This Kale salad with quinoa is nutty and sweet with the most amazing crunchy texture. Packed with fiber and protein, it makes a healthy appetizer or side dish.
Whether you serve this Kale Salad with Quinoa as a side or as a main course, you’ll be sure to wow your friends and family with this delicious salad. It has so many great textures, from the juicy apples to the crunchy nuts to the tender kale leaves. And the flavors are great too, with the sweet and salty blending with the nutty flavored walnuts and hemp heart.
This salad can be paired with many other dishes, so it’s great to have in your repertoire. This healthy salad is made with fresh ingredients and is packed with protein, fiber, vitamins and minerals. With the homemade dressing adding sweet, tangy notes, even children are drawn to the flavors of this dish. Let’s take a closer look at what you need to make this Kale Salad with Quinoa.
video guide
main ingredients
- Kale. Here you can use kale or lacinato kale.
- Andean millet. Multicolored or regular is fine. If you like, you can add a touch of turmeric while cooking the quinoa to make it look as yellow as mine.
- apples. Any kind is fine. I like to use Gala, Honeycrisp or Fuji apples.
- walnuts Toast the walnuts to give them more flavor. It really makes a difference. Roasted almonds work too.
- hemp hearts. This adds a nice nutty flavor and some extra nutrients. But you can skip it.
- Sea-salt. This is massaged into the kale to soften it.
- Dressing. This is made with olive oil, lemon juice, mustard, maple syrup, garlic, salt and black pepper.
How to make kale salad with quinoa
1. Remove and discard the stalks of kale. Roll the kale into a bundle, then cut the leaves into strips.
2. Place the kale pieces in a large mixing bowl and add the salt. Massage in with your hands for a few minutes. Put aside.
3. In a small glass, shake olive oil, maple syrup, mustard, lemon juice, garlic, salt and black pepper. This will be your dressing.
4. Now add the sliced apples, toasted walnuts, cooked quinoa and hemp hearts to the bowl with the kale. Pour the dressing over it and mix everything well. Surcharge.
Tips for the best kale salad with quinoa
- Discard the stalks of the kale. For the best texture and flavor, remove the kale stems. They’re bitter and quite chewy, so they don’t add anything good to the salad.
- Rub the kale with salt. This step is really important because kale itself can be fibrous and tough. The salt tenderizes the leaves and makes them more tender and digestible.
- Cut the apples last. When preparing the ingredients, slice the apples before adding them to the salad. They brown quickly, leaving them crispy and the flesh white.
- Use a homemade dressing. This or any other dressing tastes best when you make it yourself. Store-bought dressing just isn’t as flavorful as one made at home from fresh ingredients. It’s not that healthy either.
Variations on this recipe
- Substitute another fruit. Besides apples, you can also do this with blueberries, strawberries, pears, and mangoes. This salad is so versatile.
- Add other toppings. You can add raisins or dried cranberries, cucumbers, carrots, radishes or avocados. Just cut everything to a consistent size.
- Substitute other nuts. Instead of walnuts, you can use toasted almonds, pine nuts, pecans, or cashews. Make sure to toast them for that extra layer of flavor.
- Use other dressings. I love this tangy and sweet homemade dressing, but feel free to use others instead if you prefer. try this Balsamic salad dressing without oil or Raspberry Vinaigrette Dressing.
How to save it
Store this kale salad with quinoa in an airtight container in the fridge. It can last up to 3 days because the kale is so hearty. Keep in mind that the apples will get mushy, so try to eat them the day you make them.
What should you serve it with?
- Soup. Pair this salad with a bowl Turkey cabbage soup, chicken stew, creamy tortellini soupor Hearty beef barley soup.
- proteins. Make it your accompaniment to an entree like this Flounder Stuffed with Spinach, Chicken Snap Pea Stir-Fryor Easy Sausage Meatballs.
- Pasta. Serve this kale salad with quinoa with a plate Spaghetti with olive oil and garlic, salmon and feta pastaor Creamy pasta with prosciutto.
- sandwiches or wraps. Make this as an accompaniment to a sandwich, wrap, or taco. Give it a try Beef sandwich on naan bread, chickpea and carrot salad sandwich, potato tacoor Easy hummus wrap.
This Kale Salad with Quinoa is crunchy, sweet, and nutty. You’ll wow your guests with this amazing salad that packs a punch.
More delicious salad recipes:
Kale salad with quinoa
This Kale salad with quinoa is nutty and sweet with the most amazing crunchy texture. Packed with fiber and protein, it makes a healthy appetizer or side dish.
ingredients
- 4 oz. Kale
- ½ tsp. sea-salt
- 1 Middle semi-sweet apple, diced
- 1 Cup cooked quinoa (heap ¼ cup uncooked)
- ½ Cup toasted walnuts
- ¼ Cup hemp hearts
For the dressing
- ¼ Cup olive oil
- 2 Tablespoon. lemon juice
- 1 Tablespoon. maple syrup
- 1 tsp. Mustard
- 1 Middle Garlic clove, chopped
- ¼ tsp. sea-salt
- ¼ tsp. pepper
instructions
-
Remove the core from the kale and discard. Roll the kale into a bundle, then cut the leaves into strips.
-
Place the kale pieces in a large mixing bowl and add the salt. Massage in with your hands for a few minutes. Put aside.
-
In a small glass, shake together olive oil, maple syrup, mustard, lemon juice, garlic, salt and black pepper. This will be your dressing.
-
Now add the sliced apples, toasted walnuts, cooked quinoa, and hemp hearts to the bowl with the kale. Pour the dressing over it and mix everything well. Surcharge.
Remarks
Variations on this recipe
- Substitute another fruit. Besides apples, you can also do this with blueberries, strawberries, pears, and mangoes. This salad is so versatile.
- Add other toppings. You can add raisins or dried cranberries, cucumbers, carrots, radishes or avocados. Just cut everything to a consistent size.
- Substitute other nuts. Instead of walnuts, you can use toasted almonds, pine nuts, pecans, or cashews. Make sure to toast them for that extra layer of flavor.
- Use other dressings. I love this tangy and sweet homemade dressing, but feel free to use others instead if you prefer. try this Balsamic salad dressing without oil or Raspberry Vinaigrette Dressing.
How to save it
Store this kale salad with quinoa in an airtight container in the fridge. It can last up to 3 days because the kale is so hearty. Keep in mind that the apples will get mushy, so try to eat them the day you make them.
nutrition
Calories: 391kcalCarbohydrates: 24GProtein: 10GFat: 30GSaturated Fatty Acids: 3GPolyunsaturated fat: 14GMonounsaturated fatty acids: 12GSodium: 392mgPotassium: 316mgFiber: 5GSugar: 8thGVitamin A: 2930ieVitamin C: 32mgCalcium: 123mgIron: 4mg