Southwestern Kale Salad with Salmon
This is the perfect summer salad for a weeknight meal that is hearty and refreshing at the same time. When it’s too hot outside to turn on the oven, make this Southwestern Kale Salad with BBQ salmon. Salmon salads are substantial and delicious. Let me show you how to make it. YUM!
Why this recipe works
This Southwestern Kale salad proves that salads need not be boring! This kale salad is bursting with flavours. It’s loaded with crunchy and creamy textures, seasonal delights and that flaky and buttery salmon with every forkful makes this my kind of salad!
You don’t even need to turn on the oven with this one. The airfryer came to the rescue yet again!
What is a Southwestern Salad?
Traditionally, when you think of tex-Mex or Southwestern flavours, you think of avocados, corn and black beans. These classic ingredients are all included in this kale salad. But the best part about a Southwestern Salad is that it is easily customizable. If you don’t have fresh corn, feel free to use canned or frozen (just reheat it in the microwave!). No black beans on hand? Just grab what you’ve got! This salad is make quintessentially southwestern with the addition of that tangy bbq sauce!
Is this Southwestern Kale Salad Healthy?
Yes! Making this salad at home allows you to control the ingredients. This salad has healthy fats from the creamy avocado. The black beans provide fibre and the salmon is loaded with omega 3 fatty acids.
Can I meal prep this Southwestern Kale Salad?
Absolutely! It’s delicious right when it’s made, but kale is a hearty lettuce and can handle being dressed and stored for a day or two! You might want to add fresh avocado if you are enjoying this the next day, but otherwise, everything else will hold up nicely!
A few tools I’ve been using lately and loving in my meal prep arsenal are:
This julienne tool that makes the job so much easier. There is something so satisfying when my meals are not only delicious, and healthy, but also look restaurant quality!
You’ve seen this little chopping tool in my stories a bunch and I love it for easy dicing.
These glass storage containers are a life saver. The tops seal tightly and the glass containers stack perfectly in my fridge.
You can make your own BBQ sauce if you like, but if you are in a season of less is more, like I am, just use your favourite brand of store-bought BBQ Sauce.
Check out the video of this salad here:
Southwestern Kale Salad with Salmon
Ingredients:
4 6oz salmon filet
1/4 cup bbq sauce (homemade or store-bought)
12 oz kale (washed and chopped)
drizzle of olive oil and salt for massaging
1 cup sweet corn kernels
1 cup black beans
1 cup grated carrots
1/4 cup cilantro, chopped
1 avocado, diced
1/4 cup olive oil
3 tbsp apple cider vinegar
juice of 1 lime
3 tbsp bbq sauce
Directions:
Add the kale to a large bowl and massage with oil and salt. Set aside for 10 mins.
Preheat the air fryer to 400F. Brush the salmon filets with BBQ sauce and airfry for 7-10 mins.
Assemble the salad! Add the corn, black beans, carrots, cilantro and avocado to the salad. Top with a drizzle of olive oil, apple cider vinegar, lime juice.
Serve the salad with a filet of salmon on top and an extra drizzle of bbq sauce.
Enjoy!
If you loved this one, try some of these other kale recipes:
Copycat Erewhon Kale and White Bean Salad
Kale Salad with Parmesan and Breadcrumbs
Kale Crunch Salad with Apple Cider Vinaigrette
Let me know how this recipe goes for you in the comments. I love hearing from you!
And please tag me @christies.lovestory over on Instagram! I love seeing what you are creating in your kitchen!
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