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?
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Hooray for spring salads! This looks delicious- thanks for the link up! 🙂
Annmarie recently posted…Easy Lemon Basil Zoodles {Gluten Free, Vegan}
Thanks for joining us!
Yumm I love citrus with kale it helps kill the bitterness. Great recipe I want to eat it right now.
Renee @ Bendiful Blog recently posted…Jalapeno Black Beans #meatlessmonday
Thanks I did love the flavors combos of this one
Such a beautiful Spring salad! The dressing sounds amazing, Pinned 🙂 Have a Great Week!!
Angela recently posted…70.3 Training: Back on Track
Thanks so much!Hope you enjoy it
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!
Kaila @healthyhelperblog! recently posted…Gluten-Free Mocha Cranberry Muffins [whole grain + sugar-free]
OH yeah sunflower seeds would be great as well! I am loving the citrus right now
Oh my gosh, I love this combination. Not only is it beautiful, but so nutritious and the flavors sound amazing. Pinning!
Sarah @ BucketListTummy recently posted…8 Healthy Dinners in 30 minutes or less
Thank so much! I really loved how all the flavors meshed together.
When the weather warms up I eat a lot of salads. And always with avocado :-). This looks so good and fresh. Thanks for hosting!
Debbie @ Coach Debbie Runs recently posted…30 Minute Dinner: Gardein Crabless Cakes with Mango Avocado Salsa
Thanks I thought you might like this one!
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.
Mary Ellen @ VNutrition recently posted…Pistachio Pesto Pasta
I never used to like fruit in my salads but I’ve come around and they are fantastic!
I don’t know if I’d like a kale salad. Maybe the citrus makes it taste better? You are certainly creative!
Wendy@Taking the Long Way Home recently posted…Big Sur Marathon Training Week 10
The citrus is a nice compliment to it and it’s important to massage it to soften it up a bit.
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.
Julie @ Running in a Skirt recently posted…Fashion Friday- Navy Sheer Shirt
I loved how all the flavors meshed together so well
I love citrus and avocado! I just picked up a bag of shredded kale and Brussels sprouts at TJs this weekend!
Coco recently posted…Facing The Reality Of Needing Recovery
I am in love with the kale/brussels shredded combo so good! We need to cook together this summer 🙂
This salad look super delicious. I need to get honey crystals to make this awesome dressing!:)
ilka recently posted…Top 10 Reasons Why I Go For A Run and Sunday Fitness & Food Link-Up
Thanks I hope you enjoy it!
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!
Sarah recently posted…Cacao CocoNUT Smoothie/ Smoothie Bowl
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.
lacey@fairytalesandfitness.com recently posted…What I REALLY didn’t know about racing….
If you massage the kale a little it really helps to soften it up
This looks AMAZING! love it!
Susie @ Suzlyfe recently posted…My Nonchalant Birthday Weekend
Thanks so much I loved the flavor combo
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.
Kathryn @ Dancing to Running recently posted…ZOOMA Annapolis Half Marathon Training Log – Week 10
Yes now we need the warm and sunny part!
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 🙂
Nicole @ Fitful Focus recently posted…Green Smoothies – 3 Ways: Orange Matcha Smoothie Bowl
A great spring side! Thanks
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.
Chaitali recently posted…Weekly review
YUMMY!!!!! That looks beyond delicious 🙂
Stephanie recently posted…Loop the Lake 8k
This looks really yummy! Just in time for salad season!
vicki recently posted…Comment on Workouts… last week today – Apr 10 by Wendy @ Wholistic Woman
Thanks so much! I love all the spring fruits
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. 🙂
Rachel recently posted…Meatless Monday: Cranberry Oat Muffins
I don’t mind it tougher either but just thought I’d put it out there 🙂
So many wonderful flavors in this dish. I do have to say that lime in any dish just makes it POP with flavor!
Sana recently posted…Weekends
I agree! Lime is great in dressings and keeps the avocado from going brown
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!
Laura @ Sprint 2 the Table recently posted…5 Minute Mango-Blueberry Egg White Oats [Recipe]
That works too! I love all the different textures and flavors together
Such a gorgeous salad, and so perfect for spring!
Thanks! I love all the fruits right now
that salad looks delicious! so colorful!
glenneth recently posted…The Leg Raise Challenge by Move It Monday
Thanks I love all the different flavors
That’s so bright and colorful! What a pretty summer dish!
Jenn recently posted…weekly recap: 4/3 – 4/9
Thanks the fruit is so good right now just had to include it
Oh I LOVE the citrus and kale combo…yummy!
Lauren recently posted…Enchilada Casserole with Quinoa
It is good isn’t it?
This looks super delicious! I definitely need to make this.
Thanks!
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!!)
runawaybridalplanner recently posted…Sometimes you have to remember to FOCUS and keep the DESIRE in your heart!
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
This is the first time I’ve seen such a cool vegetable chopper!
Carmy recently posted…5 GTA Trails You Must Visit This Spring
OH it’s the best! And you reminded me I forgot to post a link to it
You always have the best looking dishes. I bet the lime honey dressing is amazing!
Sandra Laflamme recently posted…Final Boston Marathon Training Update–The Taper
It is! Thanks
That looks so delicious and vibrant. I’m drooling! And, I love Nektar Naturals 🙂
Jennifer F recently posted…Sparkling Pineapple Ginger Agua Fresca – #NewWayToSparkle Mocktail
I;m a new fan of Nektar Naturals
This looks delicious. I seem to be saying that a lot. I need to come up with a new way to say yum 🙂
jill conyers recently posted…25 Minute Total Body HIIT with Free Workout Download
aw thanks!
This looks so delicious! Good idea with the citrus fruit 🙂
Anne recently posted…Workout Inspiration – 11.04.2016 Training Log
Thanks I loved how the fruit paired so well
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.
MCM Mama Runs recently posted…Words of advice to a newbie runner
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
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.
Crystal Renaud recently posted…Half Marathon Unplugged Recap
I wish I had my own garden! Not one of my strengths-hope you enjoy it
Sweet and salt is always a good combination, and this salad looks delicious 🙂
Akaleistar recently posted…How to Update Your Closet with ThredUp
I love that combo too!
This looks fabulous. I never make salads because mine always end up so boring.
Abby @ BackAtSquareZero recently posted…Adding in Speed – Intervals
LOL Just throw in everything you have 🙂
I do love fruit in my salad & I love the idea of the shredded Brussel sprouts- smart!
Mary Beth Jackson recently posted…Judgmental- who me?
I love them too! Hope you enjoy
Love the tip on softening the kale – ahh, good one! This salad looks divine!!
Pinning!!!
Natalie recently posted…The Boston Marathon 2016: A Mother Runner’s Perspective