Kale Quinoa Salad – Spend With Pennies

October 3, 2024

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Kale quinoa salad is crammed with goodness and is simple to make.

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.

It will convert anybody right into a kale lover!

This salad has the proper mixture of candy, tangy, nutty, and savory.
It may be ready forward of time and saved within the fridge for days.
Surprisingly sufficient, this salad could be FROZEN for future lunches.
It’s nice as a hearty lunch salad or a facet salad subsequent to baked rooster thighs.
It’s chock filled with goodness and taste.

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

Kale Quinoa Salad Necessities

Kale: Select bunches of kale which can be deep inexperienced and take away any torn or wilted leaves, in addition to the stalks. Whereas I most frequently use curly kale, you should use different varieties like lacinato kale, child kale, or Tuscan kale.

Quinoa: Cooking quinoa in broth (as a substitute of water) provides additional taste. Quinoa could be changed with different grains like brown rice, farro, or barley.

Greens: Shredded carrots and sliced purple onions supply colour and crunch and can be found year-round. Seasonal veggies like chunks of roasted squash, corn, or beets could 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.

A Fast Home made Dressing

This French dressing is very easy to make; simply put every thing right into a jar and shake! You’ll be able to double up as a result of it’s good on salads of all types.

Lemon juice, Dijon mustard, and garlic add taste, whereas vinegar provides somewhat additional tang. Honey balances the dressing for the proper chunk.

Variations

Bulk up the salad by including chopped broccoli slaw, shredded Brussels sprouts, or spinach.
Add different veggies; nearly something goes. For those who’re not freezing this salad, attempt cherry tomatoes, purple pepper, or chopped cucumber.
Swap out pecans for pumpkin seeds, walnuts, pepitas, sunflower seeds, or sliced almonds.
Cooked rooster, tofu, and even chickpeas are nice additions for additional protein.
Change the honey with sugar or maple syrup.

kale in a bowl to make Kale Quinoa Salad

Tips on how to Make Kale Quinoa Salad

Mix dressing elements in a mason jar and shake (recipe under).
Prepare dinner quinoa and fluff with a fork, and funky.
Therapeutic massage chopped kale in oil and salt. Add the remaining elements and drizzle the dressing overtop.
Toss to mix and refrigerate earlier than serving.

When making a kale salad of any type, massaging the leaves could seem odd, nevertheless it 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 together with your arms. It can flip a darker inexperienced and the leaves will soften.

serving Kale Quinoa Salad in a bowl with spoons

Storing Kale Quinoa Salad

Hold kale quinoa salad in an hermetic 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 elements 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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Kale Quinoa Salad

This kale quinoa salad presents an ideal mix of recent flavors, making it a scrumptious alternative for a facet dish or lunch.

Prep Time 20 minutes

Prepare dinner Time 20 minutes

Chill Time 1 hour

Whole Time 1 hour 40 minutes

Prepare dinner ModeForestall your display screen from going darkish

Rinse the quinoa in a superb mesh strainer and drain effectively.
Place the quinoa in a medium saucepan with vegetable broth or water.
Convey 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 elements 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 together with your arms till the leaves grow to be tender and darkish inexperienced.
Add the cooled quinoa, pecans, carrots, feta cheese, purple onion, and dried cranberries to the bowl.
Pour the dressing over the elements and toss effectively to mix.
Refrigerate the salad for a minimum of 1 hour earlier than serving.

This recipe will preserve within the fridge for 4 days and it may be frozen.
To substitute retailer purchased dressing, I might recommend a lightweight citrusy French dressing.

Diet data supplied is an estimate and can fluctuate primarily based on cooking strategies and types of elements used.

Course Lunch, Salad, Aspect Dish

Delicacies American

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