A few weeks ago, my husband and I took a little “staycation” at a fancy boutique hotel in town. While we were lounging by the pool, living the good life, we enjoyed the most amazing greens bowl. It was a perfect light summer treat. We’re typically not “I’ll have a salad” people, especially not on vacation, but this one was a refreshing complement to a warm summer day in the sun. I decided as soon as I got home, I would come up with a “copycat” recipe.
I don’t know about you, but I have a difficult time with raw kale and broccoli. They’re just not my favorite. Well let me tell you, with this recipe, you just may reconcile your relationship with them. Because the broccoli is chopped thinly and the kale is massaged in order to wilt and break down the bitterness, these two go perfectly together. Then you have the sweet and spicy mix of the dressing and it really is a solid summer lunch staple – or it’s a great side for a grilled chicken or steak dinner!
*Please note – the dressing is a lot, more than you’ll need for the salad ingredients. That way you can double or triple your salad amount for a crowd, or use throughout the week as a dressing or meat marinade.
Ingredients:
- 2 cups chopped kale, massaged
- 1 cup broccoli, thinly chopped
- 1 cup arugula
- 1 avocado
- 1 lime, juiced
- 3 tablespoons sunflower seeds
- Optional: chopped chicken
Dressing:
- 3/4 cup olive or avocado oil
- 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
- 4 tablespoons raw honey (or maple syrup)
- 2 chipotle chilies in adobo sauce, plus 1 teaspoon of the sauce
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
Directions:
- Blend all the dressing ingredients in a blender until chilies are well blended.
- Massage the chopped kale with a little salt and lime juice so it wilts, and add the rest of the salad ingredients, squeezing more lime on top last.
- Pour about 1/4 cup of the dressing on top of the salad and mix. Add more dressing to desired coverage.
- You won’t need to use all the dressing which is great, because then you can double or triple the salad ingredients if needed. Bonus: this dressing is an excellent marinade for chicken!
