Minimal Avocado Kale Salad

I love a simple salad that lets one ingredient be the star of the show. I had some perfectly ripe avocados and decided to throw them with some kale, salt, pepper, and lemon juice. The buttery avocado is perfectly complemented by salt and lemon, but adding kale makes things more filling and nutrient-dense. This is a great salad to add some protein to! I follow a pescatarian diet, so sometimes I'll add tuna or salmon.

When I eat raw kale, I like to massage it with some salt and lemon juice first. This breaks down the difficult-to-chew texture and bitterness kale is known for. 

I hate blogs that post their entire life story before getting to the recipe, so without further ado, here it is.

Ingredients

2 handfuls organic kale 

1 tbsp fresh lemon juice 

1 generous pinch salt 

Pepper (amount up to your discretion)

1 organic Hass avocado

Instructions 

Step 1: Add the kale to a medium to large bowl with high sides. 

Step 2: Add the salt and lemon juice to the bowl with the kale.

Step 3: With clean hands, scrunch up the kale for about a minute. It should look more vibrant in color and be softer.

Step 4: Slice the avocado however you prefer--I like a large dice for perfect bites.

Step 5: Add the avocado to the kale.

Step 6: Top with pepper and an extra squeeze of lemon. 🍋 

I hope you enjoy this recipe--it's a perfect lunch for days when you don't feel like cooking. It also transports well, and because of the acid from the lemon, the avocado doesn't brown. The fiber in the kale and healthy fats in the avocado keep you feeling full for a long time, and you can easily add a protein like chicken or tuna.