With tender chunks of mango, creamy avocado, sweet corn, peppery radishes, nutty roasted sunflower seeds, and a slightly spicy and tangy easy cilantro lime vinaigrette, this Mango Kale Salad is a flavor packed summer salad perfect served as a side or light lunch.
I have been dreaming about this Mango Kale Salad for the last month or so. I feel in love with the idea of pairing sweet mango with tender, massaged kale when I first saw the two together on my Instagram feed, and I knew it was something I had to have.
The only thing left was to decide what else to pair with it. There is something about the combination of sweet tender mango and creamy avocado that is always a perfect pairing. But when tossed with sweet corn and massaged kale, the combination is taken to the next level. Roasted sunflower seeds add a nutty crunch, while thin slices of radish add a peppery bite. Tossed in a flavorful slightly spicy Cilantro Lime Vinaigrette dressing, this salad is bright and oh so flavor-packed.
Plus with at all of the bright colors this salad is as much a feast for the eyes as it is for the tastebuds.
How Do You Make This Mango Kale Salad with Cilantro Lime Vinaigrette?
This salad just has just 6 simple ingredients (not including the dressing), but each one adds just the right flavor and texture profile. To make this Mango Kale Salad Recipe, you will need:
- Ripe Mango: Sweet and tender, mango is the star of this salad.
- Avocado: I love the creaminess that avocado adds to this salad, while still keeping it light and refreshing.
- Corn: Sweet corn plays up the sweetness from the mango with playful pops of flavor. You can use fresh or frozen corn.
- Kale: When thinly sliced and massaged with a little squeeze of lime, kale is tender and slightly sweet as the base of this salad. I used curly kale, since that is what I had on hand, but lacinato kale would work great too.
- Sunflower Seeds: Roasted sunflower seeds add a slightly nutty crunch to this Mango Kale Salad. You could also substitute pepitas for a similar nutty crunch.
- Radishes: I have been obsessed with radishes lately, adding them to all of my salads, topping tacos, and roasting them with a little butter. In this salad, they add a peppery crunch that is the perfect contrast to the sweet mango and corn.
This Quick & Easy Cilantro Lime Dressing Adds Brightness and Spice
With just a few simple ingredients, what really takes this Mango Kale Salad to the next level is the easy Cilantro Lime Vinaigrette. This dressing is bright, tangy, and herbaceous with lots of fresh cilantro, fresh lime juice, and earthy cumin. It also gets a little kick from some tajin and a few jalapeno slices (use more if you want it spicier). I used some candied jalapenos that I had leftover, but regular fresh jalapeno would be good too.
To make the Cilantro Lime Vinaigrette, all you need to do is add everything to a food processor or blender and pulse until combined.
This tangy, spicy salad dressing balances the sweetness of the corn and mango, for a perfect fresh pairing.
Looking for More Healthy Summer Salad Recipes?
It’s no secret that I love a good salad, packed with lots of fresh veggies, kale, and more. Here are some more of my favorite salad recipes for summer:
- Kale and Shredded Brussels Sprouts Caesar Salad
- Greek Salad with Kale and Quinoa
- Grilled Corn & Zucchini Salad
- Peach, Feta, & Arugula Salad with Fresh Basil Vinaigrette
- Walnut, Apple, and Kale Power Salad
Mango Kale Salad with Cilantro Lime Vinaigrette
Ingredients
- 4 cups kale (shredded)
- 1/2 lime
- 1 mango
- 1 avocado
- 1/2 cup corn
- 1/4 cup radishes (thinly sliced)
- 1/4 cup sunflower seeds
Cilantro Lime Vinaigrette
- 1/2 cup cilantro
- 1/4 cup fresh lime juice
- 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 2 tsp honey
- 1/4 tsp tajin
- 1/2 tsp cumin
- 1 clove garlic
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 2 - 3 slices candied or fresh jalapeno (optional)
Instructions
- To make dressing, add all ingredients to a food processor or blender. Plus until combined.
- In a large bowl, add kale and squeeze over 1/2 lime. Gently squeeze kale between fingers, massaging until kale is tender and a bright green.
- To kale add chopped mango, avocado, corn, sliced radishes, and sunflower seeds. Pour dressing over salad and toss to coat (you may not need all of the dressing).