Kale Quinoa Salad with Edamame

I first wrote this weblog submit after I was 23 years previous. Right here’s what it mentioned:

“It’s coming to a degree on my Fb the place everyone seems to be changing into engaged. I don’t know what’s occurring?

I imply, any time I even take into consideration having a boyfriend I can’t assist however snicker; the entire guys I’m going on dates with are both A) dedicated to work, B) utterly awkward, or C) have questionable intentions. However I assume that’s what occurs when you’re 23.

So for now I feel I’ll follow single girl issues till the person of my desires (who may resemble Joshua Jackson aka Pacey from Dawson’s Creek) comes into my life. Plus if I had a boyfriend I in all probability couldn’t get away with making him eat quinoa and kale as an alternative of manly beer battered onion rings and cups of BBQ sauce… or no matter Burger King is promoting this week.

What are your ideas on that?

Blink.

Hmmm, obtained it.

Let’s transfer on and talk about grownup issues. Like salads.”

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Studying it made me snicker actual exhausting. Life’s obtained a humorous method of adjusting rapidly. Tony (my husband) and I met after I was 24 (solely a yr later). He nonetheless eats onion rings and just about hates all issues quinoa (besides after I make these truffles) and we now have 3 little boys.

Let’s speak about this ridiculously good kale quinoa salad. It’s mainly the proper salad for spring & summer season social gathering season folks. My love of kale salads first started in 2010 after I would at all times discover my mother making a giant batch of uncooked kale salad with lemon, olive oil, garlic, and all of the bell peppers. She would let it nonetheless a couple of hours till the lemon juice broke down the kale and the flavors grew to become melded collectively; it was sensational.

Components on this kale quinoa salad

This salad is sort of a wholesome little fairy story I dreamt up. The blissful ever after is that taste explosion in your mouth with juicy mangoes, crisp veggies, nutty quinoa, and extra. Right here’s every part you’ll have to make it:

• Quinoa: is there something higher than quinoa in salads? I feel not. It offers this salad a beautiful texture and a lift of protein.
• Edamame: for an additional supply of plant-based protein we’re including some scrumptious edamame.
• Kale: the bottom of this salad is beautiful kale! See under for ideas for including it to salads.
• Fruits & veggies: we’re rounding out this salad with grape tomatoes, crimson onion, mango, and creamy avocado. SO a lot taste and goodness.
• For the dressing: I tossed this salad in a bit of lemony basil French dressing which takes about 5 seconds to combine along with contemporary lemon juice, olive oil, garlic, dijon mustard, honey, contemporary basil, salt & pepper. You may put it in a blender, or combine it up in a bowl (simply be sure to mince the basil first).
• To garnish: I really like topping this salad with toasted sliced almonds for additional crunch.

Customise your salad

The flavors and textures on this kale quinoa salad are completely good collectively, however there are some nice methods you can also make it your personal, too:

• Choose your produce: I feel pineapple and crimson bell pepper can be nice swaps for the mango and tomatoes if that’s what you have got available.
• Swap the nuts: pistachios would even be scrumptious on this salad instead of the almonds.
• Strive a brand new protein: don’t have any edamame? Add a can of rinsed, drained chickpeas as an alternative!
• Select a brand new grain: you would simply swap the quinoa for pearl couscous as nicely. LOVE.

In search of one other increase of protein?

For those who’re not vegetarian or vegan, strive one including chopped hen breast (my baked or grilled honey mustard hen can be good), shrimp or salmon (my Honey Lemon Garlic Salmon can be scrumptious).

Suggestions for making salads with kale

For those who’re questioning what the trick to a very good kale salad is, it’s easy: therapeutic massage within the dressing along with your arms! Sounds loopy, however the dressing really helps to interrupt down the bitterness of the kale and infuse it with taste. Listed below are some additional ideas:

• Be sure you chop it very finely in order that the bites aren’t too giant.
• Add the dressing to the kale by itself first and toss all of it collectively rather well. You may even do that along with your arms and “therapeutic massage” the dressing in in order that the entire kale is nicely coated.
• Let it marinate! That’s proper, you’ll need to let the dressed kale sit for a minimum of quarter-hour earlier than including the opposite toppings in order that it soaks up the entire taste. It makes all of the distinction.

Storing ideas

This simple kale quinoa salad will hold nicely for about 3-4 days in an hermetic glass container within the fridge.

Extra salad recipes you’ll love

Get all of my salad recipes right here!

I hope you like this kale, edamame quinoa salad recipe! For those who make it remember to depart a remark and a ranking so I understand how you favored it. Take pleasure in, xo!

 

This submit was initially revealed on Might seventeenth, 2018, and republished on July ninth, 2024.