Kale and Quinoa Salad

A quinoa and kale salad in a white bowl with a wooden serving spoon and fork.

5 from 1 vote

This colorful and hearty salad features whole grain quinoa, crisp kale, chickpeas, cucumber, savory feta cheese, and crunchy almonds all tied together with a bright lemon dressing.

Prep Time15

Cook Time15

Total Time30

Course: Salad

Cuisine: American

Diet: Low Calorie, Low Fat, Low Salt, Vegetarian

Servings:

Calories: 265kcal

Author: Dr. Sonali Ruder

Equipment

Saucepan

Ingredients

Salad:

1 cup quinoa
6 cups kale leaves chopped into small pieces (can use curly or Tuscan kale)
1 can chickpeas drained and rinsed
1 cup diced English cucumber
¼ cup sliced red onion optional
½ cup crumbled feta cheese
⅓ cup sliced almonds
Optional: fresh herbs like dill or parsley

Lemon Dressing:

¼ cup olive oil
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1 clove garlic minced
1 teaspoon honey or maple syrup
Salt and pepper

Instructions

Cook the quinoa according to package directions. Set aside.
To make the lemon dressing, whisk the olive oil, lemon juice, vinegar, mustard, garlic, and honey in a small bowl. Season the dressing with a pinch of salt and pepper.
Place the chopped kale in a large bowl and pour about 1 tablespoon of the vinaigrette on top. Massage the dressing into the kale for a few minutes until the leaves are softened and tender.
Add the warm cooked quinoa to the kale along with the chickpeas, cucumber, red onion, feta cheese, almonds, and herbs (if using). Pour the remaining vinaigrette on top and toss to combine. Garnish with extra feta and almonds, if desired. Serve.

Notes

Massage a little of the lemon dressing into the kale leaves for a few minutes before adding the rest of the salad ingredients. This will tenderize the leaves and make them more pleasant to eat.

For extra flavor, you can cook the quinoa in vegetable or chicken broth instead of water.

Add the lemon dressing to the salad while the quinoa is still warm- it will soak up the dressing better and add more flavor.

You can add any fresh herbs you have in the fridge (like dill or parsley) to the salad for a pop of bright flavor.

For a hint of sweetness, you can add some dried cranberries or cherries to the salad.

Enjoy this kale and quinoa salad as is or top it with grilled chicken, salmon, shrimp or tofu for a heartier meal.

Nutrition