I have to say that this is the most delicious quinoa kale salad I have ever tried! After making it a few times in the last couple months, you can also say it has grown on us. It pairs perfectly with fish, pizza, sandwiches, or even soup. The ingredients are so nutritious and the flavors complementary. You can throw in some variations if you're feeling your culinary creative juices flow! If you love kale, or are thinking about giving healthy eating a try, this quinoa kale salad will not disappoint! Stick around for tips on how to make this salad, an interview with Amber, and my hit pause experience with this recipe!

I asked Amber how we can benefit from this salad not only from a health standpoint, but also as we take some time to slow down and hit pause. Here is what she had to say about why she likes this quinoa kale salad recipe. "I like this salad for a lot of reasons, but mostly for its flexibility. It can be eaten warm or cold, and with the base of kale and quinoa, you can really add any other ingredients you like to it and still feel confident that you're getting lots of nutrients that fuel and protect the body."

She also had some health facts about this green veggie to share. Amber said, "Kale belongs to the cruciferous family of veggies, one of the most nutrient dense groups of vegetables that also includes cabbage, broccoli and brussels sprouts, and intake may even lower the risk of certain types of cancer. Quinoa is a fast cooking seed that provides protein and complex carbohydrates, as well as fiber, B vitamins and magnesium, a mineral many people are low in. The food we eat is such a key part in taking care of ourselves, and this salad is a wonderful way to nourish the body and mind. I hope you like it, and it makes you feel good!"

After making this salad and serving it to those I care about, I can say it was all of those things. It was fresh and tasty, but also makes you feel good that you are providing a healthy meal to those you love and also taking care of yourself.

It is so important for us to slow down and think about what we are putting into our bodies. What we eat can fuel us or weigh us down. Energize us or tire us. Our mental attitude as we prepare meals can also affect us in so many ways. I know for myself, if I don't hit pause and take care of my physical needs, stress and anxiety easily take over. So slow down and ask yourself what kind of fuel your body actually needs and what can help you to hit pause and practice some physical self care.

Amber had some great thoughts to share on how she hits pause. She said, "For me, spending time outside is the best way to hit pause. Whether it's a simple walk in my neighborhood with my dog, a hike in nature, or jumping in the ocean, getting outside never fails to re-center me and help the distractions fall away. Listening to the birds, watching the clouds drift, and just observing the natural world brings a sense of calm and helps me get out of my head and into something bigger than myself. If I can pair some gentle movement and stretching with being outside, it really works wonders on my mood and energy levels."

Yes. We all want to be healthy right? We are usually told that dark greens are good for us. I guess that includes kale. I haven't always been a kale kind of a person, nor have I had a lot of experience preparing Kale. I usually wash it, chop it, and roast it with a little olive oil sprinkled with sea salt. Kale chips make a tasty crunchy snack that the taste buds will appreciate. I have only ventured to make kale salad one other time, but I don't think I knew how to actually prepare the kale so that it tasted good.

My boyfriend doesn't generally eat kale, so the look on his face when I had him over for dinner was priceless. I'm a southern girl so usually my cooking involves butter and bacon. That night we were going to be making homemade pizza, so I decided to pair this kale salad with pizza. His words were, "kale... huh...interesting..". You had to be there. Is that the thought that comes to your mind when you hear quinoa kale salad?

The prep was actually not too difficult. I followed Amber's steps for massaging the kale after you remove the stems. This is the trick! The kale wasn't bitter at all, but it was a little sweet and tangy with great texture. I just drained the bitter juice that was left after massaging the kale. To massage or not to massage the kale? I also found this blog at Twohealthykitchens.com helpful when it came to this question.

I asked my roommate her opinion of the kale salad and her words to describe this dish were, "this tastes fancy, like a salad you would be served in a very nice restaurant." We really enjoyed this quinoa kale salad with our homemade pizza! It was a food therapy kind of night that didn't involve bacon. However, I am pretty sure you can add bacon to this salad if you wanted! Although Amber created this recipe vegan, I did add a little spin, but if you want to keep it vegan it is amazing on its own. I added sweet peppers and feta cheese crumbles which contributed a little pop of color, flavor, and crunch to this mostly green salad. I couldn't wait to plate our meal on my beautiful Mora Ceramics Dinnerware!

If you are looking for a healthy salad alternative or would like to give kale a try, this quinoa kale salad is a perfect choice! I think this salad could pair well with so many entrees. The next day I added a little garlic hummus and pita bread for a nice light lunch. Check out Amber's amazing recipes on her blog! I loved her article about reducing inflammation for better health. She also has some amazing tips for healthy and mindful eating, while keeping the food full of flavor.

I hope you enjoy this kale salad recipe! We are excited to be growing our recipe section on our website as well! It is so important to hit pause and eat. While some dishes are self-care for the soul, we must also think about the body. Nutrition plays such a key role in daily self-care and keeping your body healthy and energized. I can't wait to share some of my southern favorites with you too!

If you want to read more about hitting pause and practicing self-care come check out our Journal! You will find tips and facts about our Mora Ceramics products, DIY projects, tips for dealing with anxiety and practicing self-care, and more. We are excited to welcome you to our Mora Ceramics community😊

The ceramic bowl used is our pasta bowl from our rims and speckles collection. The colors available are white, assorted colors, grey, and grey & white combo.

Written by Beth Ann Brommerich