Black Bean and Toasted Pepita Kale Salad

Hail to the kale! Kale is packed full of vitamins and nutrients that will help reduce inflammation, detoxify your body, and boost your immunity! Kale is a bit more fibrous than a typical lettuce you would use for a salad. To offset the “toughness,” it is best to massage your kale before adding the rest of the ingredients and salad dressing. This breaks down the fiber and also releases a subtle sweetness. Black Bean and Toasted Pepita Kale Salad is a delicious way to incorporate kale into your diet. It will pair perfectly with a Mexican-flavored meal. Enjoy!

Black Bean and Toasted Pepita Kale Salad

Serves: 8

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes

Total Time: 20 minutes

INGREDIENTS

2 large bunches of kale, de-stemmed and chopped
2 avocados, diced
1 jalapeno, seeded and finely diced (optional)
juice from 1 lemon
14 oz. can low-sodium black beans, drained and rinsed with water
1 cup feta cheese, crumbled
1/2 cup dried cherries
1/2 cup salted pepitas
3/4 cup cherry tomatoes, sliced in half
1 cup tortilla strips or crushed tortilla chips
6 tablespoons olive oil
6 tablespoons fresh lime juice (approx 3 limes)
2 teaspoons 100% pure honey
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon ground cilantro
1/2 teaspoon ground coriander
1/4 teaspoon of Himalayan or sea salt

INSTRUCTIONS

Place kale in a large salad bowl. Sprinkle with sea salt and massage kale for 2-3 minutes or until it turns a deep green color and decreases in size by 1/4.
Heat pan over medium heat. Place pepitas in pan and cook for 3-5 minutes or until pepitas become fragrant and slightly browned. Set aside.
In a separate bowl, toss diced avocado with juice from 1 lemon.
In a small bowl, whisk together olive oil, lime juice, diced jalapeno, cumin, cilantro, and coriander. Pour dressing over kale and toss until well coated.
Mix black beans, tomatoes, dried cherries, feta cheese, pepitas, and avocado into kale. Gently toss.
Right before serving top the salad with tortilla strips.

NOTES

To make this a main dish add diced grilled chicken or shredded pork!

Dairy-free: Omit feta.
Vegan: Omit feta.

Gina Schade

Gina is a certified health coach, author of The 90/10 Life Cookbook and director at Beautycounter. She helps her clients create a toxin-free complexion they feel 100% confident in!

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