This ultimate antioxidant detox salad has every color in the rainbow,
is very nutrient-dense, incredibly delicious, and whole-food nutritious.

Do you ever have days where you have eaten too many bad things? Me too! For me, it is normally too many carbs, sugars, and dairy. The result is I start to feel sluggish and tired. The fatigue is my body telling me it's time to change my diet and eat foods loaded in nutrients.
This particular detox salad is chocked full of whole foods and freshness. If you're making this salad, use fruits in veggies that are in season. The food will be at its prime in terms of nutrients and budget. If there are items below that you do not have or are not in season, it's ok. Just eliminate that item or swap it out for something else. Have fun making this salad, and use the fruits and vegetables you enjoy.
Instructions
There are four essential keys to making a good detox salad
- Use kale - this vegetable is the ultimate in terms of detox.
- Offset the bitterness of the kale with sweet fruits and vegetables
- Use only fresh fruits and vegetables
- Make your own salad dressing
I aimed to pack as many nutrients into each bite of this salad as possible. I started with a rough chop of kale, broccoli, parsley, and red cabbage to do this. Working in small batches, use the food processor on the chop setting to achieve a very finely chopped salad base.
After the base of the salad has been created, I toss the base with dressing and salt. This has three benefits.....
1. You will use less dressing
2. The dressing is evenly distributed throughout the base of the salad.
3. The salt and oil combination will help to soften the kale.
The next step is to assemble the top of your salad. I like to do this in zones that create a dramatic look and give it that "wow" factor.
Health Benefits by Ingredient
Item | Color | Benefit |
Red Cabbage | Red | One pomegranate gives you about 28 mg of vitamin C, almost 50 percent of your recommended intake. Pomegranate is also rich in vitamins B and C, potassium, protein, carbohydrates, and fiber. |
Pomegranate | Red | One-half cup can give you up to 73% of vitamin A. Carrots are also an excellent vitamin C and fiber source. |
Carrots | Orange | Rich in vitamin C, fiber, and smaller amounts of vitamin A, calcium, and iron. |
Opal Apple | Yellow | Excellent source of vitamin C and has been known to help the the skin, and immune system, reduce the risk of complications from a cold or flu, and reduce inflammation in the body. |
Lemon | Yellow | Kale is among the most nutrient-dense vegetables on the planet. Kale is rich in antioxidants and packed with vitamins A (206%), K (684%), C (134%), and B6 (9%), especially folate. It has a fair amount of protein and iron and has more vitamin C than other leafy greens. It is also high in fiber, and has more calcium, gram for gram, than a cup of milk. Researchers have even found that the phytochemicals in Kale may inhibit cancer cell growth. |
Kale | Green | One cup of broccoli contains 134% vitamin C and 116% vitamin D. A valuable source of carotenoids with antioxidant properties capable of preventing and reducing risks of cancer and cardiovascular diseases. |
Broccoli | Green | A good source of vitamins A, B, C, and K, and the minerals iron, potassium, and copper. Parsley has antifungal, antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties. Parsley is used as a pallet cleanser and digestive aid. |
Parsley | Green | Rich in B vitamins and vitamin K with good C, E, and potassium content. |
Avocado | Green | Rich in B vitamins and vitamin K with good content of C, E, and potassium. |
Blueberry's | Blue | Excellent source of antioxidants, vitamins C and K, manganese, copper, and fiber. |
Ginger | Anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antiviral, and other healthful properties. | |
Garbanzo Beans | Contain folate, magnesium, and insoluble fiber. | |
Almonds | Ounce for ounce, almonds are higher in fiber, calcium, vitamin E, riboflavin, and niacin than any other tree nut. Rich in vitamin E, magnesium, riboflavin, calcium, and potassium. | |
Sunflower Seeds | Great source of amino acids, dietary fiber, vitamin B, vitamin E, and minerals such as copper, magnesium, iron, potassium, manganese, calcium, phosphorus, selenium, and zinc. | |
Olive Oil | Source of omega-3 fatty acids, high antioxidant, anti-cancer agents (such as squalene and terpenoids). |
Recipe
The Ultimate Antioxidant Detox Salad
Equipment
- Food Processor
Ingredients
- 4 cups kale
- 4 broccoli crowns
- ⅓ red cabbage
- 1 parsley bunch
- ½ cup pomegranate
- ½ cup blueberries
- 1 cup shredded carrots
- 1 cup garbanzo beans
- 1 apple (opal if available)
- ¼ cup almonds (sliced)
- ¼ cup sunflower seeds
- ½ avocado (diced)
Dressing
- ½ fresh-squeezed lemon
- ¼ cup olive oil
- ¼ ginger knob
- 2 tablespoon agave nectar
Instructions
- Mix the lemon, olive oil, ginger, and agave nectar and set aside. This is your dressing.½ fresh-squeezed lemon, ¼ cup olive oil, ¼ ginger knob, 2 tablespoon agave nectar
- Rough cut the kale, broccoli, red cabbage, and parsley.4 cups kale, 4 broccoli crowns, ⅓ red cabbage, 1 parsley bunch
- Placed the rough cut items in a food processor and process into small pieces.
- Take the small processed pieces and toss them with the dressing. This is your salad base.
- Arrange the other items on top of your salad base to create a dramatic-looking salad.½ cup pomegranate, ½ cup blueberries, 1 cup shredded carrots, 1 cup garbanzo beans, 1 apple (opal if available), ¼ cup almonds (sliced), ¼ cup sunflower seeds, ½ avocado (diced)
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