I’ll be honest. Kale will never be on a list of foods I love to eat. On the other hand, I really love meals that are easy to prepare, full of veggies and protein and that keep me full and satisfied for at least a couple hours afterward. (That’s also why I eat oatmeal – I don’t really like it, but it does the trick!) You can see why I was thrilled to find a way to eat kale that’s actually delicious!
A few weeks ago, I noticed that Aldi carries bags of a frozen kale and quinoa blend. After eating quinoa for the first time recently I was interested to try something similar at home. At first, I made it as a side but really didn’t love the texture of just the two ingredients together. The next night Paul had to work late, so I needed a simple and filling meal just for myself. I put this warm kale and quinoa salad together and loved the result! I won’t put any measurements in the recipe below – just use as much of each item as you prefer!
Warm Kale and Quinoa Salad
- Frozen Kale and Quinoa Blend (I think you can also find this at Walmart and Costco)
- Cooked Chicken – I used a chicken breast I cooked in the crock pot and then sliced
- Cherry Tomatoes
- Feta Cheese
- Olive Oil
- Salt
- Lemon Juice
Begin by preheating your oven to 425. Slice the tomatoes in half and toss them with olive oil and salt. Place them on a cookie sheet and roast until they begin to brown and slightly burst (keep an eye on them so you don’t have a mess in your oven). Heat the quinoa blend according to the package directions.
Taste each layer before you place it in the bowl, making sure each part is well seasoned with salt. Add a splash of lemon juice to the quinoa blend if it lacks flavor. Layer the quinoa, followed by chicken and tomatoes. Sprinkle feta cheese over the bowl and add a splash of lemon juice on top! You could probably also add black olives, red onion or bell peppers, but in my opinion the roasted cherry tomatoes make the dish!
I’m curious – is there a food you don’t love but eat anyway?
Come Home For Comfort 
Eating kale alone isn’t my favorite, either. It’s not bad when sauteed and combined with rice, veggies and chicken. I haven’t tried it with quinoa yet, but that sounds good!
As for eating things I don’t like, I’ll force down canned peas if I have to. My mom loves them, so they’ll often show up on her table. 😉 Most foods I can eat okay, except canned mixed vegetables. Ewwwww! Those I won’t touch with a ten-foot pole!
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I am not a fan of canned mixed veggies either. I don’t like carrots, and there are usually carrots in that mix. No thanks! 🙂
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Does this kale taste like fresh kale? I ask because I HATE fresh kale. Even after a soak and wash I feel like it tastes like dirt.
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No, it doesn’t. I don’t like how tough fresh kale is, either, It’s cooked down enough that if you stir it into your dish well, you don’t really notice it.
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I just love kale so much, lol. 🙂 This recipe sounds delicious. Thanks for sharing!
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I don’t think I’ll ever love kale like you do, but I’ll keep trying! 🙂
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I have tried, very hard, to join the kale-loving crowd…but I have yet to find a recipe that works. Maybe mixing it with the quinoa (which I do love) will do the trick!
Hope you are feeling 100 percent again!!
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Thank you, Jennifer, I’m feeling much better! This is the first time I’ve enjoyed kale, so maybe it will be the same for you. 🙂
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Kale is Definitely on my list of foods I don’t love, but I think your recipe might make it possible to give it another try! Thanks!
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I know greens aren’t really on your favorite food list anyway – but it’s not as bad when it’s all mixed in under the tomatoes. 🙂
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