This whole Spring thing has me salading up a storm.
I can’t believe I’m posting two salads in a row. WHO AM I.
I’m in a phase. A noshing phase. I take bites of three million different things instead of eating a real meal. First I’ll snack on a brown rice cake with avocado, then I’ll grab a salted chocolate chia popcorn ball, then I’ll go for a pickle, then I’ll dig into the hummus stash, and so on and so forth until my stomach says ENOUGH, you noshing nincompoop!
This salad is an attempt to cure the noshing nonsense, to sit down and eat a real meal with real colors and real nutrients. I love massaged kale salads because they get better and better as they sit in the fridge. Plus, they’re so damn green that it’s next to impossible not to feel healthier after eating one.
Whenever I’m explaining how to massage kale to new Alchemy employees, they look at me like I have three heads. Yes, I want you to massage the kale. With your hands. That’s what I said.
When I initially partnered up with Blue Diamond to create some deliciousness with their new honey roasted cinnamon almonds, I thought I’d make no-bake bites or protein bars or some other stereotypical blogger snack. But then I thought about strawberry season and massaged kale and needing nutrients in this bod of mine and decided right then and there that I would showcase them as a salad topping. These almonds are quite the show stopper. It took next level self-control to hold myself back from shoving the whole container in my face before the pictures.
And then I realized that I would be photographing them with the lid on so down my trap they went.
If you’ve been reading this blog for longer than five minuets, you probably know that I’m in a serious relationship with cinnamon. When cinnamon and sugar get in close contact with almonds, spectacular things happen.
Like spectacular kale salads with spectacular toppings. Coconut. Strawbs. Dried cherries. Red onion. Jammy dressing. Sweet, salty, tangy, chewy, crunchy. Can you even handle all the different textures and flavors?
I simply cannot.
- ⅓ cup extra virgin olive oil
- ¼ cup apple cider vinegar
- 2½ tbsp strawberry jam
- ¼ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp cinnamon
- Freshly ground black pepper
- 2 large bunches kale, de-stemmed and chopped
- ½ small red onion, thinly sliced
- ¾ cup Blue Diamond Honey Cinnamon Almonds, chopped
- ⅓ cup shredded unsweetened coconut
- ½ cup dried cherries (or dried cranberries)
- ¾ lb strawberries, thinly sliced
- Place dressing ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth.
- Place kale in a large bowl. Pour dressing over top and massage dressing into leaves until the kale is softened and dark green.
- Add onion, almonds, coconut, cherries, and strawberries. Toss to combine.
[Tweet “Strawberry Coconut Kale Salad makes eating healthy EASY. @thehummusapien @bluediamond #ad”]
This post is sponsored by Blue Diamond Almonds. All opinions are my own. Thanks for supporting the brands that make Hummusapien possible!
oh yum!!! I love how you’ve got strawberry jam in the dressing- Can we say flavour sensation!
Arman @ thebigmansworld recently posted…Man Sass Mondays #7- America, E-Books and desserts made of lies
Yes we can say it. FLAVOUR SENSATION.
1) I’m obsessed with those almonds. Uhhhhhb-sessed. 2) I love the addition of coconut on this salad–GENIUS.
Erin @ The Almond Eater recently posted…Paleo Mango Chicken Salad Sandwich
Why not put coconut in everything, ya know?!
You are on a salad roll girl. This one looks UH-mazing.
Maryea {happy healthy mama} recently posted…Spring Cleaning Challenge: An Organized Workspace
Spring has me on a salad roll, I’m tellin’ ya!
You, hands down, make the best salads.
Hayley@healthyregards recently posted…My Tabouli Salad Twist
Heheh thanks lady!
I’m 200% a big meal eater, so this salad is looking like a fantabulous lunch to me! Those cinnamon almonds? Swoon!
Julia recently posted…Grilled Salmon with Grilled Peach and Avocado Salsa
Considering you’re the salad queen, I’ll take that as a HUGE compliment 🙂
I used the honey dijon flavor for my recipe this month, but I did dig into the honey cinnamon ones, too. They are delish! I guess I know what I’ll be making with what’s left now 😉
Hannah @ CleanEatingVeggieGirl recently posted…Lentil and Refried Bean Taquitos {Vegan + Gluten-Free}
The honey dijon were like crack!! Seriously there were gone in like 5 minutes.
Spring makes me want to eat all the berries!! Seriously stocked up on like 3 different kinds this weekend. Salad sounds amazing — fresh, colorful and perfect for some warmer weather!
Dana | fresh simple five recently posted…40 Day Vegetarian Challenge Wrap-Up
Berries are my obsession. I put them in everything!!
I have never added fruit to my salad. EVER! I have obviously been missing out.
Shannon recently posted…Three Bean Vegetarian Chili
You’re about to have your world rocked!!
Alexis, thank you for mentioning Veestro the other day. I googled it and knew that it was exactly what I was looking for to make my life simpler. My first order comes Friday — very excited! 🙂 LOVE FROM SOUTH FLORIDA 🙂
Yayyy so awesome! I’ll be doing a giveaway soon so keep your eyes peeled!
Awesome!! I hope you enter the giveaway 🙂
Nom Nom!
She Rocks Fitness recently posted…Meal Prep Ideas + New Workout
Girllll you need this in your life. STAT.
Good call creating a gorgeous strawberry kale salad with roasted cinnamon almonds instead of protein bars. Although I am sure they would look just as impressive. This salad has my name written on it as I am obsessed with coconut, strawberries and kale plus honey roasted cinnamon almonds seem like the perfect snack for a cinnamon lover like myself.
Tjasa @ Sprinkle of Cinnamon recently posted…Raw chocolate balls
Hahaha now the thought of protein bars sounds pretty unappealing! The almonds are addicting, just warning ya.
I love how creative your salads are! Now I can’t decide whether I want to try this one first or the wheat berry mango salad! I guess I’ll have to do both 🙂
Sharon @ Savormania recently posted…dairy-free potato gratin
I love salads that can just sit in the fridge since I like making meals last 🙂 Enjoy!
Yum! Love the use of strawberry jam in the dressing. I think I’m going to throw a chicken breast on this and call it dinner 😉
That sounds perfect!!
YUM! So much deliciousness all in one salad!
Lacey @ Runs and Roses recently posted…Giving Yourself Grace.
Right?! It’s the best balance of flavors and textures.
Alexis,
I am obsessed! With alchemy and with your blog! After walking into alchemy for the first time after seeing an Instagram post, I have been back at least 4 more times and that was just last week! I fell in love! A friend of mine who works at barre3 told me about your blog and that you started to alchemy! After reading your blog it has helped me stop my obsessive calorie counting and start eating real food again! I have read almost every post! Thank you for being you!
Awww yay!! I’m so glad you found us! I love Barre3 toooo 🙂 SO much greatness. I’m thrilled that you’ve fallen in love with REAL food again. XOXO
You definitely know how to salad. I’m kind of freaking out over how incredible this looks and about how sad I am I didn’t buy the kale I was contemplating at the store yesterday. Love everything about this!!
Leah M @ love me, feed me recently posted…Almond Cookie Crisp Mocha Shake with Fudge Sauce
mmmhmm… this would be amazing with some avocado on top!
What a FABULOUS idea! Definitely adding avocado to the batch I packed in my lunch for tomorrow.
So many delicious foods all mixed together for the best texture and flavor. SCORE!
Emma recently posted…Travel Tulum on a budget + a stunning hideaway island
I’m so glad I discovered your blog and this wonderful salad. I make it once a week. Thanks for what you do!
Just made it and ate it. And it was exotically deeeeelightful. What a strange and enticing combination. Thank you for sharing yer creativity!