Cooking with Elle // Avocado Kale Salad

Welcome to the first recipe of the Cooking with Elle series [see intro post]. Let me first disclose my disclaimer: I am not a Martha Stewart in-the-making. Cooking does not come naturally to me and I do not know all there is to know about the culinary world. That said, I have been having a lot of fun exploring new recipes this year and most recently have dived into the wide world of paleo.

My recipe today is my new favorite salad, the Avocado Kale Salad from Elana Amsterdam's Paleo Cooking from Elana's Cooking (p. 46). I am hooked. I've been making this salad a few times each week and have ventured out to add different ingredients as well.

I was once repulsed by kale's strong, bitter taste compared to the more enjoyable romaine or iceberg. But when paired with avocado and lemon juice, you get some sparks and magic!  And it is loaded with health benefits, which makes it a great leafy green to add to a variety of salads and entrees. Kale is an excellent source of vitamins (A, C, K), calcium, potassium, and iron. In addition, its a great source of fiber and antioxidants. Due to all of these nutrients, kale has been attributed to eye health, decreasing cholesterol, decreasing risk of heart disease, as well as anti-cancer benefits (1).

Are you convinced yet about diving into the crunch world of kale? I hope so, because here is my favorite kale recipe:

Avocado Kale Salad

1 bunch kale, sliced crosswise onto 1/4-inch strips (roughly 4 cups)

2 tbsp olive oil

1 tsp fresh squeezed lemon juice

1 very ripe avocado, diced into 1-inch cubes

1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper

1/2 tsp sea salt

In a large bowl, mix all ingredients and massage avocado cubes into the salad, 

mixing it to coat the kale evenly. 

Feel free to experiment with add different ingredients, using this recipe as your base. I have added pan-friend halibut, roasted almonds and pistachios, tomatoes, and cucumbers. 

Let me know if you end up trying this easy salad recipe!

Liked this recipe? Check out more on the Cooking with Elle series!