Plant-Based Lunch Recipe: Loaded Kale Salad With Balsamic Vinaigrette Recipe

Loaded Kale Salad With Balsamic Vinaigrette Recipe

Pass on the boring desk salad and munch on this plant-powered meal instead.
Loaded Kale Salad With Balsamic Vinaigrette Recipe
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Eating a meatless lunch is easy with this quick, nutrient-packed lunch idea. Combining healthy fat from the black beans and avocado, protein from quinoa, and vitamin C from tomato and kale makes for a nutritious and energy-boosting bowl. On top is a peppery dressing that comes with a boost of healthy fat, thanks to olive oil. Prep your quinoa in advance, and you can throw together this delicious, plant-based meal in 20 minutes flat.

Serves 1

Ingredients

Salad

2 cups kale, finely chopped

½ cup cooked quinoa

¼ cup canned black beans, drained and rinsed

½ cup cherry tomatoes, halved

¼ avocado, cubed

Dressing

1 tbsp olive oil

2 tbsp balsamic vinegar

1 tsp grainy mustard

1 pinch sea salt

1 pinch ground black pepper

Directions

  1. Place the kale in a bowl and top with the quinoa, black beans, tomatoes, and avocado.
  2. In a small jar, combine all of the ingredients for the dressing. Mix thoroughly with a whisk or tightly cover the jar and shake until the dressing is evenly mixed.
  3. Pour the dressing over the salad just before serving.

Kelly Kennedy, RDN, LDN

Author

Kelly Kennedy is a licensed dietitian-nutritionist with over 14 years of experience in digital media. She previously managed and oversaw nutrition content, recipe development, meal planning, and diet and nutrition coaching at Everyday Health. She developed and reviewed various meal plans, books, slideshows, and online tools, and oversaw the creation of more than 500 unique recipes. She received her bachelor's degree from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, and a master's degree from the State University of New York College at Oneonta.

Kennedy enjoys anything that takes her outside, from gardening and playing in the yard with her kids to hiking and even feeding her pet chickens.