• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Well Vegan
  • Recipes
  • Our Cookbook
  • About
menu icon
go to homepage
search icon
Homepage link
  • Recipes
  • Frugal Vegan Cookbook
  • About
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • ×
    Home » Salad

    Kale Salad with Golden Turmeric Dressing

    Jul 27, 2017 · by Kate Kasbee · Modified: Jul 10, 2018

    This post may contain affiliate links.

    Jump to Recipe·5 from 1 review

    A few weeks back, I spent a blissful Sunday in a little beach town on Lake Michigan. The weather was perfect – sunny skies, warm sand, gentle waves. I finished a book I’ve been reading for months with my toes in the surf (if you can call it that) and successfully tanned without getting sunburn. We rode bikes to a local winery and then pedaled to a little bistro where we drank more wine. I even taught my dog how to swim at sunset (he’s a Pug/Boston Terrier mix. He tends to just thrash in the water).

    We ended our evening with a rooftop dinner at The Stray Dog Bar & Grill in New Buffalo. It’s kind of a tradition when we’re in town. After inhaling a vegan Chicago-style hotdog for lunch (so good!) and indulging in a few glasses of wine, I was ready for a nutrient-dense salad to finish the night on a high note. The kale salad I ordered was simple, but so delicious. Just dinosaur kale, quinoa, dried cranberries, and pine nuts drizzled with a light vinaigrette. I liked it so much that I was inspired to create my own version when I got home.

    kale salad this recipe

    This salad isn’t fussy or fancy, which is what I love about it. I’m really into turmeric right now, so I based the dressing around flavors that complement the earthy root. As far as kale goes, I like to use shredded dinosaur kale because it’s slightly sweeter than regular kale. Katie went with the baby variety for these photos. The moral of the story: use the kale of your choice! The hemp seeds in the dressing are optional, but I recommend them. They add a kick of protein and boost the creamy factor quite a bit.

    Print
    clock clock iconcutlery cutlery iconflag flag iconfolder folder iconinstagram instagram iconpinterest pinterest iconfacebook facebook iconprint print iconsquares squares iconheart heart iconheart solid heart solid icon
    Kale Salad

    Kale Salad with Golden Turmeric Dressing

    5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star 5 from 1 review
    • Author: Kate Kasbee
    • Prep Time: 20 mins
    • Cook Time: 10 mins
    • Total Time: 30 minutes
    • Yield: 4 servings 1x
    • Category: Salad
    Print Recipe
    Pin Recipe

    Ingredients

    Scale

    Kale Salad

    • ¾ cup quinoa, rinsed
    • 1 ½ cups water
    • ½ cup golden raisins
    • 1 bunch dinosaur kale (or 4 cups baby kale)
    • Pinch of sea salt
    • 3 green onions, finely chopped
    • ¼ cup pine nuts

    Golden Turmeric Dressing

    • ¼ cup olive oil
    • ½ lemon, juiced
    • 1 tsp. turmeric
    • 2 Tbsp. agave
    • ¼ tsp. sea salt
    • Pinch of black pepper
    • 1 Tbsp. hemp seeds (optional)

    Instructions

    1. Combine the quinoa and 1½ cups of water in a saucepan. Bring to a boil, cover, and reduce heat. Simmer for 8 to 10 minutes, until the quinoa is cooked through and all the water has been absorbed. Remove saucepan from heat. Stir in the raisins, replace the lid, and let the mixture rest, covered, for 5 minutes.
    2. Meanwhile, remove the tough stems from the kale leaves and discard. Chop the leaves into small, thin pieces and add them to a large serving bowl. Sprinkle in a pinch of sea salt and use your hands to massage the kale leaves until fragrant and slightly softened, about a minute. Stir in the green onion and pine nuts.
    3. If you haven’t already, remove the lid from the saucepan to allow the quinoa and raisins to cool. To prepare the golden turmeric dressing, whisk together the olive oil, lemon juice, turmeric, agave, sea salt, black pepper, and hemp seeds (if using) in a small bowl.
    4. Once the quinoa and raisins have cooled to room temperature, stir them into the serving bowl to join the kale, green onion, and pine nuts. Stir to combine. Before serving, drizzle on as much of the golden turmeric dressing as you’d like (you may not use it all) and toss to coat. Enjoy at room temperature or chill salad in the fridge for 30 minutes before eating.

    Nutrition

    • Serving Size:
    • Calories: 236
    • Sugar: 11.4 g
    • Sodium: 162.7 mg
    • Fat: 7.4 g
    • Carbohydrates: 38.4 g
    • Protein: 6.9 g
    • Cholesterol: 0 mg

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

      Leave a Reply Cancel reply

      Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

      Recipe rating 5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star
      Recipe Rating




      This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    1. John

      July 28, 2017 at 8:50 am

      Always happy to see a recipe with Dinosaur Kale--it's one of my favorite vegetables to grow.

      Reply

    Primary Sidebar

    Our Cookbooks

    cookbook

    IndieBound / Powells / Amazon

    cookbook

    IndieBound / Barnes and Noble / Powells / Amazon

    About Well Vegan

    katie and kate

    Katie and Kate are two vegans maintaining a cross-country friendship swapping recipes and writing cookbooks. About Us...

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • RSS

    Our Favorite Recipes

    creamy pumpkin soup

    Creamy Pumpkin Soup with Pasta and Spinach

    Fall Panzanella

    Fall Panzanella Salad

    instant pot risotto

    Instant Pot Risotto with Butternut Squash and Sage

    mini pumpkin pie topped with frosted cranberries.

    Mini Vegan Pumpkin Pies with Frosted Cranberries

    vegan potstickers

    Delicata Squash & Brussels Sprout Potstickers

    Cinnamon Apple Crumble (Gluten-Free and Vegan)

    Cinnamon Apple Crumble: Gluten-Free and Vegan

    More Recipes

    Footer


    Recipes

    • All Recipes
    • Breakfast Recipes
    • Budget Recipes
    • Desserts Recipes
    • Dinner Recipes
    • Easy Recipes
    • Vegan + GF Recipes
    • Pasta Recipes
    • Smoothie Recipes
    • Recipe Roundups

    More

    • About
    • The Frugal Vegan Cookbook
    • Vegan Starter Guide
    • Vegan Batch Cooking Guide
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest

    Copyright © 2025 Well Vegan · All Rights Reserved · Privacy Policy · Affiliate terms · Legal