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50 Shades of Zesty: Warm Kale Salad

warm-kale-chicken-salald-zesty-life-recipes-squamish

Crispy, flavourful and crazy satisfying

I know what you boys are going to say, “Kale, Quinoa, Brussel Sprouts…c’mon that’ll taste like dirt, mixed with a freshly mowed lawn and wet dog”. I challenge you to try this, so I can prove you wrong!

Besides holding the coveted spot as the trendiest vegetable these days, did I mention, Kale is going to improve your sex life? —Yup. Kale will not only make you a rockstar in sport, but also between the sheets. Here are a few ways…

50 Shades of Kale, ready to please

There’s nothing sexier than a sharp brain atop a lean body, and Kale is the answer for both!

  • Kale tops the charts for brain healthy omega-3s, keeping you sharp in sport and conversation.
  • The high vitamin A content in kale is essential for normal reproduction and keeping you at peak performance.
  • The high amount of iron in kale provides oxygen-rich blood to carry the nutrients and hormones that you need to your organs, for pleasure and endurance.
  • Kale is also high in chlorophyll, which is an alkaline-forming food, meaning that it helps increase flexibility, endurance and range of motion in addition to reducing inflammation.
  • Vitamin B6 in Kale controls prolactin, which is a libido enhancer that increases sex-hormone production.

Nutritional Highlights

Kale – For athletes, the iron in Kale will transport oxygen to various parts of the body. The Vitamin B6 in Kale will help maintain healthy nervous and immune systems.

Brussels Sprouts – Packed with immunity-boosting vitamin C and cancer-fighting glucosinolates, Brussels sprouts are among the most powerful superfoods.

Quinoa – Essential nutrients for muscle recovery, one cup of quinoa delivers minerals, fiber, antioxidants, enzymes, all nine essential amino acids and nine grams of protein, making it one of the most complete foods in nature. Iron-rich quinoa helps the body produce energy and helps the blood deliver oxygen to muscles. Particularly critical for female and endurance athletes who are often iron-deficient.

Pink Himalayan Salt – Containing at least 84 naturally occurring trace elements in their natural mineral form, the benefits of natural Himalayan Crystal Salt range from Regulating the water content throughout your body and promoting healthy pH balance in your cells to preventing muscle cramping and aiding in proper metabolism functioning.

Coconut Milk – Loaded with natural pH feeding electrolytes, immunity and energy enhancing lauric acid and  fat burning MCTs.

Walnuts – Full of healthy fat, walnuts have bone-strengthening ALA (Alpha-linolenic acid), blood flow improving amino acids, disease-fighting Vitamin-E and free-radical fighting manganese and copper.

Lemon – Pucker up because this zesty fruit contains a tonne of Vitamin C, 187% of the daily value! Vitmain C helps with wound healing, repairing, and maintaining the health of your bones and teeth, immune system, lowers inflammation, reduces cholesterol build up, and crushes harmful free radicals (not the gnarly kind).

Cranberries – Cranberries are the second highest fruit (blueberries are number 1) in antioxidants. Antioxidants will reduce muscle damage, immune dysfunction and fatigue, and will thus improve performance.

Apple Cider Vinegar – Raw, organic and unpasteurized apple cider vinegar looks cloudy, but it has a rainbow of benefits. Loaded with raw enzymes and gut-friendly bacteria Apple Cider Vinegar promotes health and healing balances your pH, increase good gut bacteria and helps control your weight.

50 Shades of Zesty: Warm Kale & Chicken Salad

Print Recipe
Serves: 2 Cooking Time: 40min

Ingredients

  • 1-2 tbsp coconut oil
  • 1 tsp pink himalayan sea salt
  • 1 1/2 cup halved brussels sprouts
  • 1 1/2 cup halved mini new potatoes
  • 3-4 c chopped purple kale
  • 1/4 cup toasted walnuts or slivered almonds
  • 1/4 cup dried unsweetened cranberries
  • Lemon Coconut Vinaigrette
  • 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
  • 2 tbsp lemon juice
  • 1 tsp. lemon zest
  • 1/2 tsp. salt
  • 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
  • 1/4 c coconut milk

Instructions

1

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F and arrange new potatoes and brussels sprouts in baking dish. Drizzle with coconut oil and sprinkle with sea salt—toss and slide into the oven.

2

Bake for 40 minutes, tossing every so often.

3

When the potatoes are almost done, toss in the cranberries and walnuts in the dish and cook for another 5min.

4

Combine 1 c quinoa with 1 3/4 c water, bring to a boil and then simmer for 20min

5

Chop the kale, place in a bowl and massage with a squirt of olive oil. Set aside.

6

Prepare vinaigrette by combining the, ACV, olive oil, coconut milk, lemon juice, lemon zest and salt. Set aside.

7

To serve: In a large bowl, combine 1 cup cooked quinoa, kale and roasted goodies. Drizzle with Lemon vinaigrette and toss.

Notes

- Sometimes I add roasted yam too

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