If you’re gonna eat kale, you should probably eat it in this sensationally superb salad.
This salad is da bomb because it’s looks all kaley but doesn’t taste all kaley. Because it sounds like rabbit food but doesn’t taste like rabbit food. I mean holy moly….this ensalada is a downright dream boat. A real treat for the taste buds. The toasty almonds, the sweet golden raisins (which may I add are far superior to regular raisins), the simple lemony dressing…I can’t even.
I think this would be over the top fab with avocado and some feta, but I wanted to keep it vegan-friendly for Alchemy customers since some of our other salads are full o’ feta. Avocado browning in a kale salad kind of ruins the whole yumtastic image of this healthy salad, but feel free to add it in at home if you’re eating it the same day!
Speaking of Alchemy, be sure to head on over to The Micro Harvest for a little Q & A action!
There’s definitely some plant-based protein in this bad boy from the quinoa, but I like topping it with a Luna burger (or whatever veggie burger you prefer) when I’m feeling hangry pants. I’ve been loving having this on hand in the fridge for lunches since it gets even better over time as the dressing marinates. WIN.
I love helping people love kale. Kale is like exercise. You know it’s super good for you but you don’t want to do it. Well consider me your kale personal trainer. It’s my mission to make you like kale. To make you LURVE kale.
Mission accomplished, you kale lovin’ fools!
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PinDescription
A lemony kale salad packed with quinoa, toasted almonds, and golden raisins.
Ingredients
For the dressing:
- 1 1/2 lemons, juiced
- 1/4 cup + 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 1 tbsp pure maple syrup
- 3/4 tsp salt
- freshly ground black pepper
For the salad:
- 2 bunches curly kale, destemmed and finely chopped
- 1 1/2 cups cooked quinoa
- 1/2 cup golden raisins
- 1/2 cup roasted almonds, chopped
- 1 large bell pepper, chopped
- 1 avocado, cubed (optional)
Instructions
- Whisk together dressing ingredients and set aside.
- Place chopped kale in a large bowl. Pour dressing on top and massage dressing into leaves for a couple of minutes (using your hands) until kale is broken down.
- Add cooked quinoa, raisins, almonds, peppers, and avocado. Toss to combine.
Maryea {happy healthy mama} says
This is gorgeous! On my list to make!!
Alexis says
You will love it!!
Joyce Whiteman says
How do you cut the kale so fine? Do u use a knife or kitchen wiz etc.?
Alexis says
I just chop it into small pieces!
Ceara @ Ceara's Kitchen says
I love Kale and this salad looks like a wonderful and simple way to eat it. Can you imagine that kale isn’t sold in Belgium all year round? Haha, I desperately wait until it is in season again every winter and then stock up on it :) Pinned!
Wendy says
I grow it all year round in northern Australia. I’m surprised it is not available in summer in Belgium. Good luck.
★★★★
Simi says
Loved featuring you & Alchemy!! XO!
Alexis says
So fabulous!!
Brittany @ Delights and Delectables says
mmm.. I have been in love with kale and quinoa lately!! Making this for sure!
Alexis says
Yay!!
Marisa @ Uproot from Oregon says
I am going to join hands with you as a kale personal trainer. I’m obsessed and need to just grow it myself! Looks delish and I would also totes throw on the avocado and feta.
Alexis says
Hahaha love it!!!
Julia says
I loves. I loves this so hard. :D
Alexis says
Gurrrrrl this has your name ALL over it.
Carly says
Lemon + kale = magicalness! This salad looks delicious, even though it’s so kaley ; )
I usually put cranberries in my kale salads, so I bet raisins will be just as great.
Thanks!
http://www.playingforeats.com | Carly
Alexis says
For some reason I think golden raisins are so much better than regular ones! They add the best sweetness and texture!
Sarah Kat says
Oh man oh man! I’m sending this to my mom, it is right down her alley! Might give it a try myself since you said they kale isn’t too kale-y hahaha.
Alexis says
Hahaha there is a fine line between just kaley enough and too kaley!
Lauren says
I am loving kale more and more! I need to get on to all the recipes from my new book that are ear marked.
Simple flavours seem to win over the kale hating crowd and this recipe looks perfect!
Alexis says
I agree! The simpler, the better.
Christina @ The Beautiful Balance says
I will become addicted to this salad so easily!
Alexis says
I hope you do!!
stephi says
this dish reminds me a lot of tabbouleh from what it looks like and then it has 2 delicious superfoods in their. YYUMMYYY!!!!! your blog name made me smile btw :D so creative
★★★★★
Alexis says
Thanks, Stephi :) Enjoy!
Abby says
Just made this….delicious!!! Is the dressing something that can be made ahead of time and if so, does it need to be refrigerated?
Alexis says
Fabulous! Yes, the dressing can be made ahead of time and yes I’d refrigerate it!
Ruth Smith says
I had everything on hand to make this salad (except I used dried cranberries instead of raisins), so it called to me when your New Year’s post popped up this morning. This is in the fridge chillin for lunch! It looks so yummy. Cannot wait to taste.
Alexis says
Fabulous! I bet it would be great with cranberries. I hope you liked it!
Santiv says
This looks super delicious! What do you think about replacing the almonds with peanuts and the lemon juice with either lime or orange juice? I am wondering if this would still taste good.
★★★★★
Alexis says
I don’t think orange juice would be the best sub just because lemon juice is more acidic. I think almonds would be tastier but if you only have peanuts I think that should be fine :)
Jackie says
what’s the calories for one seving
Alexis says
I don’t calculate nutrition info, sorry!
Darla says
Wanted to let you know about a yummy substitution I made here. Thought I had 2 lemons, only had 1. Used 1 lemon and 1 orange. Yum! Yum! And yum! Also used cranberries. (I live with a raisin hater). This salad is sooooo good, thanks so much for your amazingly inspiring recipes.
Alexis says
That sounds amazing! I know there are lots of raisin haters out there, so I’m glad it was yummy with another dried fruit!
Kelley Hays says
Girl, I just made a nice big batch of this for the first time and I LOVE it! My hubby even loved it and asked for more (he’s normally not a healthy food lover at all). I’d never massaged kale before, but did it, and it turned out SO good. TY!
★★★★★
Cheryl Emerson says
I see the recipe has lemon….. the perfect foil for the ‘browning’ of any added avocado. Maybe just sprinkle a little extra lemon juice on the avocado to keep it from browning.
★★★★
Maria says
Hi Alexis,
I just found your blog and I love your recipes! I’ve been collecting salad recipes from around the web for a couple years and just recently decided to put them up on a blog to better organize and share them. I included this recipe and would like to include more, but want to make sure it’s ok. Here’s the link: http://www.mariasalad.com/quinoa-and-kale-salad-recipe-with-lemon-dressing/
Let me know.
Thanks!
Maria
★★★★★
Alexis says
Hi Maria! I’m so glad you’re enjoying the recipes! I would prefer if you posted the link to the recipe rather than writing out the recipe. Thanks!
Angela says
I recently came across this website, and decided to make this Kale and Quinoa Salad, since I have so much curly kale growing in my garden.
Well, I’ve made it twice in the past 3 days! The 2nd time I made it, I added a ton more kale than the recipe asked for, and added more roasted almonds (I use the 50% less salt from Trader Joe’s). Delicious!!!!
I doubled the recipe of the dressing the 1st time I made this, and still haven’t used it all.
Also, since I’m too lazy to massage the kale, I simply add the quinoa to the plain kale (no other stuff), while the quinoa is still pretty warm. This seems to wilt the kale and makes it much more enjoyable and easier to eat.
★★★★★
Alex @ get big, go to work says
Yum!! I was looking for some new recipes while meal planning this week, and made this recipe for dinner tonight. It is so delicious. And was so easy to make. Definitely going into our regular rotation for sure :)
Darla says
It’s Thnksgiving weekend here in Canada and this beautiful salad graced our thanksgiving table! Along with marinated tofu, yams, turnips, and scalloped potatoes. Yum!! Thanks for the amazing recipe!!
Charmaine says
Delicious! Day 5 of becoming a Vegan, and this salad is EXACTLY what I needed today! So fresh, and the perfect texture! I reduced the amount of olive oil used, and added apples and Chia seeds! Yummy!!! Thank you!!!!
★★★★★
Ingrid Galvis Hentschel says
Absolutely loved making this salad! I put apples as well to give it a nice fresh bite. :) Thank you!
★★★★★
Alexis says
Awesome!
Amanda says
Hands down the BEST kale salad I’ve ever eaten! I could not stop eating it once I started! Thanks for sharing this recipe. I will be making this over and over.
★★★★★
Alexis says
Wowa! Thanks for your glorious comment. I’m so so glad it turned out so well!
Liz says
Great salad I made hubby grilled salmon (I’m a vegetarian ) and grilled some asparagus go with this nice salad…I added 1/2 tsp of dijon mustard to the dressing ingredients gave it a bit more tang was great! I also use cranberriies as i didnt have golden raisins on hand. Thanks for this healthy very tasty salad Alexis.
★★★★