If you’ve been scrolling through TikTok or visiting fancy grocery stores in Los Angeles, you’ve probably heard of the famous Erewhon Kale White Bean Salad. Packed with curly kale, creamy white beans, crunchy seeds, and a zesty lemon vinaigrette, this salad is not only trendy but also a nutritious, plant-based option filled with healthy fats and protein. In this article, I’ll walk you through a copycat recipe that brings all the flavors of Erewhon Market’s best kale salad to your kitchen at a fraction of the price!
Why Everyone Loves the Erewhon Kale White Bean Salad
This salad is a mix of textures and flavors that’s hard to beat. The soft, creamy avocado combined with crisp sunflower and pumpkin seeds gives you a satisfying crunch. Then, you get the zingy lemon dressing that ties it all together, making it the perfect healthy salad recipe to add to your regular rotation. Plus, it’s loaded with plant-based protein from hemp hearts and beans, making it an ideal quick lunch or side dish.
Key Ingredients for Erewhon Kale White Bean Salad
Salad Ingredients
- Curly kale: A sturdy green packed with vitamin C, perfect for massaging and softening the tough stems.
- Avocado: Adds creamy richness and pairs perfectly with the lemon dressing.
- Hemp hearts: A plant-based protein source that brings a subtle, nutty flavor to the salad.
Beans and Seeds
- White beans: Use cannellini or navy beans for their creaminess and ability to absorb flavors.
- Pumpkin and sunflower seeds: These add a crunchy texture that complements the creamy avocado and beans.
Lemon Dressing
A simple, tangy mix of extra virgin olive oil, fresh lemon juice, dijon mustard, and maple syrup to create a classic vinaigrette.
Ingredients & Substitutions
Curly Kale vs. Dino Kale
Curly kale is the star of this salad, but if you want a milder option, lacinato kale (also called dino kale) is a great alternative.
Hemp Hearts and Other Seeds
Hemp hearts add a nutty component, but you can swap them for chia seeds, flaxseeds, or even toasted sesame seeds for variety.
White Beans: Cannellini vs. Navy Beans
Both beans work well here. Cannellini beans have a creamier texture, while navy beans offer a more firm bite.
Avocado Substitutions
If you’re not a fan of avocado, diced cucumber or even roasted sweet potatoes can bring a fresh twist.
Helpful Tools for Making This Salad
Salad Spinner
A salad spinner helps you thoroughly clean and dry the kale, making it easier to massage and soften.
Air Fryer
If you’re opting for crispy beans and seeds, an air fryer speeds up the process while keeping them extra crispy.
Large Mixing Bowl
You’ll need a large bowl to toss everything together without making a mess.
Sharp Knife
For dicing avocado and cutting through the kale, a sharp knife is essential.
How to Make the Erewhon Kale White Bean Salad
Step 1: Lemon Dressing
Start by making the lemon dressing. In a small bowl or tall measuring glass, whisk together extra virgin olive oil, fresh lemon juice, maple syrup, dijon mustard, salt, pepper, and nutritional yeast. You can also use an immersion blender for a smoother, more emulsified dressing.
Step 2: Salad Preparation
Remove the kale leaves from their tough stems and chop them into bite-sized pieces.
Drizzle a little bit of olive oil over the kale and massage it with your hands for about a minute.
This step softens the kale and reduces bitterness.
Once massaged, add the diced avocado, hemp hearts, white beans, pumpkin, and sunflower seeds into a large bowl.
Step 3: Crispy Beans & Seeds (Optional)
If you have extra time, make your beans and seeds crispy for added texture. Toss the white beans with olive oil, Italian seasoning, salt, and nutritional yeast.
Air fry them at 350°F for 5-6 minutes until they split and turn crispy.
Add the pumpkin and sunflower seeds and air fry for another 3-5 minutes.
Assemble the Erewhon Kale White Bean Salad by adding the white bean mixture on top.
Next add the dressing to the Kale White Bean Erewhon copycat salad.
Then mix the salad all together!
Tips & Tricks
How to Massage Kale
Massaging kale with a drizzle of olive oil helps break down its fibrous structure, making it more tender and enjoyable to eat.
Best Beans for Crisping
Cannellini beans are the best for achieving a creamy texture after crisping, but navy beans are a great alternative if you want more bite.
Substituting Seeds for Extra Crunch
If you don’t have pumpkin or sunflower seeds on hand, you can substitute with toasted almonds, pecans, or even crispy chickpeas.
FAQs
This salad offers a balanced mix of creamy, crunchy, and tangy elements, making it one of the best vegan kale salads out there.
Yes, this is a perfect make-ahead lunch. Just keep the dressing separate and store it in a tiny container until you’re ready to eat.
Absolutely! You can crisp the beans and seeds in the oven or on a stovetop with similar results.
Erewhon Kale White Bean Salad Recipe (Copycat)
Ingredients
Salad
- 1 large head curly kale purple or green
- 1 avocado, cut into cubes
- ¼ cup hemp hearts
Beans and Seeds
- 1 19oz can white beans, rinsed and drained
- ¼ cup pumpkin seeds
- ¼ cup sunflower seeds
Optional: Make beans and seeds crispy. The original version doesn't add this step but it's extra delicious!
- 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 1 tbsp Italian seasoning
- salt to taste
- 1 tbsp nutritional yeast optional
Lemon Dressing
- ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
- ¼ cup fresh lemon juice (juice of 1 large or 2 small lemons)
- 1-2 tbsp maple syrup
- 2 tsp dijon mustard
- salt & pepper to taste
- 1 tbsp nutritional yeast optional
Instructions
Lemon Dressing
- Into a tall measuring glass add olive oil, lemon juice, maple syrup, salt, pepper, dijon, and nutritional yeast.
- Blend the ingredients together using an immersion blender. (or whisk ingredients together)
Salad
- Start by removing kale leaves from the stems, and chopping into bite-sized pieces.
- Massage the kale with a drizzle of olive oil for around 1 minute to soften it and reduce the bitterness.
- Add the kale to a large salad bowl and add the cubed avocado, hemp hearts, white beans, pumpkin and sunflower seeds.
- Top with the lemon vinaigrette, and toss gently to combine. Enjoy!
Crispy Beans & Seeds
- If you have the time I highly recommend this step but if you don't, just skip it and add the white beans, pumpkin seeds, and sunflower seeds straight into the salad. See notes below for oven baked or pan fried options.
- Remove the wire rack from your air fryer and add in the white beans, olive oil, Italian seasoning, salt, nutritional yeast and give it a stir.
- Air fry at 350 for around 5-6 mins. Some of the white beans will split in half, this is normal!
- Next, add your pumpkin seeds and sunflower seeds into the air fryer with the white beans and give them a stir. Air fry for another 3-5 mins or until the beans are golden and crispy.
Notes
- Toss the beans in olive oil, Italian seasoning, salt and nutritional yeast.
- Bake at 400 for 20 mins, then add in the seeds.
- Toss to combine and bake for another 5-10 mins or until golden brown and crispy.
- Toss the beans in olive oil, Italian seasoning, salt and nutritional yeast.
- Fry in a non-stick pan on medium heat for around 6-7 mins, then add in the seeds and cook for another 3-4 mins or until golden brown and crispy.
- Stir regularly to avoid sticking or burning.
Nutrition
Conclusion: Erewhon Kale And White Bean Salad
This copycat Erewhon Kale White Bean Salad brings all the best parts of the famous salad into your home kitchen. From the creamy avocado and tender massaged kale to the crispy beans and crunchy seeds, this salad is a nutritious and flavorful addition to your meal plan. Whether you’re making it for a quick lunch or serving it as a side dish at your next gathering, this healthy salad recipe is sure to be a hit!
Loved this salad! Super delicious and filling, the mix of avocado and seeds was perfect 🤩
Thank you so much Bailey! I’m so happy you loved the salad it’s definitely one of my new fave ways to eat kale!
This was really easy to make and so delicious. I didn’t cook the beans or seeds and it came together quick! Thanks so much for this beautiful recipe.
Thank you so much Abby I’m so happy you loved it! The original erewhon kale salad doesn’t cook the beans so it’s perfect to make it like that!
Great copy cat!! One of the best I have tried and loved this salad!
Thank you SOOO much! And so much more affordable to make it at home! 🙂