This kale quinoa salad is both satisfying and nourishing! It brings together the goodness of kale, the protein-packed power of quinoa, and the crunch of juicy veggies in a refreshing lemon dressing.
Table of Contents
We've recently started to incorporate more quinoa into our meals and this kale salad recipe is perfect for that!
Although it's technically a seed, quinoa is used like a whole grain. It's an excellent source of plant-based protein and fibre, so it's great for us vegans!
Like in our recipe for kale salad with apple, we massage the kale, which makes it much more tender. This is a great trick for using kale without cooking it.
The delightful dressing and the addition of fresh veggies and other toppings make this more than a salad. It's a flavoursome and wholesome side dish or even a light meal in its own right.
Ingredient tips
Here's everything you need to make the perfect quinoa kale salad:
Kale:
You can use any type of kale for this recipe. Curly kale is usually the easiest to find. Lacinato kale, also known as dinosaur kale or Tuscan kale, is a longer and darker variety that also works well in salads. You could also use baby kale, and skip massaging it.
Quinoa:
Quinoa contains saponins, which can give a bitter taste if it isn't rinsed. Many commercial packs of quinoa are pre-rinsed, but if you are not sure, give yours a quick rinse under running water before cooking it.
Our recipe includes instructions for using dried quinoa, but you can use cooked leftover quinoa if you have it! You'll need about 3 cups of cooked quinoa instead of 1 cup of dried quinoa.
Step by step pictures
Here's a visual guide on how to make this fluffy quinoa kale salad. For the full, adjustable and printable recipe, see the recipe card at the end of the post.
Step 1 - Rinse and cook the quinoa. Fluff it up with a fork and season with salt and pepper. Set it aside to cool.
Step 2 - In a large mixing bowl, massage the chopped kale with salt for 1-2 minutes until it becomes tender and takes on a darker color.
Step 3 - Add the halved cherry tomatoes, diced celery, thinly sliced red onion, dried cranberries and sliced almonds to the bowl.
Step 4 - In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, lemon juice, maple syrup, and minced garlic.
Step 5 - Pour the dressing over the kale mixture and toss everything together to ensure that the ingredients are evenly coated.
Step 6 - Finally, mix in the cooked quinoa.
Top Tip
To enhance the nutty flavour of quinoa, you can toast it in a saute pan until it becomes light golden brown, and then cook it with water as normal.
Substitutions and variations
Nut-Free: If you have nut allergies, replace the sliced almonds with pepitas / pumpkin seeds or sunflower seeds.
Protein Boost: Add some chickpeas, vegan feta or hemp seeds for an extra protein punch.
Make this salad your own by swapping out the veggies to suit you!
These all go together great with quinoa and kale:
- Avocado
- Bell pepper
- Broccoli
- Cucumber
- Roast butternut squash
- Roast sweet potato
- Zucchini / courgette
Almonds can also easily be swapped for sliced pecans or pine nuts to delicious effect!
Add 1 teaspoon of lemon zest for extra refreshing flavour!
Instead of dried cranberries, you can use raisins.
Serving
Serve this easy kale quinoa salad as a refreshing side dish at your next barbecue, picnic, or potluck. For a healthy meal, I like to pair it with hummus and baked tofu.
Storage
If you find yourself with leftovers, store the salad for up to 2 days in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
FAQs
Absolutely! While white quinoa is the most common, feel free to experiment with red or black quinoa for a colorful twist. Darker varieties of quinoa typically need a longer cooking time of around 20 minutes.
Sure! Cooking the quinoa the day before, or mixing the dressing in advance and refrigerating it, will speed up prep on the day!
Spinach, chard or arugula / rocket can be used as alternatives and don't need to be massaged.
More salad recipes
I hope you loved this kale quinoa salad recipe! If you're eager for more delicious plant-based dishes, here are three other vegan recipes to try:
Also, be sure to check out this collection of 21 Easy Vegan Kale Recipes for more inspiration!
📖 Recipe
Kale Quinoa Salad
Ingredients
- 1 cup (180 g) quinoa uncooked, rinsed
- 2 cups (70 g) kale thick stems removed, chopped
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ cup (80 g) cherry tomatoes halved
- ½ cup (55 g) celery diced
- 1 small red onion thinly sliced
- ¼ cup (30 g) dried cranberries
- ¼ cup (30 g) sliced almonds
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon maple syrup
- 1 clove garlic minced
Instructions
- Prepare quinoa. Place the quinoa in a medium saucepan with 2 cups water. Bring to a boil and then reduce the heat to a simmer and cook for about 10-13 minutes until the water is absorbed. Fluff up with a fork and season with salt and pepper. Set aside to cool.1 cup (180 g) quinoa
- Massage kale. In a large mixing bowl, combine chopped kale and salt and use your hands to gently massage it for 1-2 minutes until it becomes tender and darker in color.2 cups (70 g) kale, ½ teaspoon salt
- Add the cherry tomatoes, celery, red onion, dried cranberries, and sliced almonds to the massaged kale.½ cup (80 g) cherry tomatoes, ½ cup (55 g) celery, 1 small red onion, ¼ cup (30 g) dried cranberries, ¼ cup (30 g) sliced almonds
- Make the dressing. In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, lemon juice, maple syrup and minced garlic to make the dressing.2 tablespoons olive oil, 2 tablespoons lemon juice, 1 tablespoon maple syrup, 1 clove garlic
- Pour the dressing over the kale and vegetable mixture and toss well to combine, ensuring all the ingredients are coated with the dressing.
- Add the cooked quinoa to the salad and gently toss again to combine.
Notes
Nutrition
This information is calculated per serving and is an estimate only.
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