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    Home » Salad

    Kale and Quinoa Salad with Balsamic Dressing

    Published: Nov 12, 2020 · Modified: Jun 5, 2023 by Diana Reis · This post may contain affiliate links

    ↓ Jump to Recipe

    If you are looking to update your lunches or add a sophisticated side to the menu, this quinoa kale salad is just the ticket. With beautiful crisp kale, fluffy quinoa, dried cranberries, feta, cherry tomatoes, red onion, olives, and a balsamic vinaigrette, this salad is a taste explosion.

    overhead of mixed salad on white plate with orange napkin

    I love to eat salad, but I have a major pet peeve when it comes to the stuff from the bag. There are never enough toppings. You won’t have that problem with this superfood salad. Kale is the perfect vehicle for super hearty, healthy toppings. You get sweet and tangy along with earthy and zesty. 

    Contents hide
    Make this recipe!
    Ingredients
    Instructions
    Diana's Tips for Success
    Related Recipes
    📖 Recipe
    Quinoa Kale Salad with Balsamic and Feta
    Simple Garlic Balsamic Vinaigrette

    Make this recipe!

    Raw kale salad is made with simple ingredients and is a perfect side dish or a light lunch. 

    Kale holds up perfectly to dressing and hearty toppings. You get the perfect balance of flavor and no sad wilted lettuce. 

    You can make this ahead of time, dress this salad in the morning, and it will still be delicious when you eat it at lunch time. Leave the dressing off and pack this up for your weekly meal prep.

    The balsamic vinaigrette is simple to make and adds just the right amount of sweetness and tang. 

    You can definitely use leftover quinoa. This is great for time saving and for managing food waste in your home. 

    This Kale and Quinoa Salad is a great addition to the Holiday table. If you are asked to bring the salad to Thanksgiving; you will be sure to impress with these unexpected autumnal flavors.

    Ingredients

    Kale and Quinoa salad ingredients

    Kale- For this recipe I used curly kale which is widely available. Bagged and prewashed curly kale are frequently available at the grocery store for convenience. However, you can use any type of kale you like and even mix them up. Dinosaur kale and Lacinato kale are seasonally available and have smoother leaves.

    Did you know that Quinoa is actually a seed? 

    Although it is a seed, you will find quinoa nestled amongst the grains in a traditional grocery store in the U.S. We cook and eat this superfood like a traditional grain. It is a great source of fiber and protein. Find out more at The Nutrition Source.

    Instructions

    Step 1

    • Heat 2 cups of water in a medium saucepan. Once the water comes to a simmer, add 1 Cup of dry quinoa. Turn the heat down and cover. Simmer for 15 minutes.
    • Then turn off the burner and let the quinoa sit, covered for another 5 minutes to absorb the remaining water.
    • Fluff quinoa with a fork. 
    • Then, transfer to a bowl, cover, and place in the refrigerator to cool. 
    • This method makes extra quinoa. You can also used leftover quinoa. 
    quinoa and water in small pot

    Step 2

    • Take your bundle of kale and place in a bowl of ice water for about three minutes. Cold water rinses away any dirt and makes sure the leaves are fresh, perky, and ready to stand up to some bold toppings.
    kale leaves in ice water in clear bowl

    Step 3

    • Then remove the stems from each leaf. Tear or chop the kale leaves into bite sized pieces.
    how to remove kale stem

    Step 4

    • Then, put the chopped kale into a large mixing bowl.
    • Next, add chilled quinoa. 
    clean kale and quinoa in salad bowl

    Step 5

    • Add chopped Kalamata olives, halved tomatoes, dried cranberries, crumbled feta, and thinly sliced onions. 
    salad toppings added to salad bowl

    Slice the red onion very thin. The thin pieces soak up the dressing and add amazing flavor. 

    Chop the toppings into small pieces so that every bite can be filled with all of the different flavors.

    Step 6

    • Mix the balsamic vinegar, extra virgin olive oil, minced garlic, and spices together in a small bowl or mason jar. 
    • Finally, add the balsamic vinaigrette to the kale and quinoa salad and toss. 
    vinaigrette ingredients in small glass bowl

    Grate or press the garlic cloves so that the pieces of garlic are really small. This way the bits can integrate really well into the vinaigrette and you won’t get any overly spicy bites.

    • Let the salad sit for 5 minutes before serving. The acid in the vinaigrette will tenderize the kale leaves just a bit. 
    • Serve this salad as a delicious meal or side dish. 
    How do you cook quinoa?

    The standard cooking method for quinoa, is to add one part quinoa to two parts liquid and bring to a low simmer with the lid on for 15 minutes. Turn off the heat an let sit with the lid on for another 5 minutes while the remaining liquid gets completely absorbs. Fluff with a fork and serve.


    You can use broth or water as your cooking liquids. Adding additional spices and herbs will add flavor to the cooked quinoa as well. 

    Do I need to massage Kale for a salad?

    This tip has made its way across the internet, but I assure you, it is completely unnecessary. The process of cleaning large leaves with an ice bath and cleaning away stems will leave the kale sufficiently handled. 

    An acidic dressing will also tenderize the leaves. If you like your salad with less bite, simply dress the salad and let it sit for five to ten minutes before eating.
    The baby kale you find in the prewashed tubs at the store is also very tender and requires no extra treatment.

    Diana's Tips for Success

    Think ahead and make sure you have time to cook and cool the quinoa. I often use leftovers for this salad.

    Make the best of your leftover ingredients. You won’t use a whole container of grape tomatoes, a whole red onion, jar of olives, and container of feta. Put these leftover ingredients to good use. Make extra quinoa and make this kale salad at the beginning and end of the week.

    Store the remaining ingredients in an airtight container and add dressing right before serving. 

    Use up the excess by making this Traditional Greek Salad. Having a plan for excess ingredients is a great way to manage your budget and eliminate food waste.

    close up of salad with ingredients

    Related Recipes

    • Italian Chopped Salad
    • Thai Chicken Salad with Peanut Dressing
    • Pickled Beet Salad
    • Mango Avocado Salad

    Serve this delicious salad alongside a Simple Whole Roasted Chicken or Balsamic Glazed Pork Chops.

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    📖 Recipe

    kale and quinoa salad feature

    Quinoa Kale Salad with Balsamic and Feta

    This kale quinoa salad recipe combines kale and white quinoa with a combination of salty and sweet toppings for a perfect side salad or a light main dish.
    5 from 6 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Dinner, Side Dish
    Cuisine: American
    Diet: Gluten Free, Low Calorie, Vegetarian
    Prep Time: 20 minutes minutes
    Quinoa Preparation and Cooling: 1 hour hour
    Total Time: 1 hour hour 20 minutes minutes
    Servings: 4 People
    Calories: 259kcal
    Author: Diana Reis

    Ingredients

    • 1 Bundle Kale Leaves Cleaned and Chopped
    • ½ Cup Quinoa Cooked and cooled
    • ½ Cup Feta Crumbled
    • ¼ Cup Kalamata Olives Chopped
    • ¼ Cup Grape Tomatoes Halved
    • ¼ Dried Cranberries
    • ¼ Cup Red Onion Thinly sliced

    Simple Garlic Balsamic Vinaigrette

    • 2 cloves Garlic minced
    • 3 Tablespoons Balsamic Vinegar
    • 3 Tablespoons Olive Oil
    • 1 Teaspoon Salt
    • ½ Teaspoon Black Pepper

    Instructions

    • Heat 2 cups of water in a medium saucepan. Once the water comes to a simmer, add 1 Cup of dry quinoa. Turn the heat down and cover. Simmer for 15 minutes.
    • Then turn off the burner and let the quinoa sit, covered for another 5 minutes to absorb the remaining water.
    • Fluff quinoa with a fork.
    • Then, transfer to a bowl, cover, and place in the refrigerator to cool.
    • This method makes extra quinoa. You can also used leftover quinoa.
    • Take your bundle of kale and place in a bowl of ice water for about three minutes. Cold water rinses away any dirt and makes sure the leaves are fresh, perky, and ready to stand up to some bold toppings.
    • Then remove the stems from each leaf. Tear or chop the kale leaves into bite sized pieces.
    • Place the chopped kale into a large bowl.
    • Next, add chilled quinoa to the bowl.
    • Add chopped Kalamata olives, halved tomatoes, dried cranberries, crumbled feta, and thinly sliced onions.
    • Mix the balsamic vinegar, extra virgin olive oil, minced garlic, and spices together in a small bowl or mason jar.
    • Finally, add the balsamic vinaigrette to the kale and quinoa salad and toss.
    • Let the salad sit for 5 minutes before serving. The acid in the vinaigrette will tenderize the kale leaves just a bit.
    • Serve this salad as a delicious meal or side dish.

    Notes

    How do you cook quinoa?
    The standard cooking method for quinoa, is to add one part quinoa to two parts liquid and bring to a low simmer with the lid on for 15 minutes. Turn off the heat an let sit with the lid on for another 5 minutes while the remaining liquid gets completely absorbs. Fluff with a fork and serve.
    You can use broth or water as your cooking liquids. Adding additional spices and herbs will add flavor to the cooked quinoa as well. 
    Do I need to massage Kale for a salad?
    This tip has made its way across the internet, but I assure you, it is completely unnecessary. The process of cleaning large leaves with an ice bath and cleaning away stems will leave the kale sufficiently handled. 
    An acidic dressing will also tenderize the leaves. If you like your salad with less bite, simply dress the salad and let it sit for five to ten minutes before eating.
    The baby kale you find in the prewashed tubs at the store is also very tender and requires no extra treatment. 
    Diana's Tips For Success
    You need to think ahead a bit to make sure you have time to cook and cool the quinoa. I often use leftovers for this salad.
    Make the best of your leftover ingredients. You won’t use a whole container of grape tomatoes, a whole red onion, jar of olives, and container of feta. Put these leftover ingredients to good use. Make extra quinoa and make this kale salad at the beginning and end of the week.
    Store the remaining ingredients in an airtight container and add dressing right before serving. 
     

    Nutrition

    Calories: 259kcal | Carbohydrates: 20g | Protein: 7g | Fat: 17g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Cholesterol: 17mg | Sodium: 933mg | Potassium: 251mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 1613IU | Vitamin C: 20mg | Calcium: 134mg | Iron: 1mg
    Tried this Recipe? Pin it for Later!Mention @DianDeliciousB or tag #DeliciousByDesign!

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    Comments

      5 from 6 votes (1 rating without comment)

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Carrie Robinson says

      June 06, 2023 at 12:00 am

      5 stars
      I just love a good quinoa salad! 🙂 This one sounds delicious.

      Reply
    2. Mindy says

      June 06, 2023 at 12:36 am

      5 stars
      I wanted a healthier side dish to go with the burgers my husband grilled tonight so I decided to give this a try. Delicious! The vinaigrette was excellent.

      Reply
    3. Gina Abernathy says

      June 06, 2023 at 1:17 am

      5 stars
      I made this for lunch over the weekend and it was so good! Kale is one of my favorite foods and I try to eat it in as many dishes as I possibly can!

      Reply
    4. Anjali says

      June 06, 2023 at 1:31 am

      5 stars
      This was such a simple and easy salad for me to make for lunch today!! I made double the amount and will be using the leftovers tomorrow!

      Reply
    5. Sara Welch says

      June 06, 2023 at 2:55 am

      5 stars
      Enjoyed this with dinner tonight and it was a savory success! Turned out perfectly light yet hearty, easy and delicious; definitely, a new favorite salad recipe!

      Reply
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    I’m passionate about the family dinner table. Connecting with each other at the end of the day over a good meal creates strong family bonds and healthy long-lasting relationships. I want to help families and friends build those relationships.

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