Massaged kale salad.
Funny name, yes… but you really have to try this technique if you haven’t already!
Adding a bit of olive oil and a touch of lemon juice to chopped raw kale – and literally massaging it all together – tenderizes the tough leaves and renders them not only palatable, but delicious.
There’s no limit to what kind of ingredients you can add to a massaged kale salad; I opted for protein-rich add-ins this time around.
Cannellini (white kidney) beans, quinoa, and hummus team up with massaged kale to create a satisfying salad.
I very rarely eat meat for lunch – and only make it about twice a week for dinner – and I’ve found that vegetarian protein is a great substitute in terms of satiating my appetite and keeping me energized.
Greek yogurt, cottage cheese, nuts and nut butter, beans, and hummus are all protein-rich foods I rely on as lunchtime staples. This salad brings quinoa to the game, which – although treated as a grain – is packed with protein.
If you’re looking to up your vegetarian protein intake without resorting to powders and supplements, give this salad a try!
Massaged Kale Salad with Beans, Quinoa, & Hummus
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 0 minutes
Keywords: salad side main vegetarian vegan kale beans quinoa winter
Ingredients (2 servings)
- 4 cups stemmed kale leaves, washed and dried
- 2 tsp extra virgin olive oil
- 2 tsp freshly squeezed lemon juice
- Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- 1/2 cup rinsed and drained white cannellini beans
- 3/4 cup cooked quinoa
- 1/4 cup of your favorite hummus
Instructions
Slice the kale into thin strips and place in a large bowl; add in the olive oil and lemon juice. With your hands, massage the kale until the leaves start to soften and wilt a bit, about 2-3 minutes. Taste and season with salt and pepper.
Toss the beans and cooked quinoa with the massaged kale, plate the salad, and add 2 Tbsp of hummus onto the top of each serving.
Nutritional Information Per Serving (WITHOUT hummus, the nutritional stats of which vary depending on brand):253.6 calories, 6.9 grams fat, 0.7 grams saturated fat, 9.7 grams fiber, 11.9 grams protein
