Winter Panzanella Salad with Kale, Carrots & Watermelon Radishes
Imagine my kids delight when they woke up this weekend to see the frosty hail covered outdoor chaise lounge sparkling in the early morning sun.
Poor Buttercup {our outdoor stray cat} was nowhere to be found on her usual resting spot…
Mom. Dad. It snowed!!
Well, not quite, but the temperature had dipped down to a respectable {for San Diego} 36 degrees, making it far more soup weatherish, than salad weatherish, and to be sure, this thick, warm, creamy split pea soup has been just the thing filling our tummies these past few days.
But one can only partake in so many bowls of soup before yearning for a lighter, crisper, crunchier taste, such as that fullfilled by this winter panzanella salad with kale, carrots, and these gorgeous watermelon radishes I spied at the store the other day…
Lest you think this salad won’t satisfy your cold weather craving for comfort food, think again.
Yes, with super nutritious crunchy kale, carrots, and radishes, you’ll be fighting the bunnies off for a wee bite of this salad, but throw in chunks of warm crusty bread, doused in herb scented avocado oil along with sweet tangy golden balsamic vinegar, and you have a comforting crave worthy winter salad for sure.
My mother-in-law recently surprised me with a bottle of this delicious avocado oil from Orfelia Vineyards in San Diego. You can have your own bottle too…just click here to order!
Here’s the deliciously simple recipe…
Ingredients
- 4 slices of your favorite bread {I used Udi's gluten-free bread}
- 3 tablespoons [herb infused} avocado oil or olive oil, divided
- 3 cups chopped kale
- 1 cup shredded carrots
- 4 watermelon radishes, sliced {~3/4 cup}
- 2 tablespoons golden balsamic vinegar
- salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Brush 1 tablespoon avocado or olive oil over bread slices, and cut bread in to large chunks. Bake bread on a parchment lined baking sheet for 5 minutes, or until golden brown.
- While bread is in the oven, combine the kale, carrots, and radishes in a large bowl.
- Next add the bread "croutons" to the veggies, along with remaining oil, plus the vinegar, and salt and pepper to taste.
- Toss well, and wait at least 5 minutes before serving, so the croutons have a little time to soak up the oil/vinegar mixture.
Notes
You may use any type of avocado or olive oil for the dressing, however, an herbal infused oil, such as Orfelia Vineyard's Tuscan Herbal Avocado Oil, adds a nice flavorful taste to the salad.
Nutrition Notes:
- Gluten-free {when gluten-free bread is used} and vegan, and suitable for a low FODMAPs diet.
- Rich in antioxidants and fiber from the kale, carrots, and radishes.
- High in heart healthy monounsaturated fat from the avocado {or olive} oil.
- Radishes can spruce up your salads or avocado toast {see yummy sandwich below} with a nice peppery crunch in a low calorie package. What’s more, as member of the Brassicaceae family {think kale, broccoli, cauliflower and horseradish}, radishes contain compounds called isothiocyanates, which may be protective against certain types of cancer.
- Peppery Kale Caesar Salad w/ Homemade Croutons
- Lemony Kale, Pasta, and Pistachio Salad
- Kale Frosty
- Blueberry Orange Kale Smoothie
- Green Eggs, No Hame {Scrambled Eggs w/ Kale Pesto}
“Variety is the very spice of life that gives it all it’s flavour.”
William Cowper, 1785. 
This is my kind of salad – so glad to have found your blog this morning – subscribing!
so, so pretty! I’ve never heard of these radishes, and indeed I thought the title was missing a comma & there was in fact watermelon in it (which I thought odd but would give a go on your say so). But this looks delightfully fresh. I don’t think anyone can now snatch your queen of kale crown
It looks so very appetizing and healthy. Those watermelon radishes are so pretty.
The watermelon radishes are beautiful – I’ve never seen them before, and of course with kale and carrots, what a healthy and pretty salad!
Oh my goodness this looks FABULOUS!!!!! I love a good panzanella!!
Beautiful salad EA! I love radishes. Never seen these! I just love eating soup in the winter. I remember making it in Hawaii and we’d all be sweating during dinner because it was always so warm outside. It wasn’t the same.
Favorite hot sauce is Tapatio!
Panzanella is one of my all time fave dishes and this one looks delish!!
I can’t wait to try this healthy and BEAUTIFUL recipe. Love your photos! They make me hungry.
I keep trying to grow watermelon radishes in my garden, but the slugs get them before I can! They sure are beautiful though, aren’t they? What a gorgeous salad!
The watermelon radishes are so pretty! And I have been wanting to try avocado oil, your herbed one sounds delicious!
Great salad for any time of the year!
I’ve never seen a watermelon radish at my local store. Would standard radishes be too spicy?
oooooooohhhh… that’s a lovely bottle of oil. it must be packed full of flavor!
i haven’t seen watermelon radishes here but they sure look pretty, especially on that sandwich!
Thanks so much for the sweet comments everyone!! I hope you get to try it, and Kristi, I think it would be wonderful with standard radishes too. The phrase “too spice” doesn’t exist in my vocabulary
I like those pretty watermelon radishes, I need to pick some up!
This looks fabulous!
Swanky bf loves kale after I introduced him to it so I am going to be trying these recipes you posted.
This looks so good and I love the colorful radishes
I wish it would snow here, I miss snow so much:-) I was surprised to see the temps in the south west, so weird. Your salad sounds lovely! I have never had watermelon radishes, but WOW they are beautiful! Hugs, Terra
Oh boy this is on my “make asap” list! YUMMMM Thanks for linking up at our Gluten Free Fridays party! I have tweeted and pinned your entry to our Gluten Free Fridays board on Pinterest!
Thanks for linking back to the Gluten Free Fridays post!
See you at the link up this week!
Cindy from vegetarianmamma.com