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Roasted Sweet Potato Kale and Quinoa Salad

Roasted Sweet Potato Kale and Quinoa Salad with Pesto Vinaigrette

This Roasted Sweet Potato Kale and Quinoa Salad with Pesto Vinaigrette is a flavorful, nutritious dish perfect for any occasion.
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Salads
Cuisine: American
Calories: 350

Ingredients
  

Sweet Potatoes
  • 2 medium sweet potatoes peeled and diced into ½-inch pieces
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • Salt
  • Pepper
Quinoa
  • 1 cup quinoa rinsed
  • 1.75 cups vegetable broth
Kale and Toppings
  • 2 cups curly kale stemmed and finely chopped
  • 0.5 cups sunflower seeds roasted, salted
  • 0.33 cups fresh basil thinly sliced
  • 0.5 cups fresh basil leaves firmly packed
  • 0.25 cups fresh parsley leaves firmly packed
Pesto Vinaigrette
  • 0.5 cups olive oil
  • 0.25 cups lemon juice freshly squeezed
  • 1 clove garlic roughly chopped
  • 1 teaspoon maple syrup or agave nectar
  • 0.25 teaspoon salt
  • Pepper to taste

Equipment

  • baking sheet
  • Saucepan
  • Blender or food processor

Method
 

Preparation
  1. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit. Line a large, rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.
  2. Transfer the diced sweet potatoes to the baking sheet and toss with 2 tablespoons olive oil. Sprinkle with salt and pepper and arrange in a single layer. Bake for 10 minutes, then toss and bake for an additional 10 to 15 minutes, until tender and browning. Set aside to cool.
  3. In a medium saucepan, combine the rinsed quinoa and vegetable broth. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, then reduce to maintain a simmer, cover, and cook until the quinoa has absorbed all the liquid, about 20 minutes. Fluff with a fork and set aside to cool.
  4. To make the vinaigrette, combine all dressing ingredients in a blender or food processor and process until mostly smooth, with small pieces of herbs still visible.
Assembly
  1. Transfer the chopped kale to a large serving bowl. Sprinkle with a dash of salt and massage the kale until it darkens in color and becomes fragrant, about 15 seconds.
  2. Add the sweet potatoes, quinoa, sunflower seeds, and sliced basil to the bowl. Drizzle with about ⅓ cup dressing and gently toss until coated. Adjust dressing to taste.
  3. Serve the salad at room temperature or cold. Leftovers keep in the refrigerator, covered, for up to 2 days.

Nutrition

Serving: 1bowlCalories: 350kcalCarbohydrates: 40gProtein: 10gFat: 18gSaturated Fat: 2gPolyunsaturated Fat: 8gMonounsaturated Fat: 8gSodium: 300mgPotassium: 600mgFiber: 7gSugar: 4gVitamin A: 2000IUVitamin C: 30mgCalcium: 80mgIron: 2mg

Notes

This salad is highly customizable; feel free to swap quinoa for farro or bulgur and experiment with nuts instead of sunflower seeds for added texture and flavor.

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