Description
This Citrus Pomegranate Kale Salad is fresh, vibrant, and bursting with seasonal flavor. With massaged kale, juicy citrus slices, crunchy almonds, creamy avocado, and sweet-tart pomegranate, it’s finished with a bright honey-lemon vinaigrette. Perfect for holiday gatherings, meal prep, or everyday healthy eating.
Ingredients
Scale
Salad:
- 1 bunch kale, stems removed and leaves chopped
- 1 orange, peeled and segmented
- 1 grapefruit (or blood orange), peeled and segmented
- ½ cup pomegranate arils
- 1 ripe avocado, sliced
- ⅓ cup sliced almonds, toasted
- Optional: goat cheese, sunflower seeds, or quinoa
Honey-Lemon Vinaigrette:
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 1½ tablespoons lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Massage the kale: Place chopped kale in a large bowl with a drizzle of olive oil and a pinch of salt. Massage for 1–2 minutes until softened.
- Prep citrus: Peel and segment the orange and grapefruit.
- Toast almonds: In a dry skillet over medium heat, toast until golden and fragrant.
- Mix vinaigrette: Whisk together olive oil, lemon juice, honey, Dijon, salt, and pepper.
- Assemble salad: Combine kale, citrus, pomegranate arils, avocado, and almonds in a large bowl.
- Dress and serve: Drizzle vinaigrette, toss gently, and top with optional cheese or seeds. Serve immediately.
Notes
- Use Tuscan kale for a more tender bite.
- Massage kale well to remove bitterness.
- Segment citrus carefully to avoid pith.
- Add quinoa or chickpeas for extra protein.
- Swap honey for maple syrup to make it vegan.
- Best enjoyed fresh, but will keep up to 2 days refrigerated.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Salad, Side Dish
- Method: No-Cook
- Cuisine: American, Mediterranean
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 220
- Sugar: 9g
- Sodium: 120mg
- Fat: 15g
- Saturated Fat: 2g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 18g
- Fiber: 6g
- Protein: 4g
- Cholesterol: 0mg
Keywords: Citrus Pomegranate Kale Salad, Winter Salad Recipe, Healthy Kale Salad, Holiday Salad Recipes, Honey Lemon Vinaigrette Salad