Coach Debbie Runs says
When the weather warms up I eat a lot of salads. And always with avocado :-). This looks so good and fresh. Thanks for hosting!
Deborah Brooks says
Thanks I thought you might like this one!
Mary Ellen @ VNutrition says
Yum! I am not usually too into salads that have fruit but I think this one would be fabulous. I find that any kale salad tastes just a bit better when the kale is massaged too.
Deborah Brooks says
I never used to like fruit in my salads but I’ve come around and they are fantastic!
Wendy@Taking the Long Way Home says
I don’t know if I’d like a kale salad. Maybe the citrus makes it taste better? You are certainly creative!
Deborah Brooks says
The citrus is a nice compliment to it and it’s important to massage it to soften it up a bit.
Julie @ Running in a Skirt says
Oh wow! This looks amazing. Right up my alley. One of my favorite organic cafes in town makes something very similar to this and I get it all the time.
Deborah Brooks says
I loved how all the flavors meshed together so well
Coco says
I love citrus and avocado! I just picked up a bag of shredded kale and Brussels sprouts at TJs this weekend!
Deborah Brooks says
I am in love with the kale/brussels shredded combo so good! We need to cook together this summer 🙂
ilka says
This salad look super delicious. I need to get honey crystals to make this awesome dressing!:)
Deborah Brooks says
Thanks I hope you enjoy it!
Sarah says
This looks simply delicious! I love a good kale salad and really loving citrus right now! I almost posted a kale salad today too!
Happy Meatless Monday!
[email protected] says
I don’t normally like raw kale but if it’s chopped fine enough with plenty of dressing I’m sure it is yummy. Looks like a very springy dish.
Deborah Brooks says
If you massage the kale a little it really helps to soften it up
Susie @ Suzlyfe says
This looks AMAZING! love it!
Deborah Brooks says
Thanks so much I loved the flavor combo
Kathryn @ Dancing to Running says
I’m with you – when I think of spring and summer I think of citrus. Somehow, it just seems to taste better when its nice and warm and sunny outside.
Deborah Brooks says
Yes now we need the warm and sunny part!
Nicole @ Fitful Focus says
This sounds so so so good! I’ll have to keep this in mind as a good side for whenever I host my next dinner 🙂
Deborah Brooks says
A great spring side! Thanks
Chaitali says
Sounds delicious! I love fruit in my salads but I’ve only used one at a time. I’ve never combined different citrus fruits together like this.
Stephanie says
YUMMY!!!!! That looks beyond delicious 🙂
vicki says
This looks really yummy! Just in time for salad season!
Deborah Brooks says
Thanks so much! I love all the spring fruits
Rachel says
Confession: I’ve never massaged kale. I’ve heard you’re supposed to but a) I’m lazy and b) I don’t mind how tough it is. I kinda like it. 🙂
Deborah Brooks says
I don’t mind it tougher either but just thought I’d put it out there 🙂
Sana says
So many wonderful flavors in this dish. I do have to say that lime in any dish just makes it POP with flavor!
Deborah Brooks says
I agree! Lime is great in dressings and keeps the avocado from going brown
Laura @ Sprint 2 the Table says
What a gorgeous salad! I love the creamy smoothness of avocado with a juicy grape fruit.
I would try this with toasted pine nuts too… for some reason that’s always what I want with parm!
Deborah Brooks says
That works too! I love all the different textures and flavors together
Courtney says
Such a gorgeous salad, and so perfect for spring!
Deborah Brooks says
Thanks! I love all the fruits right now
glenneth says
that salad looks delicious! so colorful!
Deborah Brooks says
Thanks I love all the different flavors
Jenn says
That’s so bright and colorful! What a pretty summer dish!
Deborah Brooks says
Thanks the fruit is so good right now just had to include it
Lauren says
Oh I LOVE the citrus and kale combo…yummy!
Deborah Brooks says
It is good isn’t it?
Jessica says
This looks super delicious! I definitely need to make this.
Deborah Brooks says
Thanks!
runawaybridalplanner says
This looks amazing!
I was just at the store a couple days ago and bought a bunch of stuff for salads, I am trying to incorporate more natural greens in my diet. To help keep healthy while I am working on these weight loss goals.
I don’t have quite all these ingredients in my cupboard, but maybe next time I go to the store:)
(I know I have told you this before, but I envy your food picture taking skills!!)
Deborah Brooks says
lol thanks! I have been working on my food photos it’s hard! I love lots of greens in my diet they are so yummy
Carmy says
This is the first time I’ve seen such a cool vegetable chopper!
Deborah Brooks says
OH it’s the best! And you reminded me I forgot to post a link to it
Sandra Laflamme says
You always have the best looking dishes. I bet the lime honey dressing is amazing!
Deborah Brooks says
It is! Thanks
Jennifer F says
That looks so delicious and vibrant. I’m drooling! And, I love Nektar Naturals 🙂
Deborah Brooks says
I;m a new fan of Nektar Naturals
jill conyers says
This looks delicious. I seem to be saying that a lot. I need to come up with a new way to say yum 🙂
Deborah Brooks says
aw thanks!
Anne says
This looks so delicious! Good idea with the citrus fruit 🙂
Deborah Brooks says
Thanks I loved how the fruit paired so well
MCM Mama Runs says
Ooh, love the suggestion for massaging the kale. I love the taste of kale, but I’m not a huge fan of the raw texture. I’ll have to try this.
Deborah Brooks says
The massaging really helps to soften it up a bit. Balsamic also works really well with a dash of salt and let it sit for a few minutes
Crystal Renaud says
Sounds like a great combination of flavor! Makes me crave summer! I love kale, it is always in my fridge and in the summer I make sure it is in our garden.
Deborah Brooks says
I wish I had my own garden! Not one of my strengths-hope you enjoy it
Akaleistar says
Sweet and salt is always a good combination, and this salad looks delicious 🙂
Deborah Brooks says
I love that combo too!
Abby @ BackAtSquareZero says
This looks fabulous. I never make salads because mine always end up so boring.
Deborah Brooks says
LOL Just throw in everything you have 🙂
Mary Beth Jackson says
I do love fruit in my salad & I love the idea of the shredded Brussel sprouts- smart!
Deborah Brooks says
I love them too! Hope you enjoy
Natalie says
Love the tip on softening the kale – ahh, good one! This salad looks divine!!
Pinning!!!