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Ingredients for Sweet Potato Quinoa Salad with Kale
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5 from 10 votes

Apple, Sweet Potato and Kale Quinoa Salad

This Kale Quinoa Salad is the ultimate Fall salad! Packed with massaged kale, cooked quinoa, diced apples, roasted sweet potatoes, pistachios, and the perfect maple balsamic dressing; it's an Autumn salad everyone will love!
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time30 minutes
Total Time40 minutes
Course: Salad
Keyword: Kale Quinoa Salad
Servings: 3
Author: Lexi

Ingredients

  • 1 cup cinnamon roasted sweet potatoes
  • 2 cups cooked quinoa
  • 2 cups shredded kale see note
  • 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • Squeeze of lemon juice
  • 1/3 cup pistachios raw and de-shelled
  • 1 apple diced

Maple Balsamic Dressing:

  • 1/3 cup avocado oil or olive oil
  • 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
  • 2 teaspoons dijon mustard
  • 2 teaspoons maple syrup
  • Pinch fine sea salt

Instructions

  • Make quinoa as directed on package, and set aside to cool.
  • Make a batch of cinnamon roasted sweet potatoes and set aside:  Preheat oven to 400 degrees and position oven rack to the middle. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Cut sweet potatoes into 1-inch cubes. Place sweet potatoes on parchment paper and drizzle with oil, cinnamon, and sea salt. Toss to make sure all sweet potatoes are evenly coated. Bake for about 25-30 minutes, giving them a quick flip halfway through, until sweet potatoes are fully cooked, fork tender, and have a rich color!
  • Massage kale for 1-2 minutes with olive oil,  lemon juice and salt.
  • Add all your dressing ingredients into a blender, and blend until smooth and creamy. Don't over blend! Taste and adjust seasoning. Set aside.
  • Assemble the salad: Add massaged kale, sweet potatoes, quinoa, apples, pistachios to your bowl. Drizzle 2 tablespoons of dressing over salad, adding more as desired. Serve immediately.

Notes

  •  
  • Customize it with other add-ins/toppings:
  • Avocado
  • Black Beans
  • Dried Cranberries or Dried Cherries
  • Pumpkin or Sunflower Seeds
  • Other Nuts of Choice (toasted or not): Slivered Almonds, Sliced Almonds, Pecans, Walnuts, you name it!
Add cheese: A cheese would work so well as a salty component to this kale quinoa salad. Leave cheese out to keep this kale quinoa salad vegan and dairy-free.
  • Feta Cheese
  • Goat Cheese
  • Sharp Cheddar
  • Gorgonzola Cheese
  • Shaved Parmesan
  • Manchego Cheese
Add a protein:

Nutrition

Serving: 1/2 recipe3 | Calories: 600kcal | Carbohydrates: 58g | Protein: 9g | Fat: 37g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Sodium: 700mg | Fiber: 8g | Sugar: 19g