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Quinoa Salad with Kale, Pine Nuts, and Parmesan

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Introduction

Quinoa Salad with Kale, Pine Nuts, and Parmesan is a nutritious, vibrant dish that combines the earthy flavors of kale with the richness of pine nuts and the depth of parmesan. This salad offers a delightful blend of textures and tastes, making it an ideal meal for those who appreciate wholesome ingredients and heartwarming flavors.

Tips for this recipe

To ensure your quinoa salad turns out perfect, consider the following tips: use high-quality kale that’s fresh to avoid bitterness; soak the pine nuts beforehand if you prefer a smoother texture; and chill the salad for at least 30 minutes in the refrigerator to allow flavors to meld together.

Why you will love this recipe

This Quinoa Salad with Kale, Pine Nuts, and Parmesan stands out for its health benefits—rich in fiber, proteins, and vitamins. Its unique combination of textures from the crunchy nuts to the tender quinoa, paired with a zesty dressing that elevates the greens, makes it an irresistibly fulfilling dish for any meal occasion.

Ingredients

  • 4 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil (divided)
  • 1 small onion, minced
  • 2 cups white quinoa, rinsed
  • 1 1/2 cups water
  • 3 cups chopped kale (about 12 ounces)
  • 1/3 cup red wine vinegar
  • 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
  • 1/2 cup toasted pine nuts
  • 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese (about 1 1/2 ounces)
  • Kosher salt and black pepper

Advised equipments

  • Cuisinart Multi-Function Food Processor: Versatile for various tasks like slicing, dicing, or shredding.
  • OXO Good Grips Stainless Steel Vegetable Chopper: Quickly dices vegetables, including kale.
  • KitchenAid Stand Mixer 5-Quart Basket & Beater Accessories Set: Ideal for mixing ingredients like dressing or garnishes.
  • Zyliss Easy Grip Non-Slip Cutting Boards: Stable cutting boards ensure safety and efficiency in chopping vegetables.
  • Chef’s Knife by Wüsthof: An essential knife for preparing all ingredients, including kale or pine nuts.
  • OXO Good Grips Kitchen Scissors: Handy for cutting herbs, nuts, or quinoa without a board.
  • Silicone Baking Mat: Potentially useful if you need to make pine nut powder by drying and grinding them.
  • Ninja Food Processor 800W Blender & Juicer: Useful for blending or juicing components of the recipe.
  • KitchenAid Stand Mixer Bowl Set (3-Piece): Perfect for mixing salad ingredients together efficiently.
  • Chef’s Choice 15-Inch Nonstick Frying Pan: Can be used for sautéing veggies or preparations related to the salad.
  • Food Grinder for Nuts & Spices (Kitchen Aide): While not directly listed, useful for grinding pine nuts if preferred over pre-chopped versions.

History of the recipe

The concept of a quinoa salad has deep roots in various cultures, with its modern incarnation gaining popularity as part of the global movement towards plant-based and whole food diets. The inclusion of kale, pine nuts, and parmesan reflects influences from Mediterranean cuisine, known for their emphasis on fresh produce, hearty grains, and rich flavors.

The origin of the recipe

This specific quinoa salad variant may have been inspired by regional cooking traditions where these ingredients are commonly used. The dish could be an adaptation that combines nutritious grains with a variety of greens, nuts for texture and protein, and cheese for depth of flavor.

Fun Facts about the recipe

  • Quinoa has been cultivated in South America for over 3000 years, making it one of the oldest known food grains.
  • Kale is considered a superfood due to its high nutrient content and health benefits.
  • Pine nuts were historically valued as a currency among Native American tribes before being adopted in various cuisines around the world.
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Quinoa Salad with Kale, Pine Nuts, and Parmesan

Quinoa Salad with Kale, Pine Nuts, and Parmesan

amanda

Equipment

  • - Cuisinart Multi-Function Food Processor: A versatile food processor with a large capacity bowl suitable for slicing, dicing, and shredding vegetables like kale.

  • - OXO Good Grips Stainless Steel Vegetable Chopper: An easy-to-use chopper that can dice or chop various vegetables including leafy greens such as kale quickly and efficiently.

  • - KitchenAid Stand Mixer 5-Quart Basket & Beater Accessories Set: A complete set of beaters, bowls, and attachments for mixing ingreditations like salad dressings or whipping cream to garnish the quinoa salad.

  • - Zyliss Easy Grip Non-Slip Cutting Boards: These cutting boards come with non-slip bases that provide stability for chopping vegetables safely and effectively.

  • - Chef's Knife by Wüsthof: A high-quality chef’s knife is essential for any cooking task, including washing and prepping kale or other ingredients in the recipe.

  • - OXO Good Grips Kitchen Scissors: These scissors can be used to cut herbs, pine nuts, or even quinoa without needing a traditional cutting board.

  • - Silicone Baking Mat: While not directly for salad making process, this mat could potentially be used if any of the ingredients needed rolling out (e.g., to make pine nuts into a powder).

  • - Ninja Food Processor 800W Blender & Juicer: A versatile appliance that can blend fruits and vegetables, which could be used for making dressings or smoothies if the recipe requires.

  • - KitchenAid Stand Mixer Bowl Set (3-Piece): Comes with a large capacity bowl perfect for mixing quinoa salad ingredients together and serves multiple uses in kitchen preparation.

  • - Chef's Choice 15-Inch Nonstick Frying Pan: Useful if the recipe requires sautéing vegetables or cooking something that complements the quinoa salad.

  • - Food Grinder for Nuts & Spices (Kitchen Aide): Although not directly listed in the ingredients, having a nut grinder could allow you to finely chop pine nuts if preferred over store-bought pre-chopped versions.

Ingredients

  • 4 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided

  • 1 small onion, minced

  • 2 cups white quinoa, rinsed

  • 1 1/2 cups water

  • 3 cups chopped kale (about 12 ounces)

  • 1/3 cup red wine vinegar

  • 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard

  • 1/2 cup toasted pine nuts

  • 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese (about 1 1/2 ounces)

  • kosher salt and black pepper

  • N/A

Instructions

1

Instruction 1

1. In a medium saucepan, heat 1 tablespoon olive oil over medium heat. Add the onion and sauté, stirring frequently, until translucent, about 5 minutes. Add the quinoa and sauté, stirring, until lightly toasted, 2 to 3 minutes. Add the water and kale, stirring to combine. Bring to a simmer, then reduce the heat to low and simmer, covered, until the quinoa is tender and the water has been absorbed, 15 to 18 minutes. Transfer the mixture to a large bowl and let cool. Stir occasionally to bring the warmer part of the mixture up from the bottom.
2

Instruction 2

2. In a small bowl, whisk together the vinegar and mustard until smooth. Add a pinch each of salt and pepper. Slowly add the remaining 3 tablespoons olive oil, whisking continuously to emulsify the dressing.
3

Instruction 3

3. Drizzle the dressing over the cooled quinoa mixture. Stir in the pine nuts and Parmesan cheese and season to taste with additional salt and pepper. Cover and chill completely, 2 to 3 hours. Stir just before serving to fluff the salad and break up any clumps.
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