Nothing tastes as good as a great salad, especially a great salad with good conversation! A couple of weeks ago two of my partners in mayhem, I mean friends, headed over to the cheesecake factory to discuss all of the dumbasses, I mean, unenlightened people in the world. What better place is there to go after a rough day in the Mom trenches? Nothing dulls the sting of folks not seeing things your way like a bite of cheese cake! My friends went right to the BBQ Chicken Salad but the Kale, Quinoa salad caught my eye! Surely the combination of kale and a super grain would offset the soon-to-follow dessert, right? Food choice justifications aside, I loved the salad and just had to try recreating it at home. Marilou Patricia Sande
![Kale, Grape and Quinoa Salad (Inspired by the Cheesecake Factory)](/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/Kale-Quinoa-Grape-Salad-1.jpg)
![Kale, Grape and Quinoa Salad (Inspired by the Cheesecake Factory)](/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/Kale-Quinoa-Grape-Salad-2.jpg)
![Kale, Grape and Quinoa Salad (Inspired by the Cheesecake Factory)](/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/Kale-Quinoa-Grape-Salad-3.jpg)
![Kale, Grape and Quinoa Salad (Inspired by the Cheesecake Factory)](/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/Kale-Quinoa-Grape-Salad-4.jpg)
![Kale, Grape and Quinoa Salad (Inspired by the Cheesecake Factory)](/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/Kale-Quinoa-Grape-Salad-6.jpg)
While you’re looking, check out some great soup recipes to go with the salad!
![Kale, Grape and Quinoa Salad (Inspired by the Cheesecake Factory)](/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/Kale-Quinoa-Grape-Salad-6-300x200.jpg)
Kale, Grape and Quinoa Salad
Easy to make Kale salad, inspired by the Cheese Cake Factory's Kale and Quinoa Salad.
Yield: 4 small servings or 2 large
Ingredients:
1 small bunch of kale (about 6 cups when sliced)
1 to 2 cup of red grapes
1 cup cooked quinoa
1/2 cup sunflower seeds
1/2 red bell pepper diced
1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
Juice of one lemon (about 1/4 cup)
1 tablespoon finely minced shallot
1 teaspoon Dijon Mustard
3 tablespoons Olive Oil
Salt and Pepper (to taste)
1 teaspoon honey or 1 packet of Stevia (if you use Stevia, add slowly and taste)
Directions:
Cut kale into small thin strips, like you would cabbage, for coleslaw. Slice grapes into halves. Finely dice half a red bell pepper.
In a jar, add the lemon, shallot, oil, sweeter, and salt and pepper, and shake vigorously until well-mixed. I have kept the dressing quite tart as it goes well with the sweetness of the grapes, but you can add more sweetener to suit your own taste.
In a serving bowl, toss kale with salad dressing. Add in the grapes, sunflower seeds, quinoa and red bell pepper. Top with Parmesan cheese and serve!
EasyOnTheCook.com
I have made this three times now. I’m addicted. Thanks for the recipe. Loving this site, you need more recipes.
After I had this salad at the Cheesecake Factory I couldn’t stop thinking about it because it was so good! I think I had it 5 times the week I wrote this post and I just bought more kale this week to make more! I guess if someone is going to be addicted to something, it might as well be Kale ;-)