Kale, Strawberry and Avocado Salad with Light Poppy Seed Dressing

 I really liked this salad.  Like, really liked it.  Tyler, on the other hand, wasn't as in love as I was. He has a block when it comes to fruit in a savory (at all) salad or dish.  The bacon and strawberries together totally threw him off.  And he didn't think strawberries belonged in a salad with lettuce.  I don't know, man.  I"m slowly breaking him down but we're just not to the strawberry/bacon/lettuce point yet.  He ate it though.  I took his strawberries and he seemed to be content with the remainder of the ingredients together.  I didn't complain.  This salad had a bit of everything to tantalize taste buds and it was pretty healthy.  I will make it again (because I loved it and every once in a while I make something I love and tell the rest of them to deal with it) and just leave the strawberries off his salad.  This was a perfect light evening meal but I wouldn't say no to it at lunch.  I can see us making many more salads like this for summer.  And I'm hoping to have avocados coming out of my ears because we have a lot of trees in our yard.  I'm getting excited!

This recipe was inspired by these two salads.  One has bacon and the other had almonds.  If you wanted this to be vegetarian, the almonds would be lovely here.  And they both have a different version of poppy seed dressing.  One was very healthy and the other wasn't quite as healthy.  I wanted something in the middle so I just did what felt right.  I kind of based it off of our regular poppy seed dressing but lightened it up with some greek yogurt instead of some of the oil.

Apparently kale salads are trendy right now.  I had no idea.  I picked some up at the store because it looked healthy but didn't know what to do with it once I got it home.  It was a revelation when I saw this salad.  Not to mention, I had all the remaining ingredients.  I love when that happens.

Kale, Strawberry and Avocado Salad with Light Poppy Seed Dressing

4 cups chopped, stemmed kale

2 avocados pitted and sliced

2 cups sliced strawberries

4 slices low sodium bacon, cooked and crumbled or chopped

1 T chopped onion

1/4 cup apple cider vinegar

3 T sugar

1/4 tsp salt

2 T mayo (light mayo would probably work too)

2 T fat free greek yogurt

1/2 T poppy seeds

In a blender or food processor, combine onion, vinegar, sugar and salt and process until smooth.  Add yogurt, mayo and poppy seeds and blend. (if you don't have a food processor, you can mince the onion very fine and whisk everything together or just omit the onion.)

To serve:  On each plate, place 1 cup kale, 1/4 of the avocado slices, 1/4 of the strawberry slices and 1/4 of the crumbled bacon.  Drizzle with dressing.

Simple. Fast. Delicious.

Serves: 4

Source:  Inspired by Lauren's Latest and Two Peas and Their Pod.  Dressing adapted from THIS recipe.

And the nutrition info:

For full nutrition info you can go HERE.

Nutrition Facts

Serving Size 289 g

Amount Per Serving

Calories 343 Calories from Fat 195

% Daily Value*

Total Fat 21.7g 33%

Saturated Fat 3.9g 19%

Trans Fat 0.0g

Cholesterol 9mg 3%

Sodium 306mg 13%

Total Carbohydrates 32.8g 11%

Dietary Fiber 9.2g 37%

Sugars 14.8g

Protein 8.0g

Vitamin A 209% • Vitamin C 230% Calcium 13% • Iron 12%

Nutrition Grade A-

* Based on a 2000 calorie diet

Nutritional Analysis

Good points

• Low in cholesterol
• High in dietary fiber
• High in manganese
• Very high in vitamin A
• High in vitamin B6
• Very high in vitamin C

Bad points

• High in sugar