As Tucson, Arizona starts heating up, (The 110° summers are coming!) I start craving crisp, fresh salads bursting with color and flavor more and more. Turning on an oven? No thank you! Roasting root vegetables? Pass. All my favorite autumn and winter habits have been thrown to the wayside now that fresh berries, tender greens, and beautiful produce have arrived full force at the farmer’s markets.

This is one of my favorite refreshing springtime and summer salads that pleases a crowd and offers a nutritional bang. The best part: It takes minutes to prepare and can be made ahead of time to let the flavors of the kale, lemon, and honey get better and better.

What makes this salad nutritionally star worthy? It’s thanks to our glorious cruciferous friend, kale. Kale is one dynamic superfood; Per calorie, it has more calcium than milk and more iron than beef. Kale is also packed with antioxidants which function as anti-inflammatory substances in the bod to reduce oxidative stress and disease causing inflammation. Our other salad ingredients are shining stars too. Healthy fats like avocado and almonds are necessary in helping our body absorb the salad’s vitamins and nutrients, while strawberries and lemon boost up the Vitamin C content for our body’s healthy immune system.

Every bite is infused with delicious flavors from juicy strawberries, zippy lemon, crunchy and nutty almonds, and creamy buttery avocado. These simple ingredients make up summer salad heaven. Hope you love it!

Strawberry Fields Forever Salad

Serves 2 as main dish, or 4 as a side dish

1 head of organic kale, chopped (remove & discard* thick stems)
½ cup organic strawberries, sliced
1 avocado, diced
2 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1 teaspoon raw honey
Juice from one lemon
Salt & pepper to taste
¼ cup chopped almonds

Method:

Begin with massaging your kale. In a large bowl place chopped kale, olive oil, lemon juice, and raw honey. Using your fingers, gently massage the liquids into the kale, about 2-3 minutes or until kale feels nice and silky. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

Next, simply toss the strawberries, avocado, and almonds in with the kale. Mix, serve, & enjoy!

*Compost your kale stalks please!