Who doesn't love a simple and nutritious salad?! I recently whipped together this delicious Summer Kale & Quinoa Salad for friends during Memorial Day Weekend. The flavors in this salad are bright and refreshing, and they make for the perfect side dish at your summer dinner party or barbecue.
Kale is a dark leafy green vegetable that actually hails from the cabbage family. Some nutritional highlights about kale include:
1 cup raw has only 33 calories
Naturally low in fat, cholesterol, and sodium
Excellent source of Vitamin A and Vitamin C (1 cup contains 206% Daily Value and 134% Daily Value, respectively)
Good source of dietary fiber and protein
These are just a few of kale's amazing health benefits. Another nutrition superstar in this recipe is red quinoa! Have you tried red quinoa? I personally like red quinoa for use in salads since it holds its shape better than regular quinoa and also has a beautiful color! Both regular and red quinoa have the same high quality nutrition and earthy flavor profile.
Quinoa in general is very high in fiber. This is the perfect gluten-free alternative to pasta and other dishes. Quinoa is also naturally very high in protein, and contains all of the essential amino acids. These protein benefits make this a great protein-rich option for vegetarians and vegans. Be sure to cook the quinoa, and then let it chill before mixing it into the salad in this recipe.
The other ingredients in this salad also have countless nutritional benefits. Avocado in particular is an excellent source of healthy fats and provides around 20 essential nutrients. The red pepper actually has more Vitamin C per serving than an orange! Overall, you can't beat this amazing nutrition and flavor profile!
Stef Health Tips® Summer Kale & Quinoa Salad
Serves 2
Ingredients:
2 Cups Kale, shredded
1/4 Cup Red Quinoa, cooked and chilled
3 Tbsp. Goat Cheese, crumbled
1/4 Cup Red Grapes, halved
1/4 Green or Red Pepper, thinly sliced
3 Tbsp. Slivered Almonds
1 Avocado, halved
2 Tbsp. Vinaigrette of your choice
Directions:
1. Place the kale, red quinoa, goat cheese, red grapes, pepper, and slivered almonds in a bowl. Toss until well-combined.
2. Add the vinaigrette and toss again until the salad is evenly coated with dressing.
3. Portion the salad out onto two separate plates. Top with half an avocado, sliced or diced. Serve immediately and enjoy!
Let me know on social media if you try this delicious salad for yourself! Don't forget to tag @stefhealthtips and #stefhealthtips in your post.
Xoxo,
Stef