Name: Kale and Quinoa Salad
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 30 min
Ingredients: 1 cup quinoa; 2 cups water; ½ teaspoon kosher salt; 2 SugarBee®️ apples (cut into slices); 1 cup apple cider vinegar; 1 cup water; ½ cup sugar; ½ bunch green kale (stems removed); ½ red onion (diced); ½ cup olive oil; Juice of 2 small lemons (~¼ cup lemon juice); 2 tablespoons dijon mustard; ½ teaspoon kosher salt; ½ teaspoon black pepper; 2 tablespoons apple brining liquid (from above)

Say goodbye to boring salads because one bite of this Kale and Quinoa Salad will have you craving more. Fluffy quinoa and quick-pickled apple slices are the star of this massaged kale salad that’s brimming with fresh flavor and great textures. Plus the healthy homemade salad dressing is a simple way to make this salad extra creamy and give it a bit of tang!

Something I especially love about this kale apple quinoa salad is that fuels your body while satisfying the tastebuds. After all, healthy food doesn’t have to be boring, it can be oh so delicious and easy too.

If you’re looking for something tasty to serve alongside this kale and quinoa salad, look no further! My Easy Herb Quick Bread would be an amazing side when heated up with some butter or ghee spread on top. Or if you’re feeling adventurous, I think adding some homemade Sweet Potato Gnocchi to this kale quinoa salad would be unique and delicious!

Apple kale quinoa salad in a white ceramic bowl with a creamy dressing drizzled overtop. Beside the bowl are more apples, ceramic bowls, and a pitcher with dressing.

Ingredients in Kale and Quinoa Salad

Quinoa – Preparing quinoa properly makes for the most delicious and fluffy salad base.

Apples – Quick pickled apples make for a unique and zingy flavor addition to this kale apple salad.

Apple Cider Vinegar – Used for quick pickling of the apple slices.

Sugar – Adds a touch of sweetness to the quick pickling brew to offset the sharp bite of apple cider vinegar.

Kale – Massaged kale adds flavor, texture, and amazing nutrients to this quinoa apple salad.

Red Onion – The mild flavor of red onion pairs well in this kale and quinoa salad with it’s sharp yet sweet profile.

Olive Oil – Acts as the base for the dressing with a great neutral flavor.

Lemon Juice – Fresh squeezed lemon juice gives the best flavor and aroma to this homemade salad dressing.

Dijon Mustard – Adds a pop of flavor to the dressing and helps to thicken it.

Salt & Pepper – Simple seasonings that elevate the flavor of this entire dish.

Kale and quinoa salad with apple slices and a creamy dressing drizzled overtop sits in a white ceramic bowl with a wood spoon inside. Beside the bowl are more apples, a cream cloth, and a pitcher of dressing.

How to Make Kale and Quinoa Salad

In a saucepan, combine quinoa, 2 cups water and ½ teaspoon kosher salt and bring to a boil. Reduce to a simmer and partially-cover the saucepan and cook for 20 minutes, until all water is soaked up by the quinoa and the quinoa is tender. Set aside to cool.
In another saucepan, combine 1 cup apple cider vinegar, 1 cup water and ½ cup sugar and heat over medium heat until sugar is dissolved. Place SugarBee®️ apple slices into a heatproof container and cover with quick-pickle brine and let sit for ~30 minutes, up to 48 hours. Before using, drain and save 2 tbsp of brining liquid for dressing.
In a large mixing bowl, massage the kale by pinching and squeezing in a bowl until the kale is very-tender, about 2-3 minutes. Afterwards, lay the kale out on a cutting board and chop kale into bite-sized pieces.
Mix together the kale, red onion, cooked quinoa and quick-pickled SugarBee®️ apple slices together in a large mixing bowl until well-combined.
Prepare your dressing – combine lemon juice, dijon mustard, kosher salt, black pepper, and 2 tablespoons of the apple brining liquid and blend with a stick blender. Slowly stream in olive oil a couple drops at a time, whisking or blending until emulsified. Adjust seasoning to taste.
Start by pouring half the dressing over the ingredients in the large mixing bowl and toss well to combine. Taste and add additional dressing to taste. This recipe can be served right away, or can be left to marinate overnight to deepen the flavors.

A white ceramic bowl with kale and quinoa salad has apple slices and a creamy dressing mixed in. Beside the kale and quinoa salad are more apples, onion slices, and a creamy dressing.

How to Quick Pickle

While I’m not one to set aside the time and work for traditional pickling, I absolutely love quick pickling. It’s simple and adds a pop of flavor that takes this kale apple salad to a whole new level .

As evident by the name, quick pickling takes less time since it’s fundamentally just using a vinegar solution as a brine for the vegetables or in this case, apple slices. I chose to use apple cider vinegar since the brine was intended for apples anyway but you could experiment with white, white wine, or even rice vinegar as well.

After that it’s as simple as brewing your brine with equal parts water to vinegar plus salt and/or sugar if you’d like. My method is to heat the mixture over medium heat until the sugar is dissolved and then it’s ready to pickle.

For pickling these apple slices I simply added them to a heatproof container and covered with the quick-pickle brine. Then I let it sit for ~30 minutes or up to 48 hours before draining and enjoying! This also means that the apple slices stay good for longer in this salad vs if you were to use plain apples.

Top down shot of apple slices in a quick pickle brine. The apple slices are being pickled in a glass jar sitting on a wood board. There's a knife beside the wood board as well as more apples on the board.

Apple slices are being pickled in a glass jar with a quick pickle brine. The jar is sitting on a wood board with an apple beside it.

How to Massage Kale

When it comes to kale I think it’s very important to prepare it properly for best texture and flavor. My favorite kale to use is Tuscan because of it’s mild flavor and slightly softer texture. The next step is all in the detail!

Start by cutting your kale to remove the stems. After that you simply add the kale to a bowl and massage it by pinching and squeezing in a bowl until the kale is very-tender, about 2-3 minutes. Afterwards, lay the kale out on a cutting board and chop it into bite-sized pieces.

This not only improves the flavor and texture of the kale but helps your body break it down better too. Nothing better than a tasty and gut friendly salad!

Unmixed kale and quinoa salad sits in a white ceramic bowl. There is quinoa, massaged kale, apple slices, and chopped red onion. Beside the bowl are more apple slices, pickled apple slices, a cream cloth, and more apples.

Healthy Homemade Salad Dressing

I’d say most things are best when made from scratch and this homemade salad dressing is certainly true of that!

For this dressing I used olive oil as the base and then added remaining ingredients with complimentary flavors. The lemon juice, dijon mustard, salt, and pepper elevate and balance the dressing flavor while the apple pickle brine adds a zesty tang to the mix! To combine it I used a stick blender but you could always shake it in a jar or even pulse in a blender.

To experiment with making a healthy homemade salad dressing of your own, try some of these swaps and additions.

Instead of olive oil try avocado, sesame, or even a walnut oil for a nutty flavor.
Try adding fresh lime juice or orange juice for a pop of flavor. A handheld lemon squeezer like this is cheap and a quick way to do it.
Soy sauce, coconut aminos, and honey are also great additions.
Fresh minced garlic, ginger, or chopped herbs like parsley, dill, and basil make for a tasty and unique dressing.

Apple kale quinoa salad in a white ceramic bowl with a creamy dressing drizzled overtop from a ceramic pitcher. Beside the bowl are apple slices, pickled apples in a jar, a cream cloth, and more apples.

How to Store Kale and Quinoa Salad

The best part about this kale quinoa salad is that you can store the leftovers as is. No need to keep the dressing separate as it will only marinate with the quinoa and kale to make the flavor even better over time!

Once you combine the kale, quinoa, onions, and pickled apple slices with the dressing, simply store it in an airtight container and enjoy as is. It’s a great way to meal prep for the week ahead and save time + stress later on.

Kale and quinoa salad with a creamy dressing drizzled overtop sits in a white ceramic bowl. There is quinoa, massaged kale, apple slices, and chopped red onion. Beside the bowl are two ceramic pieces.

Easy Quinoa Recipes

When cooked correctly, quinoa has the perfect light and fluffy texture for all sorts of meals. It’s an easy way to bulk up any dish, whether as a base in buddha bowls and salads or as a stuffing and filling in recipes.

A few of my favorite recipes that call for quinoa or can be subbed for quinoa are these easy bowls and my stuffed squash.

Southwestern Vegan Burrito Bowl – Try swapping quinoa for the brown rice and enjoy a southwestern flavor from chili spice and a creamy cilantro dressing.

Tabouli Salad – Sub the steel cut oats for quinoa and you’ll have a light, refreshing salad with fresh herbs and lemon juice.

Stuffed Acorn Squash – Replace the steel cut oat stuffing with quinoa enjoy the aromatic flavor of fresh thyme and rosemary. The fluffy quinoa would be a great stuffing for the soft baked squash and roasted vegetables!

If you try this recipe, please let me know by leaving a comment and rating in the boxes below! I always love to hear from you and it helps other people find this recipe when they search online for the BEST Kale and Quinoa Salad 🙂