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What’s the worlds best kale salad? I recently had to ask myself this question and after a lot of thought and research, I decided to make this White Bean Kale Quinoa Salad, inspired by the one at Erewhon market in Los Angeles, CA.
It’s a salad I’ve been eating for almost 10 years there so you know it’s good!
Inspired by the Famous Erewhon Market
As someone from LA, I’ve been stopping at Erewhon to grab lunch at their many locations as it’s convenient and their hot/cold bar has some scrumptious and healthy selections!
Erehwon market used to be just one location and was known as one of the best health food stores with a pretty infamous juice bar.
I remember a friend worked there years ago and was told it some kind of spiritual vortex. So it went from sort of hippy dippy spot to now one of LA’s most celebrity ridden hot spots. Did I mention its literally just a grocery store!
Even though the marketing, prices and locations have all seemed to evolved over the years, I do believe the quality of all their organic produce, specially grocery items, prepared food and juice/smoothie bar has remained the same!
With that said, their kale salad is one of the most addicting things! I order it in the combo plate or as a side truly every time I’m there.
When I heard that many celebrities, from Emma chamberlain to the Kardashians enjoyed this salad as well, I understood why!
My recipe is inspired by their White Bean Kale Salad but making a few changes that I believe make it even more delicious, filling and way more cost effective!So even if youdon’t livenear an Erewhon, you can make andenjoy this salad!
How I make the World’s BEST Kale salad recipe:
My first trick is adding quinoa to this salad. It bulks it up and just really adds the grain element I think the salad needs.
Adding a complete plant based protein, makes this salad actually an incredible source of protein and fiber!
Including nuts of seeds of roasted pumpkin seeds, hemp seeds and walnuts! Don’t worry, you can omit the walnuts and sub sunflower seeds for a nut free alternative.
Adding white beans and avocado make give a creamy element to the salad that balances out the crunch perfectly!
The Secret is in the Sauce, aka the Salad Dressing
Last but not least, the star of the show is the creamytahini maple mustard dressing that I make to go with it.
A salad is truly only as good as its dressing, and this one is really good!
Erewhons’s original white bean and kale salad uses a dressing that has mustard in it.
It really just adds a nice depth of flavor, so I use stoneground mustard, which is the healthiest and most flavorful mustard in my opinion!
Then I add in some tahini to this to make the dressing a little bit more creamy, a touch of maple syrup brings a much-needed sweetness and coconut aminos gives it some umami!
The Secret to Perfection is in the Preparation
And the biggest tip to making any kale salad recipe amazing is to massage the kale first!
If you haven’t heard of massaging your kale, it might really sound like the epitome of a famous LA salad but what it means is that you break down the green. By adding a little lemon, sea salt and olive oil to it first and use your hands to rub it in it softens it up.
Aka giving it a little massage!
This makes the kale more digestible and taste way better! It’s still raw but it changes the texture to make it even better!
This white bean kale quinoa salad is vegan, gluten free and soy free and has soo much flavor! I’ve even meal prepped this recipe and last for a day or two in the fridge if you want to make ahead of time.
As someone who eats a salad aboutevery single day, I truly love how diverse and delicious they can be!
If you want to try some other yummy healthy salad recipes, check out these:
Hormone Balancing Arugula Salad
Roasted Potato Cucumber Salad
Rainbow Quinoa Salad
White Bean Kale Quinoa Salad (vegan, gluten free)
Justine Colbert
A healthy vegan white bean kale quinoa salad may be the Worlds Best Salad! It is inspired by the famous kale white bean salad from Erewhon market in Los Angeles which is a celebrity favorite and a salad I've been obsessed with for the last 10 years!
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Course Appetizer, Main Course, Salad
Cuisine American, Mediterranean
Servings 2 people
Ingredients
- 1 curly green kale, rinsed and chopped
- 1 cup cooked quinoa I recommend making quinoa with vegetable broth for extra flavor
- 1 cup white beans, rinsed from a can of cannellini beans
- 1/2 avocado, diced
- 1/4 cup walnuts
- 1/4 cup hemp seeds
- 1/4 cup roasted pumpkin seeds
- 1 tsp olive oil for massaging the kale
- a squeeze of lemon for massaging the kale
- pinch of sea salt for massaging the kale
Creamy Maple Mustard Dressing:
- 2 tbsp tahini
- 1/2 lemon, juiced
- 1 tsp coconut aminos
- 2 tsp maple syrup
- 1 tsp stoneground mustard
- 1/4 tsp sea salt
- 1 garlic clove, minced
Instructions
To a large bowl, add your chopped kale, olive oil, a squeeze of lemon juice and a pinch of sea salt. Use your hands to massage the kale. The kale will shrink in size and become softer.
Then add in white beans, walnuts, roasted pumpkin seeds, hemp seeds, quinoa and avocado to the kale.
To a small bowl, add all your dressing ingredients and mix them until well combined.
Pour the dressing over the kale and mix well.
Enjoy! (Store in the fridge for up to 2 days in an airtight glass container)
Keyword creamy vegan dressing, erewhon market, gluten free, healthy salad, kale salad, quinoa, vegan, white beans
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