This Crunchy Detox Salad is loaded with vibrant veggies, herbs, healthy fats, & fiber-rich ingredients that truly nourish your body while being absolutely delicious! Simple enough for weekday lunches but nutrient-dense enough to complement any wellness routine!
There is something about a salad I can spoon.. (iykyk!). This raw vegetable salad is just that, and perfect for those looking for a no-lettuce salad! It has an amazing combination of ingredients, but the creamy herby dressing really brings this salad together! All of the ingredients work to support and nourish your body from the inside out – no fancy cleanses required; just whole, colorful foods! This detox salad is great as a main with added protein or as a side!
Why you’ll love this recipe
- Meal Prep. Raw vegetable salads are great to prep ahead of time so you can have salad for lunch all week long, without them going soggy!
- Dietary Restrictions. This salad is gluten-free, dairy-free and low-carb.
- Crowd pleaser: This is a great salad to take to potlucks, barbecues, holidays and birthdays.
- Antioxidant Rich. This is a raw vegetable salad that’s loaded with cruciferous veggies!
- Colorful and Flavorful. This detox salad has so much texture, flavor, and crunch!
- Customizable. It’s a versatile salad, so you can use whatever vegetables or add-ins you prefer.
Recipe video
Crunchy Detox salad ingredients
This salad is packed with veggies! Most detox salads incorporate broccoli, but I emphasized cabbage. However, feel free to use whatever you like!
- Cruciferous Vegetables. This makes up the base of the salad. Raw broccoli, cauliflower, and cabbage are great. Use a bag of shredded cabbage to make this even easier!
- Carrots. Carrots add flavor, texture and color to this salad.
- Parsley. Parsley is a fantastic herb for detoxification thanks to its rich content of chlorophyll, vitamins A, C, and K, and antioxidants like apigenin.
- Pumpkin seeds. Pumpkin seeds are a rich source of zinc which is crucial for your body in terms of immunity, cell growth, sleep,& mood! They also add a lot of crunch to the salad.
- Organic raisins or chopped dates: They add a bit of sweetness and chewiness to this tasty salad (they’re optional!)
- Dressing. We’re making a creamy, herby, avocado dressing that really ties the entire salad together!
Detox salad dressing
No salad is complete without a delicious dressing and I take that job very seriously! I wanted this dressing to tick all the boxes – creamy, herby, flavorful, and satisfying! While most detox salad dressings are vinegar based, I wanted this one a bit creamier and opted for avocado as a base which turned out delicious while adding extra nutrients. Here’s what’s in it:
- Avocado
- Lime juice
- Olive oil
- Cilantro
- Garlic cloves
- Maple Syrup
- Seasonings: salt, pepper, cumin
How to Make a crunchy Detox Salad
You’ll be obsessed with how fast this crunchy detox salad comes together—especially if you let a chopper or food processor do all the chopping. For the best texture and flavor, keep the dressing on the side until right before serving so everything stays fresh, crisp, and perfect!
- Make Dressing. Add the ingredients to a blender and blend until smooth. Pour into a jar and store in the fridge until the salad is ready!
- Chop. Chop vegetables using a knife or veggie chopper. Alternatively you can add them to a food processor and pulse until the veggies are finely chopped. For the carrots, I’ll typically buy a bag of shredded carrots or shred them myself, but you can also add them to the food processor with the other veggies!
- Toss & Dress Salad. Add all of the finely chopped ingredients, pumpkin seeds, fresh herbs, and raisins to a large bowl. Drizzle dressing over the salad and toss to lightly coat the ingredients.
- Chill. Salad is best if its chilled before serving. Serve with extra dressing if desired!
Variations
- Mix in some leafy greens like finely chopped kale (any variety!) or thin-shaved Brussels sprouts for extra texture.
- Swap regular almonds for Marcona almonds if you want something extra buttery and naturally sweet—they’re a total upgrade, just a bit pricier.
- Not an almond person? Try walnuts or pistachios for a different kind of crunch.
- Pumpkin seeds or pepitas make a great stand-in for sunflower seeds, or you can use both if you love a super-crunchy moment.
- Trade classic raisins for golden raisins or dried cranberries if you want a pop of sweetness and color.
FAQ’s
- Can I make this salad ahead of time? Yes, this salad is perfect to make ahead of time! Just assemble the salad, blend the dressing, then store the salad and dressing separately in air-tight containers until you’re ready to toss and serve!
- How to store leftover salad: Store leftover detox salad and dressing in an airtight containers separately in the fridge. It should last up to 5 days!
More nourishing recipes to try
- Cucumber carrot salad with miso dressing
- Pickle de gallo chicken salad
- Chicken hummus bowls
- Whole 30 sloppy joes
- Nourishing one pot yellow rice
- Meal prep breakfast burritos
- Easy cornbread chili casserole
- Healthy chicken broccoli rice casserole
If you try this recipe and love, it’d mean the world to me if you left a star rating & review below and tag me with your creations on Instagram @danishealthyeats! <3
Crunchy Detox Salad
Ingredients
Dressing
- 1 cup cilantro
- 1/2 avocado
- 1/2-1 cup water (for thinning)
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 3 tbsp lime juice
- 2 garlic cloves
- 1/2 tsp sea salt
- 1/4 tsp pepper
- 1/4 tsp ground cumin
- 1-2 tsp maple syrup or honey
Salad
- 2 cups shredded Cabbage (can use a bag of coleslaw mix!)
- 1 cup shaved brussel sprouts (or broccoli, cabbage, etc.)
- 1 cup shredded Carrots
- 3/4 cup Pumpkin seeds (can use almonds, sunflower seeds, etc.)
- 1/4 cup diced Red onion
- 1 cup chopped Parsley and/or cilantro
- 1/3 cup raisins or chopped dates (optional but yum!)
Instructions
Dressing
- Add all the ingredients to a blender and blend until smooth. Taste and adjust as you'd like. Store in an air-tight container in the fridge until ready to serve.
Assembling the salad
- Chop vegetables using a knife or veggie chopper. Alternatively you can add them to a food processor and pulse until the veggies are finely chopped. For the carrots, I'll typically buy a bag of shredded carrots or shred them myself, but you can also add them to the food processor with the other veggies!
- Toss & Dress Salad. Add all of the finely chopped ingredients, pumpkin seeds, fresh herbs, and raisins to a large bowl. Drizzle dressing over the salad and toss to lightly coat the ingredients.
- Chill. Salad is best if its chilled before serving. Serve with extra dressing if desired!
