Quinoa & Kale Salad with Balsamic Dijon Vinaigrette

We have said it before and we will say it again, KALE salads are the G.O.A.T. when it comes to salads. There are a few steps we like to follow to guarantee our kale salad is the tastiest one in the room!

1. We give our kale a nice MASSAGE

• This really is the most important step when it comes to making a tasty kale salad! Massaging your raw kale with your hands may seem like an odd thing to do but it will help break down the tough cell structure and give the kale a softer texture, that in our opinion makes for a much tastier salad.

• In this recipe, we give our kale a double massage! Once before the dressing is added and once after the dressing is added.

2. We layer in the different TEXTURES

• Salads don’t have to be boring and the best way to make things exciting is to add a variety of textures. We always make sure we add a crunchy AND creamy element!

• Some of our fave ingredients for adding crunch include nuts or seeds, crispy pita/tortilla chips, or roasted chickpeas

• Some of our fave ingredients for adding creaminess include feta or goat cheese, avocado, hummus or tahini.

3. We add something SWEET

• Kale can be quite bitter on its own, that’s why adding something sweet can do wonders when it comes to bringing balance to the flavour of the salad!

• Fresh fruit is usually our go-to when it comes to adding a sweet element to our kale salads. We love chopped apples, strawberries or blueberries. But if you don’t have any fresh fruit on hand, try adding dried fruit like dried cranberries, apricots or dates.

Ingredients:

Salad

• 4 cups of kale, finely chopped

• 2 cups cooked quinoa

• ½ small red cabbage, chopped

• 1 medium granny smith apple, chopped

• ½ cup feta cheese, crumbled

• ⅓ cup pumpkin seeds

• ½ a batch of roasted chickpeas

Dressing

• ½ cup olive oil

• ¼ cup balsamic vinegar

• 3 tbsp grainy dijon mustard

• 1 tbsp maple syrup or honey

• Salt + pepper to taste

• Note: Taste and add more or less of each ingredient

Method:

1. Add all the kale to a large bowl and massage with your hands.

2. Whisk the dressing ingredients together in a small bowl until fully emulsified.

3. Add the dressing to the salad and massage it into the kale.

4. Add the remaining salad ingredients and use tongs to incorporate everything together.

5. Store in an airtight container in the fridge.

ENJOY