Tamari-ginger Kale & Quinoa Salad

I can't stop eating kale and quinoa salads, and I'm not sorry about it. Not even a little bit sorry. I'm extremely not sorry about attempting to recreate salad concepts created by actual professionals that got me on this kick, shamelessly, and usually with more avocado. And always quinoa and kale. Why would you ever make a salad without quinoa and kale?

Here's one that my carnivorous manly man has enthusiastically eaten for two dinners in a row, which I think is a pretty solid indication of a damn tasty power salad.

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What you need:

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  • 1 bunch kale
  • 1 cup uncooked quinoa
  • fine-grain sea salt
  • 2 cups chopped snow peas
  • 1 large carrot, peeled and ribboned
  • 1 red bell pepper, deseeded and chopped
  • 2 cups shelled edamame, blanched
  • 2 avocados, pitted and cubed
  • 1 large shallot, finely sliced
  • handful cilantro, chopped
  • handful Thai basil, chopped
  • 1/4 cup olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
  • 2 tablespoons finely grated ginger
  • 1 tablespoon tamari
  • 2 teaspoons lime juice
  • 3 garlic cloves, pressed
  • sesame seeds

What you do:

Cook the quinoa and set aside. Keep covered and warm. Separate the kale leaves from the stem, chop, and steam. Mix the kale and quinoa in a HUGE bowl (for real, huge), and add some sprinkles of salt to (light) taste. 

Add the snow peas, carrot, bell pepper, edamame, and mix. Add the avocado, shallot, cilantro, Thai basil, and mix. 

In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, rice vinegar, ginger, tamari, lime juice, and garlic until combined.

Drizzle dressing over salad and toss incessantly. Get wild. Make sure you're listening to some funky tunes and shimmy a little while you do this, because you're so effing excited about this salad. Sprinkle some sesame seeds on top and eat your face off (or chill it and eat it cold if you prefer, but you have to dance the whole time it's chilling).

This makes about 4 HANGRY-sized salads. Or maybe 5-6 normal person salads. (If you want leftovers, set some of the mixed salad aside without the dressing, and add the dressing later. It keeps well sans-dressing for a day or two!)

Funk yeah power salad!