Red Quinoa Butternut Squash Kale Salad
Red Quinoa Butternut Squash Kale Salad! A delicious blend of fresh baby kale, roasted butternut squash, dried cranberries, walnuts and a red wine vinegar dressing. You have to try this!
All hail kale!
The first time I ever had kale was about 4 or 5 years ago. I was at work and we ordered lunch in from Veggie Grill. Their All Hail Kale salad changed my life. We’re talking marinated kale and red cabbage, corn salsa, agave-roasted walnuts and a ginger-papaya vinaigrette.
It was so good. I have been hooked on kale ever since. I’m so glad – what feels like the entire world- is embracing kale and loving it. OK, maybe minus my husband. We have a thing. A thing with kale. I love it and he does not. But I think he might slowly be turning a corner. I mean, I do put kale in everything possible when cooking: chili, kimchi jjigae, bibimbap, chapchae (basically all Korean food where I would use spinach), pasta. . and now, in salad. With my quinoa. Which my husband also likes. Not!
In the Fall, I love munching on salads with a lot of texture, crunch and my beloved roasted butternut squash.
This kale salad was inspired by this Summer Quinoa Salad. I loved the tang from the apple cider vinegar and the crunchy walnuts so I had to replicate that here. I left the kale raw. One of my favorite ways to eat kale.
But if raw is not your thing when it comes to kale, come back here on Wednesday for a simple, and fabulous Orecchiette Pasta with cooked kale. *yum* And now for the burning question. Where do you buy your kale? What kind do you get? What brand?
When it comes to kale, I would always purchase mine from Trader Joe’s. Their Tuscan Kale is washed, chopped and bagged but, if you ask me, it’s a little more bitter and thicker. Two things my husband and girls do not like. Especially when I am keeping the kale raw.
So, when Organic Girl reached out to me to try their new Baby Kale, I was ecstatic. I already eat their Baby Arugula, like religiously. It’s so good. So, I couldn’t wait to try their Baby Kale.
The first thing I noticed and tasted. . it didn’t look like the kale I was used to, it looked a lot like baby spinach. And it didn’t have that bitter taste. I was sold. Not that I needed much to sell me. I already love the stuff. And it’s organic!
So, just to make sure ONE of you get to try it, we’re giving away a Family size clamshell of the 100% Baby Kale, pictured above. ENTER. You’re going to love this stuff. And if you don’t win, look for the Organic Girl Baby Kale at Whole Foods or check for updates on Facebook or on their website.
I hope you enjoy. . and you simply must try this salad!
Red Quinoa Butternut Squash and Kale Salad
Ingredients
- 2 cups water
- 1 cup red quinoa
- 1 small to medium sized butternut squash peeled and cubed
- olive oil
- salt and freshly ground pepper; to taste
- 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 2 cups baby kale chopped and stems removed
- 1/4 cup dried cranberries
- 1/4 cup walnuts; crumbled
- about 1-2 tablespoons fresh parsley chopped finely
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 425ºF.
- Cook the red quinoa according to package directions on stove top. Using a lined baking sheet, spread out the butternut squash cubes evenly. Drizzle with olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Roast in the oven for about 15-20 minutes, or until slightly crispy on the edges. Watch to ensure it doesn't burn.
- While the butternut squash is in the oven, prep the dressing: whisk together the red wine vinegar and honey. Taste and adjust amounts if necessary. Set aside.
- In a large serving bowl, mix together the cooked quinoa, the roasted butternut squash cubes, kale and the dried cranberries. Add in the walnuts and chopped parsley. Drizzle on the dressing and toss to coat. Season with salt if desired. Serve immediately.
THE GIVEAWAY!
(open to residents within the United States only)
Disclosure: I was given a clamshell of the 100% Baby Kale for recipe development. This giveaway is sponsored by Organic Girl. All opinions expressed here are 100% my own. I only promote products I use and love.
I tried kale for the first time last year. I loved it! Now I like to put some in my smoothies.
I love kale! I first tried it in a soup – a crockpot kale and turkey sausage recipe that I loved. I was gonna sub spinach but my husband convinced me to try kale – and i’m hooked!
I can no longer remember when I first tried kale, but it was definitely after I moved to California!
I love that you remember exactly the first time you had kale, where it was from, and how it was prepared! That is the sign of a true foodie, lol! I think I had it for the first time, maybe 3 or 4 years ago, just sauteed with garlic and olive oil. My hubby definitely did not like it, but he’s coming around. I like it, but do find it to be a little tough and bitter at times. I LOVE the idea of baby kale and would love to try this product out! Seems like it’d be perfect in a salad, and your recipe sounds fabulous!
I first tried Kale at the house of people that I babysat for, in the form of Kale chips. Delicious!
I first tried kale in a massaged kale salad I made for a picnic. It was lovely!
I first tried kale (and liked it) probably a year ago. I had tried it before then but was not a fan
I love both kale and quinoa! I have yet to try red quinoa. Is it a lot different from the white quinoa? This salad looks super yummy!
I first tried kale 3-4 yrs ago since it was part of my freshpicks basket. Mostly made kale chips, but this baby kale sounds so good for salads!
I’m already a huge sucker for kale, and this looks awesome! Can’t wait to try it.
Not sure when… but I remember having a renewed interest in kale about two years ago.
I think my friend Sarah introduced me to it a few years back.
I actually tried kale for the first time last week. 🙂
I first tried kale a few years ago in BluePrintCleanse juices!
I tried kale for the first time in a salad — about a month ago.
I first tried kale last year in smoothies! I LOVE IT! Kale chips, in salads, smoothies, juices, oh the possibilities are endless! Thanks for the chance to win 🙂
Last year I tried it in a pre-made salad and loved it!
I tried kale two years ago in a smoothie and loved it!
Actually just tried kale last year in a cooking class on salads and it was delicious all chopped up!
My first recipe using kale was kale chips a few years ago and they were yummy!
I tried kale a few years ago – love it now!
I tried kale a couple of years ago and eat it several times a week now! I would eat it everyday if I could!
I tried Kale for the first time less than a year ago, and now I’m hooked!
I honestly can’t remember! We’ve been eating it for years but didn’t grow up eating it.
First tried kale in my moms homemade lentil soup!
I first tried kale a year ago because I found a recipe that called for it in a smoothie. I have been hooked ever since!