Before you come for me, I am fully aware that anything that says detox is a crock of you know what. However, eating things high in vitamins and minerals can help our body do what it does best. Enter this salad.
First things first, we have a base of kale. I too am not a fan of kale but goodness me is it healthy. It is one of the most nutrient dense foods on this planet. We’re talking vitamin A, K, C, B1, B2, B3, B6, manganese, calcium, copper, potassium, magnesium, iron and phosphorus. This doesn’t even count all the antioxidants or minerals packed inside. Plus the way we work it in here, it doesn’t taste bad or become exhausting to chew. The secret? Massage it with a little lemon juice. Get your hands in there and rub that juice in. This will help it start to break down its tough structure which makes it easier to eat, easier to digest and removes some of that very green flavor. Only a splash is needed and then it hang out while you prep everything else.
We top that kale with a variety of veg; purple cabbage, red onion, red bell pepper, tomato, carrots, and for our healthy fats, some roasted pepitas. It’s important that you eat a variety of color as each has their own benefit. The salad is then dressed with a lemon vinaigrette that’s literally 4 ingredients and can easily be adjusted to your own taste preference.
- 3 cups kale, chopped
- 1/2 cup purple cabbage, chopped
- 1/4 cup red bell pepper, chopped
- 1/4 cup red onion, sliced
- 1/4 cup carrot, shredded
- 1/4 cup grape tomato, chopped
- 1 tbsp pepitas
- 1/2 tbsp lemon juice (plus a teense extra)
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- Place kale in a large salad bowl. Splash in a small amount (around a tsp) of lemon juice. With impeccably clean hands, massage juice into kale. Set aside to relax while you prep other ingredients.
- Add 1/2 tbsp lemon juice and 1 tbsp olive oil to a small bowl or lidded container. Season generously with salt and pepper. Whisk or shake (with lid on obviously) until homogenous. Taste for seasoning and adjust as need be.
- Add all remaining veg to kale, dress and toss to combine. If meal prepping, store dressing separately.