Winter Silhouette Kale Salad

By Lauren Mitchell, Test Kitchen Director · Reviewed by AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-04-03 · Updated 2026-04-03

A vibrant salad with crisp kale, sweet pomegranate seeds, and a tangy citrus vinaigrette for a striking winter display. This global-inspired salads (vegan) ready in about 15 minutes pairs kale, avocado, pomegranate seeds into a side that holds its own next to almost any main — bright, balanced, and quick enough to slot into a weeknight plate. Each serving lands at about 220 calories and feeds 4, so it slots cleanly next to roasted proteins, grain bowls, or weeknight mains. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Ingredients

• 1 head, chopped kale
• 1 medium, diced avocado
• 1/2 cup pomegranate seeds
• 1 small, thinly sliced red onion
• 3 tbsp olive oil
• 2 tbsp lemon juice
• 1 tsp honey
• 1 tsp Dijon mustard
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp black pepper

Instructions

1. Step 1: In a large bowl, massage 1 tbsp olive oil into the chopped kale until tender, 5-7 minutes. Add 1/4 cup water to loosen the kale.
2. Step 2: In a separate bowl, whisk together 2 tbsp olive oil, 2 tbsp lemon juice, 1 tsp honey, 1 tsp Dijon mustard, 1 tsp salt, and 1/2 tsp black pepper to make the vinaigrette.
3. Step 3: Toss the kale with the vinaigrette, then add diced avocado, pomegranate seeds, and thinly sliced red onion. Toss gently to combine.
4. Step 4: Serve immediately, garnished with additional pomegranate seeds and a drizzle of olive oil.