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Baby kale salad on a plate with grapefruit, avocados, and almonds.

Baby Kale Salad with Grapefruit, Avocado, and Almonds

5 stars (37 ratings)
1 Comment
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Gluten Free Gluten Free Vegetarian Vegetarian Paleo Paleo Refined Sugar-Free Refined Sugar Free

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.

This baby kale salad with pink grapefruit, creamy avocados, toasted almonds, and salty parmesan is absolutely delicious. It's a simple salad that's bursting with flavors. Sweet, tangy, salty, creamy, crunchy … this salad has it all!

If you love kale salads as much as we do, make sure to also check out our kale apple salad and our crispy kale salad with roasted beets.

Baby kale salad on a plate with grapefruit, avocados, and almonds.
Table of Contents hide
Baby kale salad
How to make this baby kale salad recipe
Best dressing for baby kale salad
Baby kale salad variations
Should I massage baby kale?
What to serve with baby kale salad
Popular kale salad recipes
Baby Kale Salad Recipe

This recipe was originally published way back in 2012. We've freshened it up with some new photos and more information. We add avocado to the salad now but other than that it's the same great recipe that we've been loving for years.


Baby kale salad

This is a good one, friends! Tender baby kale leaves are so different than regular kale that they've been known to convert kale skeptics.

We love our salads with lots of contrasting flavors and textures. It's what makes a great salad.

In this baby kale salad recipe, we toss the tender leaves in a sweet, grapefruit vinaigrette. Then some creamy diced avocados, nutty toasted almonds, tangy grapefruit segments, and salty parmesan join the party.

It's a match that tastes truly special. It can be our little secret how simple it is to make.

How to make this baby kale salad recipe

Baby kale salad is very easy to make!

If your almonds are not toasted, start by doing that first. Put them into the oven at 350 degrees for about 8 minutes. TIP: toast a whole bunch at once so you'll have some for the next time you make salad.

  1. Put the salad dressing ingredients in a jar and give it a shake.
  2. Put the baby kale into your salad bowl with the diced avocados, grapefruit segments, toasted almonds, and a little parmesan cheese and toss with the salad dressing.
  3. Let the dressing sit on the kale for a few minutes so that the baby kale softens a touch then dig in!
Jump to Recipe
Salad dressing being poured over baby kale salad.

Best dressing for baby kale salad

Kale is a bitter green and tastes best with a little sweetness. Our best kale salad dressing goes really well with this salad.

But we also love the grapefruit vinaigrette version that is in this recipe. We sweeten it with honey to cut kale's bitter flavor while keeping the recipe refined sugar free.

READ MORE: Grapefruit Vinaigrette

Baby kale salad variations

We love the combination of tart grapefruit, toasted almonds, creamy avocados, and salty parmesan with baby kale. But you can switch things up based on what's in your kitchen and what you love to eat.

  • Use oranges instead of grapefruit.
  • Try using goat cheese, Boursin, or feta instead of the parmesan cheese.
  • Swap the almonds for some toasted pecans, walnuts, or even cashews.
  • For a sweeter salad, throw in a handful of dried cranberries or raisins.

Should I massage baby kale?

Massaging kale might sound like a silly thing to do, but it helps soften the kale and make it nicer to eat.

But baby kale is a lot less tough than when it's fully grown, so massaging isn't really necessary.

There's also another option … rather than massaging kale, simply let the dressing sit on the leaves for 2-3 minutes before you eat the salad. The kale leaves will begin to soften all on their own this way!

So if you find that your baby kale salad is a little too chewy for your liking, just set it aside for a few minutes and it will be easier to eat when you return to it.

What to serve with baby kale salad

This is a great salad to serve with a simple piece of fish or meat to make a healthy dinner. Our perfect baked chicken breasts or our 8 minute baked salmon are both good options. A few other recipes that go well with baby kale salad are:

  • Garlic Ginger Chicken
  • Baked Pork Tenderloin
  • Smoked Salmon Pasta
  • Green Goddess Chicken
Baby kale salad in a bowl with grapefruit, avocados, and almonds.

Popular kale salad recipes

Of all the salad's I've tried, I think this is The Best Kale Salad. It's loaded with crispy bacon, toasted pecans, sweet tomatoes, and creamy avocado and Boursin cheese. There are also some caramelized onions in here, which might sound a bit strange, but taste incredible. You will LOVE it! | theendlessmeal.com
35 minutes mins

Kale Salad

Coconut Sesame Kale Salad in a bowl with a fork
30 minutes mins

Coconut Sesame Kale Salad

A close up of bacon kale Caesar salad with lots of crispy bacon and some dressing poured over the top.
25 minutes mins

Bacon Kale Caesar Salad

Baby Kale Salad in a salad bowl with tongs
15 minutes mins

Baby Kale Salad with Pomegranate and Candied Pecans

All Kale Recipes
Tap stars to rate!
5 stars (37 ratings)
Baby kale salad on a plate with grapefruit, avocados, and almonds.

Baby Kale Salad Recipe

Prep: 15 minutes mins
Cook: 0 minutes mins
Total: 15 minutes mins
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This baby kale salad with pink grapefruit, creamy avocados, toasted almonds, and salty parmesan is absolutely delicious. It's a simple salad that's bursting with flavors. Sweet, tangy, salty, creamy, crunchy … this salad has it all!Ā 
4 servings

Ingredients

  • 5 ounces baby kale
  • 1 pink grapefruit (peeled and segments cut out)
  • ¼ cup toasted slivered almonds
  • 1 avocado (sliced)
  • Optional: parmesan cheese

Best Dressing for Baby Kale Salad

  • 2 tablespoons pink grapefruit juice (squeeze this from what's left of the grapefruit after you cut out the segments)
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon honey
  • ¼ teaspoon dijon mustard
  • 1 pinch salt and pepper

Instructions 

  • Place the baby kale, grapefruit segments, almonds, avocados, and if using, the parmesan in a large salad bowl.Ā 
    5 ounces baby kale, 1 pink grapefruit, ¼ cup toasted slivered almonds, 1 avocado, Optional: parmesan cheese
  • Add the salad dressing ingredients to a jar then shake the dressing until it is slightly creamy looking.
    2 tablespoons pink grapefruit juice, 1 tablespoon olive oil, 1 teaspoon honey, ¼ teaspoon dijon mustard, 1 pinch salt and pepper
  • Pour the dressing over the kale, toss gently to mix, then let the salad sit for 2-3 minutes so that the kale softens slightly.Ā 

Nutrition

Serving: 1 serving = ¼ of the recipe, Calories: 203kcal (10%), Carbohydrates: 18g (6%), Protein: 5g (10%), Fat: 15g (23%), Saturated Fat: 2g (13%), Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g, Monounsaturated Fat: 10g, Sodium: 31mg (1%), Potassium: 565mg (16%), Fiber: 5g (21%), Sugar: 7g (8%), Vitamin A: 4350IU (87%), Vitamin C: 70mg (85%), Calcium: 92mg (9%), Iron: 1mg (6%)
Ā© Author Kristen Stevens

We have thoroughly tested this recipe for accuracy. However, individual results may vary. See our full recipe disclosure here.

Baby kale salad on a plate with grapefruit, avocados, and almonds.

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For more inspiration, check out all of our kale recipes!

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Kristen Stevens

Kristen Stevens

Hi, I'm Kristen! I LOVE everything to do with food: making it, taking pictures of it, and (the best part) eating it. ♔♔♔

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Posted: 01/10/2021 Updated: 11/06/2023
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