Creamy Avocado White Bean Kale (Printable)
Massaged kale tossed with avocado-tahini, white beans, cherry tomatoes and herbs for a fresh, hearty bowl in 20 minutes.
# What You’ll Need:
→ Salad Base
01 - 1 large bunch kale (about 7 ounces), stems removed, leaves chopped
02 - 1 ripe avocado, diced
03 - 1 can (15 ounces) white beans, drained and rinsed
04 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
05 - 1/2 small red onion, thinly sliced
06 - 1/2 cup cucumber, diced
07 - 1/3 cup mixed fresh herbs such as parsley, cilantro, or dill, roughly chopped
08 - 1/4 cup toasted pumpkin seeds
→ Creamy Avocado Dressing
09 - 1/2 ripe avocado
10 - 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
11 - 2 tablespoons tahini
12 - 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
13 - 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
14 - 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
15 - 1 small garlic clove, minced
16 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
17 - 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
18 - 2 to 3 tablespoons water, as needed for thinning
# How-To Steps:
01 - Place chopped kale in a large bowl. Drizzle with 1 teaspoon olive oil and a pinch of salt. Massage the kale with your hands for 1 to 2 minutes until leaves are tender and reduced in volume.
02 - Combine 1/2 avocado, olive oil, tahini, lemon juice, apple cider vinegar, Dijon mustard, garlic, salt, and black pepper in a blender or food processor. Blend until smooth, adding water one tablespoon at a time to reach a creamy, pourable consistency.
03 - Add diced avocado, white beans, cherry tomatoes, red onion, cucumber, and half of the chopped fresh herbs to the massaged kale. Drizzle the salad with the creamy avocado dressing and gently toss until ingredients are evenly coated.
04 - Divide the salad into serving bowls. Sprinkle with toasted pumpkin seeds and the remaining fresh herbs before serving immediately.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- The lemon-tahini dressing takes humble kale and beans and transforms them into pure, creamy magic you’ll want to drizzle on everything.
- Each forkful is loaded with texture from nutty pumpkin seeds to juicy tomatoes, making every bite feel fresh and so satisfying.
02 -
- Forgetting to massage the kale leaves made my first attempt taste like eating a shrub—take your time with this part.
- Trying the dressing as you blend (with a leaf, not a spoon) helps you adjust the tang and salt perfectly for your tastes.
03 -
- If your avocado is a touch firm, let it sit near bananas an hour or two; ripening magic!
- The salad gets even better when you use a medley of herbs—don’t stick to just one kind if you can help it.