When you crave something vibrant, crunchy, and so satisfying you’ll want to devour a second bowl, this Seriously Delicious Detox Salad absolutely delivers. Packed with colorful veggies, nutty crunch, and a zippy carrot-ginger dressing, it’s my go-to pick-me-up when I want to feel energized and totally nourished.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Burst of Freshness: Every bite is packed with crisp, cool veggies, energizing your palate and leaving you feeling genuinely revitalized.
- Unbelievably Satisfying: With wholesome kale, hearty nuts, and creamy avocado, this salad is filling enough for lunch but light enough to keep you zippy.
- Flavorful & Versatile: The carrot-ginger dressing brings a tangy, sweet zing you’ll crave, but the whole recipe is super flexible for ingredient swaps.
- Gorgeous Colors: It’s a rainbow in a bowl—making eating well as appealing to the eyes as to the taste buds!
Ingredients You’ll Need
The magic of this Seriously Delicious Detox Salad is how a handful of simple, fresh ingredients come together for layers of flavor, crunch, and color. There’s nothing fussy here, but each element matters—from bold cruciferous veggies to delicate green onions and a show-stopping dressing. Here’s what makes up the magic:
- Kale (3 cups, finely chopped): This hearty green forms the superfood base, adding body, vitamins, and a lovely chew.
- Broccoli florets (2 cups, finely chopped): Raw broccoli brings even more crunch, fiber, and earthiness.
- Red cabbage (2 cups, finely chopped): Red cabbage’s vivid color and delicate sweetness balance stronger veggie flavors beautifully.
- Carrots (1 cup, matchstick or shredded): Classic brightness and just the right touch of natural sweetness.
- Fresh cilantro (1 cup, roughly chopped): Earthy, citrusy, and totally refreshing—cilantro wakes up every forkful.
- Toasted slivered almonds (1/2 cup): Don’t skip the toasting! These nuts deliver deep, toasty flavor and crunch.
- Green onions (1/3 cup, thinly sliced): Their zippy mildness pops in every bite, bridging flavors between veggies and dressing.
- Avocado (1, diced): Creamy cubes of avocado add dreamy richness and silky texture.
- Carrot-Ginger Dressing (1 batch): This homemade, blender-whipped dressing is the soul of the salad—zingy, fragrant, and slightly sweet. See below for the recipe!
- For the Carrot-Ginger Dressing: One large carrot, rice wine vinegar, avocado or olive oil, fresh ginger, honey, white (shiro) miso, toasted sesame oil, plus salt and black pepper to taste.
Variations
One of my favorite things about the Seriously Delicious Detox Salad? It’s endlessly adaptable! Use what you have on hand, change it up for your tastes or dietary buzzwords, and make it your own.
- Add Protein: Slip in some cooked, chilled quinoa or a handful of chickpeas for a heartier meal, or top with grilled chicken or shrimp.
- Go Nut-Free: Swap the slivered almonds for roasted pumpkin seeds (pepitas) or sunflower seeds for a similar crunch without nuts.
- Switch Up Herbs: No cilantro? Try fresh mint, parsley, or even basil for an, herby, garden-fresh note.
- Spice It Up: Add a pinch of red pepper flakes to the dressing, or toss in some diced jalapeño for a gentle, detoxifying kick.
- Dressing Swaps: If you’re feeling lazy, any good-quality store-bought ginger or miso dressing works in a pinch—though homemade is totally worth it!
How to Make Seriously Delicious Detox Salad
Step 1: Prep All the Veggies
This salad is all about texture, so take the time to finely chop the kale, broccoli, and red cabbage—either with a sharp knife or, for ultimate speed, in a food processor (just pulse to avoid mush!). Shred the carrots, slice the green onions, and roughly chop the cilantro. Dicing the avocado comes last so it doesn’t brown!
Step 2: Mix Up the Carrot-Ginger Dressing
Make the show-stealing dressing by tossing the carrot, rice wine vinegar, oil, fresh ginger, honey, miso, and sesame oil in a blender or food processor. Blitz until completely creamy and smooth. Taste and adjust—add salt, pepper, or an extra drizzle of honey if you love a sweeter finish.
Step 3: Assemble the Salad
In your very biggest bowl, combine all the prepped veggies, almonds, and green onions. (Pro tip: If you’re making ahead, keep the avocado out until just before serving.) Drizzle generously with that gorgeous Carrot-Ginger Dressing and toss thoroughly until every bite is coated and glistening.
Step 4: Serve and Enjoy!
Gently fold in the diced avocado, toss one last time, and serve immediately. If you like, add an extra sprinkle of seeds or herbs on top for bonus style points. Get ready to dig into Seriously Delicious Detox Salad magic—your taste buds (and whole body!) will thank you.
Pro Tips for Making Seriously Delicious Detox Salad
- Food Processor Magic: Chop kale, broccoli, and cabbage in a food processor for perfectly uniform, tiny pieces that make every forkful irresistible (and make prep lightning fast!).
- Toasting Almonds for Wow: Always toast your slivered almonds gently in a dry skillet—this extra step unlocks toasty flavor and next-level crunch.
- Dress Before Serving: Toss the salad with dressing just before serving for the freshest crunch. If prepping ahead, store salad and dressing separately and combine at the last minute.
- Avocado Last: Add diced avocado right before serving to avoid browning and preserve that luscious, creamy bite.
How to Serve Seriously Delicious Detox Salad
Garnishes
To make your Seriously Delicious Detox Salad extra special, sprinkle the top with extra toasted almonds, a few sesame seeds, or chopped fresh cilantro for a pop of green. A light dusting of black or white sesame seeds makes the finished bowl look restaurant-worthy!
Side Dishes
This salad is a star on its own, but pairs beautifully with grilled salmon, simple sautéed shrimp, or a perfectly soft-boiled egg on top. A hunk of crusty sourdough or a cup of miso soup alongside makes it a hearty meal.
Creative Ways to Present
Serve in glass jars for meal prep on-the-go, layer in a wide wooden salad bowl as the stunning centerpiece of your table, or spoon into lettuce cups for mini, hand-held bites at your next brunch or potluck. The colors are so gorgeous—don’t be afraid to show them off!
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
If you find yourself with leftovers (it does happen, though rarely around here!), store the undressed veggies in an airtight container for up to 2 days. Keep the dressing and avocado separate for best texture, then combine everything just before enjoying.
Freezing
Raw chopped veggies and fresh herbs don’t freeze well, so this isn’t a salad to stash in the freezer. However, the Carrot-Ginger Dressing can be frozen in a small jar for up to 2 months—just thaw in the fridge and shake before using.
Reheating
This salad is best enjoyed fresh and cold—there’s no reheating needed! If it’s been stored in the fridge, give it a big toss (and maybe a fresh squeeze of lemon or splash of vinegar) to brighten everything back up.
FAQs
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Can I prep Seriously Delicious Detox Salad ahead of time?
Absolutely! Chop all your veggies and store them (undressed) in the fridge for up to 2 days. Keep the dressing and avocado separate until you’re ready to serve, so each bite stays crisp and fresh.
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Is this salad recipe vegan or gluten-free?
It’s naturally gluten-free, and can be made vegan by swapping the honey in the dressing with maple syrup or agave. Always double-check your miso to ensure it’s gluten-free (most shiro miso is, but it’s best to confirm).
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I’m not a fan of kale—can I use another green?
Definitely! Try finely shredded savoy cabbage, baby spinach, or even Swiss chard. Just aim for greens that hold their structure and can stand up to a hearty salad like this one.
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What’s the best way to chop all these veggies quickly?
A food processor is your best friend here: just pulse each veggie until finely chopped (being careful not to overdo it). If you don’t have one, a sharp knife and a little patience will still give you great results.
Final Thoughts
If you’re craving a nourishing, crunchy, flavor-packed dish that makes you feel utterly fantastic, give this Seriously Delicious Detox Salad a try. It’s as easy to make as it is beautiful, and it might just become your new obsession. Enjoy every bite—you deserve delicious, vibrant goodness!
Print
Seriously Delicious Detox Salad Recipe
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 4–6 servings 1x
- Category: Salad
- Method: Tossing
- Cuisine: Detox
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
This Seriously Delicious Detox Salad is a vibrant and nutritious dish that is perfect for resetting and refreshing your body. Packed with kale, broccoli, red cabbage, carrots, and a flavorful Carrot Ginger Dressing, this salad is a satisfying meal or side dish.
Ingredients
Detox Salad Ingredients:
- 3 cups finely-chopped kale leaves
- 2 cups finely-chopped broccoli florets
- 2 cups finely-chopped red cabbage
- 1 cup matchstick (shredded) carrots
- 1 cup roughly-chopped fresh cilantro leaves
- 1/2 cup toasted slivered almonds
- 1/3 cup thinly-sliced green onions
- 1 avocado, peeled, pitted, and diced
Carrot Ginger Dressing Ingredients:
- 1 large carrot, peeled and roughly-chopped
- 1/4 cup rice wine vinegar
- 2 tablespoons avocado oil or olive oil
- 1 tablespoon finely-chopped fresh ginger
- 1 tablespoon honey (or your desired sweetener)
- 1 tablespoon white (shiro) miso
- 1/2 teaspoon toasted sesame oil
- Kosher salt and black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- To Make The Salad: Add all ingredients together in a large bowl, and toss to combine. Serve immediately. (Or if you are not going to serve the entire salad in one setting, the salad can be mixed without the dressing and refrigerated in a sealed container for up to 2 days with the dressing refrigerated separately in another sealed container.)
- To Make The Carrot-Ginger Dressing: Add all ingredients to a blender or food processor, and pulse until completely smooth. Season to taste with salt and pepper, and/or add extra honey if you’d like a sweeter dressing. Serve immediately or refrigerate in a sealed container for up to 1 week.
Notes
- I recommend chopping the salad ingredients by adding each to a food processor and pulsing until chopped. Or, you’re also more than welcome to chop them by hand.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: Approx. 240 kcal
- Sugar: Approx. 8g
- Sodium: Approx. 300mg
- Fat: Approx. 18g
- Saturated Fat: Approx. 2g
- Unsaturated Fat: Approx. 15g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: Approx. 20g
- Fiber: Approx. 6g
- Protein: Approx. 7g
- Cholesterol: 0mg
