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An overhead shot of a beige ceramic bowl with salmon kale salad on a light wooden table. The kale salad has flaked pieces of crispy salmon sliced of avocados and lemons and a healthy garnish of everything but the bagel seasoning. A gold fork is resting in the bottom right edge of the bowl.
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4.91 from 33 votes

The New Go-To Kale Salad

You'll be obsessed with this kale salad. Perfectly cooked flaked salmon, creamy avocado, crunchy bread crumbs, and everything bagel seasoning it couldn't get any better.
Prep Time15 minutes
Cook Time10 minutes
Total Time25 minutes
Course: Salad, Dinner, Lunch
Cuisine: American
Servings: 4 servings
Author: Gaby Dalkin

Ingredients

  • 3 bunches lacinato kale Tuscan kale or cavolo nero, thick ribs cut out
  • 2 garlic cloves finely chopped
  • cup finely grated Pecorino Romano cheese plus more to finish
  • Extra-virgin olive oil
  • Juice of 1 lemon
  • ¼ teaspoon dried chile flakes
  • Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
  • Lemon wedges for serving on the side of the salad
  • 2 teaspoons everything bagel seasoning
  • 1-2 avocados sliced

For the Salmon

  • 1 lb salmon cut into 4 4-ounce filets
  • kosher salt and freshly cracked black pepper
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil

For the breadcrumbs

  • ½ cup panko breadcrumbs
  • 2 tablespoons butter

Instructions

  • Stack several kale leaves on top of one another and roll them up into a tight cylinder. With a sharp knife, slice crosswise into very thin, about 1/16 inch, ribbons. Put the kale in a salad spinner, rinse in cool water, and spin until completely dry. Pile the kale into a bowl.
  • Put the chopped garlic on a cutting board and mince it even more until you have a paste. Transfer the garlic to a small bowl, add the pecorino, a few tablespoons of olive oil, lemon juice, chile flakes, salt, and plenty of black pepper, and whisk to combine.
  • Pour the dressing over the kale and toss well to thoroughly combine. Taste and adjust with more lemon, salt, chile flakes, or black pepper. Let the salad sit for about 5 minutes so the kale softens slightly. Top with the toasted breadcrumbs, avocados, more cheese, and drizzle with more oil and the everything bagel seasoning.

For the salmon

  • Sprinkle the salmon filets with salt and pepper. Heat a nonstick pan over high heat. Add the oil to the pan and then add the fish. Cook the salmon about 2-3 minutes until there’s a golden crust. Then flip the salmon and cook another minute or two on the skin side. Remove the salmon and add on the salad as needed

For the breadcrumbs

  • Melt the butter in a small non stick skillet. Add the panko breadcrumbs and toast for 1-2 minutes until fragrant. Remove from heat and set aside.

Notes

Feel free to use canned tuna or salmon if you are in a rush. Any sort of protein will fit nicely on this salad.

Nutrition

Calories: 458kcal | Carbohydrates: 20g | Protein: 33g | Fat: 29g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 6g | Monounsaturated Fat: 12g | Trans Fat: 0.2g | Cholesterol: 86mg | Sodium: 493mg | Potassium: 1536mg | Fiber: 12g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 20595IU | Vitamin C: 195mg | Calcium: 641mg | Iron: 5mg