This Strawberry Kale Salad with Poppy Seed Dressing is bursting with vibrant colours and bold flavours! Featuring juicy strawberries, creamy avocado, tangy feta, and crunchy toasted sunflower seeds, this summer salad is topped off with a sweet poppy seed dressing.
"My husband can't stop talking about this salad and he normally says he hates kale lol! Thanks."
— Deliar
What better way to celebrate spring and summer than with a bright and colourful, healthy salad like this Strawberry Kale Salad? Whether you're looking for a light lunch, a satisfying side dish, or a stunning centerpiece for your next dinner party, this salad is a perfect choice.
Kale--that green goddess that all the foodie experts swore was just a trend! We all know just how good it is for us and we humble salad lovers know that kale is not a flash-in-the-pan. It's here to stay.
Take, for example, this baby Kale and Cara Cara Orange Salad and this hearty Tuscan Salad with Creamy Gorgonzola Dressing. Both of these pack a punch of flavour and nutrition!
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❤️ Why this recipe works
Tender little leaves of baby kale and sweet strawberries are tossed together with a cheerful poppyseed dressing in this simple salad. Perfect for warm weather parties!
Add a little salty feta cheese for contrast, crunchy red onion, toasted sunflower seeds for protein and you'll have the makings of a beautifully balanced dinner side dish or lunchtime salad.
And don't forget the avocado! Strawberries and avocado are a classic combo!
🛒 Ingredients for Strawberry Kale Salad
Ready to make this sweet, healthy kale salad? Here's what you'll need. You'll find amounts in the recipe card below.
kale: baby kale is delicious in this salad. It's tender and has a milder flavour than more mature kale. You can substitute other mixed greens if you'd like.
strawberries: fresh, fully ripe berries have the most flavour.
red onion: adds a tangy bite and gives a nice contrast to the sweet berries. If you find it is too strong for your taste, soak the slices in cold water for 15 - 20 minutes, then drain.
feta cheese: for that salty contrast to the sweet berries. Perfect!
sunflower seeds: lightly toasted seeds add a delicious crunchy texture/
avocado: a must! Creamy avocado makes a beautiful addition to this summer salad.
🔪 Instructions
- Start by whisking the poppy seed dressing ingredients together (or shake them in a small jar with a lid). Set aside to allow the flavours to blend while you prepare the salad ingredients.
- Toast sunflower seeds in a small skillet over medium heat. Shake the pan at one-minute intervals. When they begin to brown, remove them from the heat. They'll continue to brown a little from the heat of the pan. If you'd like, you can brown them in a teaspoon of oil and sprinkle them with a pinch or two of sea salt. (Shortcut: buy toasted, salted sunflower seeds.)
- Wash and dry the kale or mixed greens, slice the strawberries, chop the onion, crumble the feta, and lastly, cube or slice the avocado.
- Arrange all the ingredients in a salad bowl or large shallow platter. Drizzle with dressing and toss, or allow your friends or family to add their own dressing.
🔁 Possible Variations or Substitutions
Greens: Add other greens to your baby kale. Try romaine, spinach, arugula, or a spring mix.
Cheese: Substitute goat cheese, blue cheese or shavings of Parmesan cheese for the feta.
Nuts: Consider substituting toasted pumpkin seeds for the sunflower seeds, or add toasted sliced almonds or pecans.
Protein: Make this a complete meal by adding grilled shrimp or cooked cubed chicken breasts. Or add crisply cooked bacon crumbles for extra flavour.
👍🏼 Helpful Tips
You can prepare most of the ingredients ahead of time, but add the avocado last, just before serving, to prevent it from turning brown.
Make ahead for lunches! Pack this strawberry kale salad into containers for pre-made lunches. Store the dressing in a small container separately.
❓Frequently Asked Questions
Massaging kale leaves helps to break down their cell structure and gives the leaves a softer texture that’s better suited to salads. It can make it easier to digest, too.
The trick to using the curly green variety of kale in a salad is to tenderize it first. All you need to do is remove the tough center rib of the leaves, drizzle it with a teaspoon each of olive oil and lemon juice and a pinch of salt and work it into each leaf with your fingers.
However, if you don't want to massage kale leaves, you can simply chop them very finely. You'll find that the leaves will soften naturally all on their own when they come into contact with a vinaigrette.
I recommend using baby kale leaves whenever they're available!
What to serve with strawberry kale salad
This salad is delicious as a side for grilled chicken kabobs, like these Greek Lemon Chicken Kabobs or Easy Thai Chicken Skewers
Or serve it with Honey-Dijon Glazed Salmon, or Air Fryer Lemon Garlic Shrimp.
It's one of those salads that go well with a variety of main dishes and that everyone seems to love!
Celebrate warm weather and all things green and clean! Enjoy.
📖 Recipe
Strawberry Kale Salad with Poppy Seed Dressing
Ingredients
- 6 cups baby kale leaves, torn or chopped into bite-sized pieces
- 2 cups fresh strawberries, sliced
- 4 oz feta cheese, cubed or crumbled
- ¼ cup red onion, thinly sliced or diced
- 1 large avocado, sliced or cubed
- ¼ cup sunflower seeds toasted, or other nuts or seeds of your choice
Dressing
- ⅓ cup olive oil, or avocado oil
- 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar, or white wine vinegar
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 1 tablespoon poppy seeds
- 1 pinch dry mustard
- ⅛ teaspoon sea salt
- ⅛ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
- Combine the dressing ingredients in a small glass jar, shake to combine and set aside to allow flavours to blend.
- Toast sunflower seeds in a small skillet until they begin to brown. Remove from heat and let cool. They will continue to brown a little in the residual heat from the pan.
- Put torn baby kale leaves in a bowl. If they may be tough, drizzle with a teaspoon of olive oil, a teaspoon of lemon juice and a pinch of salt. Massage the oil gently into the leaves to tenderize them.
- Chop the onion, slice the strawberries, crumble the feta cheese.
- Arrange the greens in a bowl, top with onion, strawberries, cheese and sunflower seeds. Add cubed or sliced avocado just before serving to prevent it from browning.
- Drizzle with dressing, toss and serve.
Notes
Nutrition
This recipe was originally published in 2015. It has been updated with new information and photos.
Delia
My husband can't stop talking about this salad and he normally says he hates kale lol! Thanks.
Elaine
That's so funny! Happy to hear he's a convert!
Miranda
This poppy .seed dressing is so good with the strawberries. I love this salad. Thanks
Erika
I want to let you know that I make this regularly! It's a favorite with my family. I use the baby kale that comes in the clamshell plastic package.
Flavour & Savour
Thanks Erika!
Katerina | Once a Foodie
This salad looks absolutely amazing! I love using fruit in salads and these strawberries look so perfectly juicy. I love the sound of the poppy seed dressing too - yum! Thanks so much for sharing.
Flavour & Savour
You're welcome! Thanks for stopping by.