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    Home » Hunger

    Beets & Blue Kale Crunch Salad

    By Lauren on April 4, 2017, Updated April 27, 2021 11 Comments

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    I learned a valuable lesson this week. To tell this anecdote, let me back up. For the New England natives out there, you already know it was opening day for the Red Sox. Baseball is the only sport I religiously watch. Don't get me wrong, I'm not opposed to watching all sports. But I actually enjoy watching 9 innings of baseball. Weird, I know.

    For the first time since I moved to the city 6 years ago, I missed Opening Day. But what we did get to experience was being scared s***tless, when you forget THERE IS A FLYOVER FOR OPENING DAY.

    Turns out its real f-ing loud. We don't even technically live in Boston proper. There I sit, in the rocking chair. Shea in my lap. Story in hand. Dog snoozing nearby. SO picturesque.

    In meer milliseconds, we went from sleepy, content story time to, "Oh my god, what the f*** is that? Run for your lives!" Snuggly and almost snoozing to literally scared pants less for two seconds.

    OH, Opening Day. Right. I've never heard the flyover at home because I've never missed the game.  Stab me in the heart fighter jets.

    Soo...two and half hours later, I'm cracking a beer watching the game and Shea is f.i.n.a.l.l.y. taking a nap. Phew.

    Now that that's over, let's get back to the namaste that is this Beets & Blue Kale Crunch Salad.

    Please Note: This post is not sponsored, but you will find affiliate links listed on this page. The price you pay at check out does not change, but I may make a small commission based on your purchase from the link! Thank you for your support of HungerThirstPlay!


    Beets & Blue Kale Crunch Salad

    The beets and the blues

    The beets and the blues of this salad are like the musical harmony of taste and texture for this bowl of superfood. Melty, tangy, blue cheese provides the perfect balance of richness to the crunchy, raw beet. There's just something about pairing up the earthy flavors of beets with a stinky blue cheese that makes my heart happy. Like romeo and juliet, two star crossed foods going to all lengths to be together. Then they just end up in your belly.

    Beets & Blue Kale Crunch Salad

    Raw beets? You may be skeptical about this. I was too the first time I tried it. But then I spiraled them on the angel hair setting and all was right with the world. The thin strands are the perfect texture without feeling like you're eating dirt fruit.

    If you don't have a spiralizer, check out this one I purchased from Amazon here or this one here that's less expensive but still comes with the angel hair blade.

    Spiralizing is my new obsession and these curly cue beets are bae.

    Beets & Blue Kale Crunch Salad

    The LBD of Veggies

    Each year it seems like there's a new veggie fad. Cauliflower has had it's run a couple times. Endive, romanesco, and the attack of the sprouts. Over the past five years, kale has reigned supreme as the fashionable vegetable. But I'm here to stake claim it's more than just a fad.

    Kale is the little black dress of vegetables.

    Beets & Blue Kale Crunch Salad

    It always looks good on you, it never goes out of style and it's always an appropriate color for any event. Smoothies, braised, juiced, or raw, kale is going to be here to the bitter end. (Get it? Cause sometimes the end of the stems are a little bitter. I got food jokes.)

    The kale reigns supreme for crunch in this Beets & Blue Kale Crunch Salad, it's the perfect green for mopping up all that melted blue cheese goodness. Tossing the curly leaves with the near liquid stinky, blue delight gets the cheese in all the nook and crannies so there's salty, creamy satisfaction in each mouthful.

    Kale yeah.

    Beets & Blue Kale Crunch Salad

    Bring on the grains

    To bring up our crunch factor to the next level and to keep this kale crunch salad fueling you all day long we introduce our dear friend Quinoa. The springy texture of this ancient grain adds a different crunch in the texture department. Texture aside, the energy packed into these little grains is perfect if you're into keeping the salad vegetarian. But if meat's your thing a little grilled chicken on top is cool too.

    Beets & Blue Kale Crunch Salad

    If this beets & blue kale crunch salad wasn't already giving us feels in all the good ways, add in some glazed walnut pieces not just for texture but for a sweet and nutty taste. The glazed walnuts can absolutely be substituted for plain chopped walnuts or another nut of your choice. Fresh gourmet is the most popular brand in our produce department, over by the croutons, and is available here on Amazon.

    Beets & Blue Kale Crunch Salad

    So with our kale and our quinoa we got the beets and the blues to keep grooving on the crunch train all day long.

    Beets & Blue Kale Crunch Salad

    Beets & Blue Kale Crunch Salad

    Spiralized beets and blue cheese are the perfect pair to boost this crunchy kale salad to the next level.
    5 from 2 votes
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    Course: Salad
    Cuisine: American
    Keyword: beets and blue cheese, kale salad, salads with beets
    Prep Time: 20 mins
    Total Time: 20 mins
    Servings: 4 servings
    Calories: 263kcal
    Author: Lauren
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    Ingredients

    • 1 head kale (chopped)
    • 2 small red beets (peeled and spiralized (see notes))
    • 4 ounces blue cheese (melted)
    • 3 tablespoon balsamic vinaigrette
    • ⅓ cup quinoa (cooked)
    • ¼ cup glazed walnut pieces

    Instructions

    • Thoroughly wash kale and remove the leaves from the stem.  Roughly chop the kale leaves.
    • Wash and peel the beets.  Spiralize using the angel hair blade.
    • In a large, microwave safe bowl, melt the blue cheese.  Microwave for 1 minute, stirring every 15 seconds.
    • Add the kale to the melted cheese and toss thoroughly with tongs, coating as much of the green as the greens as possible.
    • Drizzle leaves with balsamic vinaigrette or dressing of choice. Toss with the tongs to coat all the leaves with the dressing.  Add in beets and glazed walnut pieces.   Mix with tongs.  Sprinkle quinoa over the top of the salad. 

    Notes

    • If you don't have a spiralizer, steam the beets and slice thinly or purchase pre-steamed beets.
    • Using a good quality, soft blue cheese will bring more flavor and will melt easier.
    • Recommended dressing for this salad is the Port Wine Balsamic Vinaigrette, available in the free eCookbook you receive when you sign up for email updates at the top of the page!

    Nutrition

    Calories: 263kcal | Carbohydrates: 20g | Protein: 11g | Fat: 16g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Cholesterol: 21mg | Sodium: 570mg | Potassium: 434mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 3477IU | Vitamin C: 41mg | Calcium: 216mg | Iron: 2mg
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    Comments

    1. Stephanie Bills says

      April 04, 2017 at 9:57 pm

      I've been meaning to try more things with beets! I hated them for a long time growing up, but I recently re-tried them and fell in love! I will definitely be giving this one a try.

      Reply
    2. Dawn says

      April 04, 2017 at 7:07 pm

      What a beautiful salad! I love the combo of beets and kale, both nutrient dense and detoxifying. Looking forward to trying this!

      Reply
    3. Cheryl says

      April 04, 2017 at 4:46 pm

      Where to begin, this salad sounds great! I don't think I've ever seen sprialized beets. They're so pretty!

      Reply
    4. Andy says

      April 04, 2017 at 11:41 am

      5 stars
      I just discovered the power of beets! I started juicing them with carrots. This looks amazing, and your photography is on point? What camera do you use? 🙂

      Reply
      • Lauren says

        April 04, 2017 at 11:49 am

        SO good! Thank you so much. The sun was not very cooperative the day I shot this, but you have to make due right? I use a Nikon DSLR and switch between a 35mm and 85mm lens. Saving up for my 50mm 1.4!

        Reply
    5. Allison says

      April 04, 2017 at 10:21 am

      5 stars
      Such a pretty salad! I bet it's delicious!

      Reply
      • Lauren says

        April 04, 2017 at 11:49 am

        It really was! I ate all of it over three days and didn't share any with my husband!

        Reply
    6. Lecy | A Simpler Grace says

      April 04, 2017 at 9:54 am

      What a colorful salad! I love beets and will have to give this one a try!

      Reply
    7. Alysa Villelli says

      April 04, 2017 at 9:51 am

      What a lovely salad, beautiful colors! And of course, healthy 🙂

      Reply

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