Quinoa and Kale Salad with Red Grapes Walnuts and Lemon Honey Dressing

Quinoa and Kale Salad with Red Grapes, Walnuts and Lemon Honey Dressing is a delicious way to enjoy these popular superfoods!  It keeps for several days so it’s perfect for meal prep and lunches for a busy week.

Love when your phone dings with a text message from a friend that says, “Love the kale salad!”  This salad!

I had a fairly light schedule last week cooking for clients and I didn’t have a newspaper column deadline, so I decided I’d be a cooking fool at home!

Now, we have this problem….  The recipes that dance around in my head from the produce and ingredients that inspire me because I’m in the grocery store frequently far outweigh our ability to consume them.

Oh sure, some things make it into the freezer for later consumption, but quite often, we just give it away to anyone willing to take it.

Tips for making Quinoa and Kale Salad with Red Grapes, Walnuts and Lemon – Honey Dressing ahead:

• Be sure the grapes you buy are super-fresh.
• Kale is a sturdy green so you’re safe there.
• Lightly dress the salad with about 1/3 of the dressing.  This will flavor the salad and keep it moist.  Add the remainder to refresh the salad when you serve it.  (This is what I do for my clients and it works well.)

The amount of lemon juice may seem like a lot, but if the grapes you purchase are quite sweet, the salad will require the acidity.  If the grapes you purchase are not very sweet, adjust the amount of lemon juice to your taste.  I am really looking forward to the rest for lunch tomorrow!  Keeper!

For more great make-ahead salads, be sure to try my:

French Lentil Salad

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Greek Vegetable Salad with Marinated Feta Cheese is a fresh, crunchy twist on the classic Greek salad!

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Greek Orzo Pasta Salad

Greek Orzo Pasta Salad is full of fresh, crunchy vegetables and bright, summery flavors!  It's the perfect crowd-pleasing salad to take to your summer get-together.

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Potato Green Bean Salad with Olives and Feta Cheese is a lovely Greek-inspired twist on traditional potato salad!

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Southwestern Layered Salad

Southwestern Layered Salad is an easy, versatile salad you can make ahead of time.  It's perfect for dinner, a party, potluck or when assembled slightly differently than the recipe in a Mason jar, a great grab-and-go lunch!

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Cauliflower Antipasto Salad

Cauliflower Antipasto Salad is easy summertime fare that’s light, crunchy, crazy flavorful and perfect for feeding a crowd!

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Yield: 8

Quinoa and Kale Salad with Red Grapes, Walnuts and Honey – Lemon Dressing

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Quinoa and Kale Salad with Red Grapes, Walnuts and Lemon Honey Dressing is a delicious way to enjoy these popular superfoods!  It keeps for several days so it's perfect for meal prep and lunches for a busy week.

Prep Time 45 minutes

Total Time 45 minutes

Ingredients

• SALAD
• 1 bunch kale, stems removed and thinly sliced
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 4 cups cooked quinoa (approximately)
• 1 bunch (about 1/2 pound) red grapes, halved
• 1/2 small red onion, finely chopped (about 1/2 cup)
• 1/2 cup coarsely chopped walnuts (toasted if desired) plus a few more to sprinkle over salad
• DRESSING
• 1/2 cup fresh lemon juice
• 1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 heaping tablespoon Dijon mustard
• 1 tablespoon honey (or to taste)
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Instructions

1. SALAD: Combine kale, olive oil and salt and black pepper to taste in a large bowl. Gently massage the kale to soften and wilt it slightly.
2. Add quinoa, grapes, onion and walnuts and toss to combine.
3. DRESSING: Whisk together dressing ingredients in a small bowl. Pour over salad and mix well.
4. To serve: Place in a serving bowl and sprinkle with additional coarsely chopped walnuts.

Notes

Add 45 minutes to cook time if needing to cook quinoa first. Cooked quinoa can be found in the freezer section near the vegetables of many grocery stores.

Nutrition Information

Yield

8

Serving Size

6
Amount Per Serving Calories 246 Total Fat 14g Saturated Fat 2g Trans Fat 0g Unsaturated Fat 12g Cholesterol 1mg Sodium 177mg Carbohydrates 26g Net Carbohydrates 0g Fiber 4g Sugar 4g Sugar Alcohols 0g Protein 5g

The nutritional information above is computer-generated and only an estimate. Please do your own research with the products you're using if you have a serious health issue or are following a specific diet.