Cranberry Apple Kale Salad with Quinoa
User Reviews
5.0
12 reviews
Excellent
-
Prep Time
14 mins
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Cook Time
14 mins
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Total Time
30 mins
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Servings
4 servings
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Calories
403 kcal
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Course
Salad
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Cuisine
American, Vegetarian
Cranberry Apple Kale Salad with Quinoa
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This tasty vegetarian Kale Apple Cranberry Salad features tender kale and fluffy quinoa tossed with cranberries, apple, carrots, and a zippy lemon dressing.
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Ingredients
- ½ cup dry quinoa
- ¾ cup water
- 2-3 cups chopped kale
- ½ cup julienned carrots
- ⅓-½ cup dried cranberries
- 1 small honeycrisp apple
DRESSING
- ¼ cup avocado oil or light olive oil
- 3-4 TBSP fresh-squeezed lemon juice
- 1 small clove garlic peeled and pressed/grated/minced
- 1 tsp Dijon mustard
- ¼ tsp sea salt
- ¼ tsp black pepper
- ½ tsp honey or maple syrup to sweeten (optional)
HOMEMADE CANDIED PECANS
- ½ cup Chopped Pecans (the smaller the better)
- 2 tsp unsalted butter
- 1 TBSP light brown sugar
- ⅛ tsp salt
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Instructions
- First rinse and drain your quinoa using a mesh strainer/sieve.
- Bring a medium saucepan to medium heat and lightly toast the quinoa to remove any excess water. Stir as it toasts for just a few minutes. This step is optional but really adds to the nuttiness and fluff factor of the quinoa!
- Next add your water, set burner to high, and bring to a boil. Once boiling, reduce heat to low and simmer, covered with the lid slightly ajar, for 12-13 minutes or until quinoa is fluffy and the liquid has been absorbed.
- While the quinoa cooks, prep the remaining ingredients, make your candied pecans, and whisk together your dressing ingredients.
- Remove kale leaves from the stem. Wash and dry the leaves, then chop into bite sized pieces.
- Next gently massage the kale with a drizzle of olive oil. This makes the leaves extra tender and silky, and also makes key nutrients even easier to absorb. Woot!
- For the super simple dressing, simply combine all the ingredients in a bowl and whisk to combine. Alternatively you can add the ingredients to a lidded mason jar and shake well to emulsify. The addition of a sweetener is 100% optional here, simply use it to help customize the tartness of the lemon dressing to your taste.
- Snag your now-fluffy quinoa from the pot and give it a little fluff with a fork.
- For a chilled salad, you can pop the quinoa in the fridge for a few minutes prior to adding your veggies or simply let it cool on the countertop for a few minutes for a room temperature quinoa bowl. Totally up to you!
- In a large bowl, toss together, kale, quinoa, carrots.
- Remove the core and stem from a small honeycrisp apple and slice into thin matchsticks. I usually add about a cup to my salad plus extra to taste.
- Toss lightly with a drizzle of whisked/shaken dressing just before serving, leaving the rest to be added to taste. Enjoy!
FOR THE CANDIED PECANS
- Heat a skillet or saucepan to medium heat and butter to melt.
- Next add in your pecans, brown sugar, and the teeniest bit of salt.
- Sauté for 5-6 minutes and pour over parchment paper, using a spatula to separate the nuts. Otherwise you’ll have yummy pecan brittle that you’ll want to break apart over your salad, which is no big deal either.
- Allow to cool for several minutes until the coating hardens and your pecans have officially been candied!
Notes
- Looking to add a little bit of creaminess to your salad? If you're not dairy-free or vegan, feel free to add crumbled feta, goat cheese, or even gorgonzola cheese to the mix.
Nutrition Information
Show Details
Calories
403kcal
(20%)
Carbohydrates
38g
(13%)
Protein
6g
(12%)
Fat
28g
(43%)
Saturated Fat
4g
(20%)
Polyunsaturated Fat
6g
Monounsaturated Fat
16g
Trans Fat
0.1g
Cholesterol
5mg
(2%)
Sodium
266mg
(11%)
Potassium
420mg
(12%)
Fiber
6g
(24%)
Sugar
18g
(36%)
Vitamin A
6120IU
(122%)
Vitamin C
39mg
(43%)
Calcium
122mg
(12%)
Iron
2mg
(11%)
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 4servings
Amount Per Serving
Calories 403 kcal
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 403kcal | 20% |
| Carbohydrates | 38g | 13% |
| Protein | 6g | 12% |
| Fat | 28g | 43% |
| Saturated Fat | 4g | 20% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 6g | 35% |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 16g | 80% |
| Trans Fat | 0.1g | 5% |
| Cholesterol | 5mg | 2% |
| Sodium | 266mg | 11% |
| Potassium | 420mg | 9% |
| Fiber | 6g | 24% |
| Sugar | 18g | 36% |
| Vitamin A | 6120IU | 122% |
| Vitamin C | 39mg | 43% |
| Calcium | 122mg | 12% |
| Iron | 2mg | 11% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
Genuine Reviews
User Reviews
Overall Rating
5.0
12 reviews
Excellent
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