Monday just gave me a knowing wink, then passed me a giant serving of this Super Summer Detox Salad.
I’m not sure who cued Mr. Monday into my Friday night bar bill, showed him the recycling bin after Saturday’s excursion on the lake (I promise I shared that six-pack and guac!), or mentioned Sunday night’s barbecue bonanza (kudos to my sister-in-law, who cooked five pounds of fall-apart tender spare ribs), but he has a way of cajoling me into atoning for my weekend excesses. It’s as if the “M” on my calendar stands for “Make Amends.” On Mondays, I restore the equilibrium of my digestive system, and thanks to wonderful, nutrient-rich meals like this super summer detox salad, I feel happy and satisfied while completing the task.
About This Delicious Detox Salad with Kale
I created this salad the week after we returned from New York City, which if you’ve so much as skimmed that post, you might have an idea why I felt compelled to up my intake of greens. In the Big Apple, we ate with the guilt-free gusto of vacation, regretting only our lack of stomach space. Though I certainly wouldn’t trade the midnight pork buns, daily croissants, melt-in-your-mouth pastas, and fried chicken we enjoyed for a salad bar, I arrived home in a body crying out for a reset (and vegetables).
I’ve long been suspicious of stereotypical juice-based detoxes (plus, I completely lack the will power to subsist on liquids alone), so instead, I created a filling meal based around antioxidant-rich foods. The result is a hearty salad loaded with texture, good-for-you-ingredients, and bursting with fresh summer flavor.
Let’s review our detox dream team: crunchy kale; bright cherries (strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, and grapes would be excellent too); walnuts; whole grains (I used farro—quinoa or brown rice are good swaps, if you prefer); artichokes; lemon; and chickpeas, plus red onions for a little zip.
I can already feel the power.
Make Ahead and Storage Tips
- To Make Ahead. Chop all the vegetables up to 1 day in advance and store them in the refrigerator.
- To Store. Place leftover salad in an airtight storage container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. I actually thought it tasted even better leftover, after the kale had mellowed and softened a bit.
More Healthy Salad Recipes
In the event you need one more reason to toss together this detox salad, let it be the season. Once again, I’m joining the #EatSeasonal blogger team to share a round up of recipes highlighting produce that is at its peak of freshness and flavor. The June list is dreamy.
Honestly, I think I could make some version of this detox salad with just about every ingredient on this list, and I hope you feel inspired to do the same.
Monday, give me all the knowing looks you like—I’ve got a forkful of summer detox salad, and I’ll dominate any stare down.
Super Summer Detox Salad
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup uncooked farro or quinoa
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 1/4 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice, about 1 large or 2 small lemons
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt, plus additional for cooking the farro
- 1 large bunch kale leaves (about 10 to 12 ounces) destemmed and chopped
- 1 cup pitted cherries halved
- 1 can chickpeas (15 ounces) rinsed
- 1/4 cup finely chopped red onion
- 1 can artichoke hearts (14 ounces) rinsed and sliced into quarters if large
- 1/2 cup toasted walnut halves roughly chopped
Instructions
- Place the farro in a medium saucepan with 1 1/2 cups water and 1/4 teaspoon salt. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, then simmer uncovered, stirring occasionally, until the water is absorbed and the farro is tender, about 25 minutes. Transfer to a large serving bowl. While the farro cooks, prepare the other ingredients.
- In a small bowl or measuring cup, briskly whisk together the olive oil, lemon juice, and 1/2 teaspoon salt until well combined. Pour over the warm farro, then toss to coat. Add the kale, cherries, chickpeas, red onions, and artichokes and toss to combine. Sprinkle the walnuts over the top. If time allows, place in the refrigerator for 20 minutes to allow the kale to tenderize. Enjoy.
Notes
- Leftover Summer Detox Salad will keep in the refrigerator for up to four days.
Nutrition
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RegisterFor more June inspiration, don’t miss the rest of our #EatSeasonal recipes, and tag your own social media seasonal recipe photos with hashtag #EatSeasonal too!
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Hi Erin! Do you think this salad would taste okay swapping arugula for the kale? Let me know what you think! :)
I’m sure that would be tasty Tracey! The arugula will have a much more peppery taste so it will change the flavor profile somewhat, but if you like arugula, then I’m sure you’d enjoy that. The arugula also won’t last as long in the refrigerator as kale once it’s mixed in (it wilts more quickly once it has dressing on it), so if you’d like leftovers, you might consider waiting to stir into the arugula only into the portion you are planning to eat right away.
What type of nut would substitute best? I’m allergic to walnuts so I was thinking maybe pecans or almonds. Just curious if anyone had tried switching that up. Thanks!
Melissa, I think either would be delicious, truly! Personally, I think I’d go for pecans with this flavor combo, but you really can’t go wrong.
Thank you so much for the reply Erin! Made tonigh using pecans (and kale just picked from my garden) and it’s so GOOD!
WHOOO HOOO! Glad to hear it Melissa, thanks!
Made this a few times! It’s awesome!. I wish you had calories per serving
Hi Sharon! I started providing a nutrition estimate for recipes published 2016 and on, but unfortunately it’s too time consuming to go back to previous recipes. Online calculators like MyFitnessPal can help if you’re interested in knowing the nutrition estimates!