Wow Factor Marinated Kale Salad that Anyone Can Make

One night I was experimenting with some ingredients to make a homemade salad dressing and wow, did I ever find the right combination! Ditch the oily processed supermarket dressings and try this easy kale marinade that only gets better and better. I'd bet you even have most of the ingredients already at home. Here it is, the kale salad with all of the wows.

Ingredients:

For the dressing:

• 1 whole, ripe avocado
• Juice of 1 whole lemon
• 1 Tsp of Bragg's liquid aminos
• 1 Tsp apple cider vinegar
• 3-5 drops of stevia
• 1 tsp onion powder
• 1 tsp paprika powder

For the salad:

• 1/2 - 3/4 a head of washed organic curly kale
• 1/4 cup of raw pumpkin seeds
• 1 Tsp ground flax seed

Instructions:

1. Chop and then smash the avocado in a small bowl using the back of a fork.

2. Slice the lemon and squeeze out the juice in each half using a lemon squeezer tool. Add in the liquid aminos, apple cider vinegar, stevia and both stir and smash.

3. Add in the onion and paprika powders and stir once more.

4. De-stem and rip up kale leaves into tiny pieces by hand. Fill the salad bowl up half way and mix in half of the dressing. Fill the salad bowl to the top with the rest of the kale and then mix in all of the dressing. This helps with coverage.

5. Add in the pumpkin seeds and flax and toss very well with two large spoons or salad tongs.

6. Cover the salad bowl and let stand for anywhere from 10 mins to an hour. If marinating for more than 10-15 mins, I suggest moving the salad into the fridge.

Hey You

Yeah you! You can make great kale salad! Stock up on these great health supporting ingredients.

On It's Last Day...

Over ripe avocados are no problem! Slice 'em up. The softer, the better.

Feel the Burn

Squeeze that lemon. Lemons support the liver, a vital organ that metabolizes fat and cleanses blood.

Mushy = Tasty

Your marinade will basically be a mushy mess, but that's exactly what we're looking for it to be!

Hail to the Kale

Kale is one of the most nutrient-dense foods on the planet! Eat and bow, eat and bow.

Distribute Tribute

This photo captures the tossing process and it's very important! Make sure the kale is evenly and well covered with the marinade mix.

Crunch Stuff

Add in the pumpkin seeds (or any seed or nut - chia would be great) and ground flax for that statisfying crunch.

Supper's On

Here is the kale salad, served with some gluten-free spaghetti under a homemade tomato sauce. Dinner just dropped the mic.

This salad could be a big lunch or dinner salad, or it could be split among 2-4 as a side. Remember that it contains a whole avocado, so if you are keeping your avocado intake to 1/2 per day (which is recommended if you are trying to lose weight), just keep in mind that it would be twice a much.

I know you'll find this recipe to be a winner. Kale is a very hearty green, so it can soak up moisture without becoming soggy. The pumpkin seeds add some crunch in there too. Sporting a delicious flavor, this high-energy, high-nutrient, digestion-revving, satisfying salad is a great way to start dining right.

Try it for yourself and keep us in the loop! Post your Wow Factor Kale on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook, and please tag us @forkfuloflove so that we can see it. Let us know your thoughts and experiences below in the comments section or on social media.