Kale Quinoa Salad

Kale quinoa salad is delightfully scrumptious and nutritious!

Hail to the kale – and quinoa! These two superfoods style nice blended with different greens, nuts, and cheese after which tossed in a easy dressing!

Make it forward of time for lunches or busy weeknight meals (this salad freezes superbly too!).

Hearty & Wholesome Salad

Kale and quinoa salad is chock stuffed with protein, antioxidants, and fiber, and even children love the mix of colourful and crunchy components!
This versatile recipe allows you to swap out the fruits and veggies for no matter is in season making it a year-round favourite!
Make this forward of time and luxuriate in for lunches. This salad freezes effectively too making it a simple make-ahead meal!
Hold it as a vegetarian entrée salad or add hen or fish!

kale , quinoa , carrots , broth , oil , feta , dressing , pecans , cranberries and onions in bowls to make Kale Quinoa Salad with labels

Components for Kale Quinoa Salad

Kale – Select bunches of kale which might be deep inexperienced and take away any torn or wilted leaves, in addition to the stalks. Whereas I most frequently use curly kale, strive different varieties like child, dinosaur kale/Tuscan kale. Bulk up the salad by including chopped broccoli slaw, shredded brussels sprouts, or spinach.

Quinoa – Cooking quinoa in broth (as an alternative of water) provides additional taste. A powerhouse of protein, quinoa will be switched out for different grains or legumes. Strive farro and even brown rice.

Greens – Shredded carrots and sliced crimson onions supply colour and crunch and can be found year-round. Seasonal veggies like chunks of roasted squash, corn, or beets will be added as effectively!

Different Flavorful Additions – Dried cranberries add sweetness and so will recent apples or grapes. Feta is a dry cheese that provides a salty taste whereas pecans add a nutty crunch.

Dressing – This sweet-tart French dressing has simply the correct amount of Dijon mustard and recent garlic. If utilizing a pre-made dressing, go for one thing barely candy and tangy equivalent to a light-weight fruity or citrus-infused dressing. You may as well strive poppyseed or honey mustard dressing.

kale in a bowl to make Kale Quinoa Salad

Variations

Add different veggies, virtually something goes. For those who’re not freezing this salad strive cherry tomatoes, crimson bell pepper, or chopped cucumber.
Swap out pecans for pumpkin seeds or pepitas, sunflower seeds, or sliced almonds.
Cooked hen and even chickpeas are nice additions for additional protein.

Kale Quinoa Salad ingredients in a bowl before mixing and adding dressing

The right way to Make Kale Quinoa Salad

Make dressing: Place the dressing in a mason jar and shake effectively to mix per the recipe under.
Prepare dinner quinoa: Prepare dinner quinoa, fluff with a fork, and funky.
Mix components: Therapeutic massage chopped kale in oil and salt in a big bowl and add the remaining components and drizzle the dressing overtop. Toss to mix and refrigerate earlier than serving.

When making a kale salad, massaging the leaves could seem odd, but it surely actually makes a giant distinction! This step makes the leaves extra tender and removes bitterness.

Merely add a drop or two of oil and rub the kale along with your palms. It can flip a darker inexperienced and the leaves will soften.

serving Kale Quinoa Salad in a bowl with spoons

Storing Kale and Quinoa Salad

Hold kale and quinoa salad in a lined container within the fridge for as much as 4 days. Stir in recent nuts, cheese, or dressing, if desired.
Imagine it or not, you CAN freeze this kale quinoa salad recipe whether it is made with the components listed under. As soon as thawed, it tastes simply nearly as good because the day it was made!

Extra Hearty Grain Salads

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This kale and quinoa salad mix two wholesome superfoods – kale and quinoa!

Prep Time 20 minutes

Prepare dinner Time 20 minutes

Chill Time 1 hour

Complete Time 1 hour 40 minutes

Rinse the quinoa in a wonderful mesh strainer and drain effectively.
Place the quinoa in a medium saucepan with vegetable broth or water.
Deliver to a boil, scale back warmth to medium-low, and simmer for quarter-hour or till the liquid has been absorbed. Cowl and let relaxation for five minutes. Cool utterly.
As soon as the quinoa has cooled utterly, place it in a big bowl.
In a jar, mix all dressing components and shake effectively.
Place the kale within the backside of a medium bowl. Add olive oil and ¼ teaspoon of kosher salt to the kale. Therapeutic massage the chopped kale along with your palms till the leaves grow to be tender and darkish inexperienced.
Add the cooled quinoa, pecans, carrots, feta cheese, crimson onion, and dried cranberries to the bowl.
Pour the dressing over the components and toss effectively to mix.
Refrigerate the salad for no less than 1 hour earlier than serving.

This recipe will preserve within the fridge for a number of days and it may be frozen.
To substitute retailer purchased dressing, I might recommend a light-weight citrusy French dressing.

Diet data offered is an estimate and can differ based mostly on cooking strategies and types of components used.

Course Lunch, Salad

Delicacies American

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