Kale, Quinoa and Hempseed Salad
Looking for an easy way to get more protein and satisfying fat into your diet? Try Hempseed. Hempseed is a small nutty seed that tastes a little like sunflower seeds. It is ready to eat from the package making it a more convenient option than flaxseed–which needs to be ground before using. Hempseeds contain all 10 Essential Amino Acids, the building blocks of protein. Hemp protein is comprised of 66 percent high-quality edistin protein, an amino acid critical for keeping your immune system strong. Additionally, hemp is high in magnesium, iron, potassium, fiber and phytonutrients and natural antioxidants like vitamin E.
I use hempseed in place of pine nuts in pestos and love them his salads, like this one:
Kale, Quinoa and Hempseed Salad
Massaging kale makes it tender just like cooking, yet you still get all the benefits of eating it raw.
1 cup dry red quinoa
1 bunch green or red kale, chopped into very small pieces
2 carrots, grated
salt and pepper to taste
1/4 cup lemon juice
2 Tablespoons olive oil
1 teaspoon tamari
1 Tablespoon Dijon mustard
1 teaspoon brown rice syrup, agave nectar or maple syrup (you can leave this out but it is a nice balance to the acid)
1/2 cup hempseed
Place quinoa in a small saucepan with 2 cups water and a pinch of salt. Bring to a boil over medium heat, reduce heat and simmer for 15 minutes until tender.
Place kale n a large bowl and sprinkle with salt. Using your hands, massage kale for a few minutes, or until it starts to break down. Add carrots and cooked quinoa and mix well. (Warm quinoa works well here because it “cooks” the kale a bit as you toss). In a smaller bowl, whisk together lemon juice, olive oil, tamari, mustard and sweetener. Pour over salad, add hempseed and toss well to combine. Season to taste with pepper and more salt if needed. Store covered in the refrigerator.
Enjoy! ~Chef Jenny
Chef Jenny Brewer MS, CNS