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Pesto Quinoa Salad with Asparagus, Avocado, and Kale
4.4 from 33 votes

Pesto Quinoa Salad with Asparagus, Avocado, and Kale

Fresh, flavorful, delicious and nutritious quinoa salad loaded with superfoods and deliciousness!

Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
20 mins
Total Time
30 mins
Servings: 6 Servings
Calories: 603 kcal
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: American

Ingredients

Kale Pesto
  • 1 cup kale leaves
  • 2 cups basil fresh
  • 1/2 cup walnuts
  • 2 tablespoons nutritional yeast optional
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt to taste, sea salt
  • 1 tablespoon cider vinegar
  • 1/2 cup avocado oil or olive oil
Quinoa Salad:
  • 1 cup quinoa
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 asparagus trimmed and chopped, small bunch
  • 2 cups kale chopped, tightly packed leaves
  • 1 teaspoon lemon zest
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt to taste, sea salt
  • 1/2 cup kale pesto sauce recipe above
  • 1/3 cup walnut roasted and chopped, raw
  • 1 avocado peeled, pitted and diced
  • 1/4 cup feta cheese crumbled

Instructions

Kale Pesto:
    Cup of Yum
  1. Add all ingredients except oil to a food processor and pulse until chopped. Once chopped, turn the food processor on and stream the oil through the opening in the top. Continue processing until desired texture is reached. Taste pesto for flavor and add more sea salt or nutritional yeast
Quinoa Salad:
  1. Cook quinoa according to package instructions.
  2. Add oil to a large non-stick skillet and heat to medium-high. Add chopped asparagus and saute, stirring occasionally, until asparagus turns bright green and begins to soften, about 3 to 5 minutes.
  3. Add chopped kale to the skillet and stir. Cover and cook until kale has wilted, about 1 to 2 minutes. Remove from heat. Add the cooked quinoa, lemon zest, sea salt, and kale pesto and stir well until combined. 
  4. Fold in the avocado, walnuts, and feta and taste for flavor. Add more sea salt to taste. Note: you can chill the pesto quinoa in the refrigerator until you're ready to serve before adding the avocado, walnuts, and feta. Quinoa salad can be served both warm or cold.

Nutrition Information

Serving 1of 6 Calories 603kcal (30%) Carbohydrates 25g (8%) Protein 9g (18%) Fat 54g (83%) Fiber 6g (24%) Sugar 2g (4%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 6 Servings

Amount Per Serving

Calories 603

% Daily Value*

Serving 1of 6
Calories 603kcal 30%
Carbohydrates 25g 8%
Protein 9g 18%
Fat 54g 83%
Fiber 6g 24%
Sugar 2g 4%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.