Kale, Grape and Quinoa Salad (Inspired by the Cheesecake Factory)

Kale, Grape and Quinoa Salad  (Inspired by the Cheesecake Factory)

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)
The ingredients are simple, healthy and easy to find.
Kale, Grape and Quinoa Salad  (Inspired by the Cheesecake Factory)
When serving raw kale in a salad it’s important to remove the center stem. It’s quite bitter and tough.
Kale, Grape and Quinoa Salad  (Inspired by the Cheesecake Factory)
Kale can be rough; slicing it into thin strips makes it the perfect texture for this salad.
Kale, Grape and Quinoa Salad  (Inspired by the Cheesecake Factory)
Put all the ingredients for the dressing in a jar, put the lid on, and shake vigorously.
Kale, Grape and Quinoa Salad  (Inspired by the Cheesecake Factory)
Mix the kale, with the rest of the ingredients and drizzle with dressing and serve!

While you’re looking, check out some great soup recipes to go with the salad!

Print This Recipe Kale, Grape and Quinoa Salad  (Inspired by the Cheesecake Factory)

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

2 Comments

Agnes P. says:

I have made this three times now. I’m addicted. Thanks for the recipe. Loving this site, you need more recipes.

easyonthecook says:

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 ;-)