Cranberry, Kale & Quinoa Salad

This Cranberry, Kale & Quinoa Salad makes the right aspect to entertain with any time of the yr!

It is also nice as a weeknight dinner.

The brightness of the lemon juice paired with the candy and tangy cranberries and hearty kale make for a beautiful dish. Simply be sure you therapeutic massage the kale—sure, therapeutic massage it!—extra on that under.

I like this kale and quinoa salad on Thanksgiving or Christmas as a vegetarian possibility. If nobody wants a vegetarian possibility, I make it a Cranberry Kale Salad (sans quinoa) to go together with the large turkey dinner. It is nice each methods!

Substances

Makes 4 servings, double or triple this for a vacation aspect

• ⅓ cup dried quinoa (makes about ¾ cup cooked quinoa; omit the quinoa if you would like a grain-free or lighter salad)
• 1 massive bunch of inexperienced or Tuscan (lacinato) kale, ribs eliminated and finely chopped (be aware, you will therapeutic massage the kale with 1 tablespoon of lemon juice, see be aware about this under)
• ¼ cup slivered almonds, toasted in a dry skillet
• ¼ cup dried cranberries (*see substitutions)
• 2 tablespoons grated Parmigiano Reggiano cheese (actual Parmesan cheese, not the pretend stuff)
• For the dressing:
  • 2 tablespoons of recent lemon juice (you want 3 tablespoons complete for this recipe)
  • 2 tablespoons further virgin olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon honey, actual maple syrup, or white sugar
  • 1 massive garlic clove, smashed open
  • nice grain sea salt (I take advantage of Actual Salt) or Kosher salt
  • freshly floor black pepper

Learn how to Make a Cranberry, Kale & Quinoa Salad

1. Make the dressing first to infuse it with garlic. I prefer to whisk the salad dressing collectively within the backside of a bowl massive sufficient to make the entire salad to avoid wasting on dishes.
2. Put together the quinoa if utilizing it. Learn to make good fluffy quinoa right here. (Or, purchase cooked quinoa on the recent bar at your retailer.)
3. Whereas the quinoa cooks, chop and therapeutic massage your kale. Massaging it with lemon juice softens it for a greater general salad texture.
4. Toast the nuts in a dry skillet over medium warmth for 3-4 minutes till they’re aromatic and really evenly browned (you can even do that for a couple of minutes underneath the broiler or in a toaster oven on a sheet pan.) Watch them carefully so they do not burn.
5. Discard the smashed garlic, then toss the cooked quinoa, kale, toasted nuts, dried cranberries (or substitute), and Parmigiano cheese with the dressing.

See the printable recipe card under for the total recipe and detailed directions.

Massaging the Kale

In case you’ve by no means accomplished this, it would sound a bit unusual, nevertheless it works!

Why therapeutic massage kale? Kale is mostly a troublesome inexperienced. To enhance its texture in salads, take away the robust stem, chop the leaves, then drizzle it with a squeeze of lemon juice and therapeutic massage it for about 60 seconds. The acid citrus within the lemon juice and therapeutic massage will assist soften it, which makes it a beautiful texture in salads.

Storage & Make Forward Choices

• Salads are usually finest eaten inside a number of hours of constructing them. If in case you have leftovers, this kale and quinoa salad will preserve in a coated container within the fridge for about 24 hours. Nevertheless, it is best served recent.
• Make forward suggestions: You can also make the dressing as much as 24 hours upfront and retailer it in a jar, then shake it up proper earlier than you employ it. The longer the garlic sits in it, the stronger the garlic taste will turn out to be. You can even put together the remainder of the substances and retailer them individually as much as 24 hours upfront to toss them collectively proper earlier than an enormous meal. To retailer the kale, chop it as much as 24 hours upfront, and therapeutic massage it with lemon juice as much as 2 hours earlier than or proper earlier than serving.

Kale & Quinoa Salad Variations

• The quinoa turns this kale salad right into a filling possibility or perhaps a full meal. This salad can be good with out quinoa. Add extra kale or scale back the dressing a bit when you miss the quinoa.
• Simply swap out the dried cranberries with chopped apples or pomegranate seeds for an equally good variation.
• Chopped walnuts are additionally good right here as an alternative of slivered almonds. You can even use toasted pumpkin seeds to make this salad nut-free.
• This kale & quinoa salad is of course gluten-free. You can also make this salad dairy-free by leaving out the actual Parmigiano Reggiano cheese. Nevertheless, learn my submit right here about how actual Parmesan is definitely good for you (supplied you are not allergic).

In case you like this recipe, try extra quinoa salads right here and wholesome vacation recipes right here.

Take pleasure in!

Print

Cranberry, Kale & Quinoa Salad

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  Writer: Elizabeth Rider
• 
  Prep Time: 10 minutes
• 
  Prepare dinner Time: 12 minutes
• 
  Complete Time: 22 minutes
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  Yield: Serves 4
• 
  Class: Salad
• 
  Methodology: Chop, Combine
• 
  Delicacies: American

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Description

This superior Cranberry, Kale & Quinoa Salad makes a filling meal or a beautiful aspect dish any time of the yr. You possibly can modify it to omit the quinoa when you’re on the lookout for a grain-free or lighter model. This recipe serves 4, double or triple it if making a vacation aspect.

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Substances

Items
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Scale
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Notice: you’ll want 3 tablespoons of recent lemon juice for this salad (from about 1 massive or two small lemons)

For the dressing:

• 2 tablespoons recent lemon juice
• 2 tablespoons further virgin olive oil
• 1 teaspoon honey, maple syrup or white sugar
• 1 massive garlic clove, smashed open*
• ½ teaspoon nice sea salt (I take advantage of Actual Salt)
• A number of spins of freshly floor black pepper

For the salad:

• 1 bunch inexperienced or Tuscan (lacinato) kale, ribs eliminated and finely chopped, plus 1 tablespoon of lemon juice for the kale therapeutic massage
• ⅓ cup dried quinoa (makes about ¾ cup cooked quinoa; omit the quinoa to make this grain-free or lighter if serving with an enormous meal)
• ¼ cup slivered almonds, toasted in a dry skillet (**see substitutions)
• ¼ cup dried cranberries (***see substitutions)
• 2 tablespoons freshly grated Parmigiano Reggiano cheese (actual Parmesan cheese)

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Directions

1. Make the dressing first to infuse with garlic. Within the backside of a medium to massive mixing bowl that is sufficiently big to suit your complete salad, whisk the lemon juice, olive oil, honey, salt and pepper collectively. Smash open the garlic clove and discard the pores and skin, then let the smashed garlic clove sit within the dressing when you put together the remainder of the substances. You can even shake the dressing in a mason jar as much as 24 hours upfront if you wish to make it forward. Discard the smashed garlic clove earlier than including the remainder of the substances. (*Or, finely chop it and depart it in from the start for a robust garlic taste.)
2. Put together the quinoa. Rinse the dry quinoa in a nice mesh strainer, then add it to a 3- to 4-quart pot with 1 cup water and ¼ teaspoon sea salt. Carry to a boil then scale back to a simmer till the entire water is absorbed, about 12-Quarter-hour. Set a timer so it doesn’t burn on the finish. Drain extra water if wanted. See right here the best way to make good fluffy quinoa. (Or, purchase cooked quinoa on the recent bar at your retailer.)
3. Whereas the quinoa cooks, take away the robust ribs from the kale (and save them to your juicer when you juice.) Chop the kale into ½-inch ribbons, then squeeze about 1 tablespoon of recent lemon juice onto the the chopped kale (you are able to do this proper on the reducing board or in a bowl). Therapeutic massage the lemon juice into the chopped kale for a few minute to melt the kale (sounds unusual, nevertheless it makes an enormous distinction for a greater texture).
4. Toast the nuts in a dry skillet over medium warmth for 3-4 minutes till they’re aromatic and really evenly browned (you can even do that for a couple of minutes underneath the broiler or in a toaster oven on a sheet pan.) Watch them carefully so they do not burn.
5. Discard to smashed garlic clove if wanted. Toss the cooked quinoa, kale, toasted nuts, dried cranberries (or substitute), and Parmigiano cheese with the dressing.

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Notes

** Chopped walnuts are additionally nice right here. Or, use toasted pumpkin seeds when you’re allergic to nuts

*** Dried cranberries might be substituted with pomegranate seeds, finely chopped apples, or chopped dried apricots. Use what you’ve got readily available or what sounds good.

This salad makes a fantastic vegetarian possibility for a vacation meal. In case you’re not on the lookout for a vegetarian possibility and desire a salad to serve with a Prime Rib Roast or Turkey, my suggestion is to omit the quinoa for a lighter (and nonetheless superior) salad. In case you do that, reserve a number of tablespoons of the dressing to the aspect, and add it again in if wanted.

Key phrases: Cranberry, Kale & Quinoa Salad