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Creamy Lemon Tahini Kale Salad with Spicy Chick Pea Croutons

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Thanks for joining Sarah and me for Meatless Monday today. I can’t believe Thanksgiving is next week! While I still have not finalized our menu yet, I am thinking about adding this Creamy Lemon Tahini Kale Salad with Spicy Chick Pea Croutons to the mix. I like to offer some lighter sides to pair with the heavier traditional Thanksgiving potatoes and stuffing. Adding the pomegranate seeds gives this hearty salad a nice festive look that will brighten up your holiday table.

Creamy Lemon Tahini Kale salad with Spicy Chick pea croutons

Creamy Lemon Tahini Kale Salad with Spicy Chick Pea Croutons

I am the first to admit that plain old kale is not so tasty. However, when you season and flavor it, the taste and texture morphs into a delicious and healthy side salad. One of the keys to a great kale salad is to “massage” the kale with a little olive oil and salt. Yep, get your hands right in there and give it a little rub and mix before adding in the other ingredients. This technique also allows the kale to absorb the flavors of the other ingredients you combine with it.

Creamy Lemon Tahini Kale Salad with Spicy Chick Pea Croutons

The other stars of this recipe are the Spicy Chick Pea Croutons. Besides being a great source of plant based protein and iron, Spicy Chick Peas are a delicious crunchy way to top your salad. While you can roast them in the oven, I prefer to pan fry them in a little olive oil. I used a smoked paprika powder on them to bring a subtle spice that pairs well with the lemon tahini dressing.

#KaleYeah add this festive and easy hearty kale #salad to your #Thanksgiving meal #vegan #GF

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While most salads tend to get a little soggy if you dress them in advance, this Creamy Lemon Tahini Kale Salad gets better after marrying the dressing with it. This allows the kale to soften up and absorb the flavors taking away the bitterness.

Creamy Lemon Tahini Kale Salad with chick pea croutons

This hearty and healthy Creamy Lemon Tahini Kale Salad with Spicy Chick Pea Croutons would be a fabulous side for your holiday dinner. Have family staying for the holidays? Offer this salad as a lighter lunch and watch your family reach for seconds.

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Creamy Lemon Tahini Kale Salad with Spicy Chick Pea Croutons

Creamy Lemon Tahini Kale salad with Spicy Chick pea croutons

Ingredients

  • large bunch of kale (remove stems) chopped
  • 2/3 Cup pomegranate seeds
  • dressing:
  • 2 garlic cloves
  • juice of 2 whole lemons
  • 1/3 C Tahini paste
  • 1/4 C warm water
  • 1/3 C Olive oil
  • 2 tsp honey
  • 2 Tbl apple cider vinegar
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • For chick peas:
  • 1 15 oz can of chick peas (rinsed and dried on a paper towel)
  • drizzle of Olive oil
  • 1-2 tsp smoked paprika

Instructions

  1. Chop kale and transfer to a large mixing bowl
  2. drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with kosher salt
  3. with you hands, massage kale so that it softens, set aside
  4. In a small bowl whisk together all dressing ingredients
  5. Drizzle onto kale and mix to combine
  6. sprinkle on pomegranate seeds set aside
  7. Add olive oil to a large skillet and heat to medium high
  8. Add chick peas to pan with more olive oil
  9. sprinkle on smoked paprika and salt
  10. pan fry until crispy, stirring often
  11. Layer chick pea croutons on top of salad and serve
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Tell me what are your favorite Holiday veggie sides? Kale Yeah or Kale No?

I am linking up w @Deborahbrooks14 @miss_whisk for @MeatlessMonday Come join us and find inspiration for your #holidaymeal

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Meatless Monday 2018| Lemon Tahini Kale Salad with Spicy Chick Pea Croutons

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Meet Deborah

Hi I'm Deborah! I spend my days successfully raising a husband & 2 teens in the VA/DC area. I am a lover of all things running & fitness. As a life long vegetarian, I've always been passionate about healthy living & exercise. Looking for partners in crime, I started my own chapter of Moms Run This Town (MRTT) which has grown to over 700 members. I've met so many amazing women who inspire me daily to keep moving forward. You can usually find me running with my crew and training for the next crazy adventure they talked me into. I love to keep up to date on new running & fitness trends. I definitely choose my running gear based on color and love to express my fashion sense while exercising.

Comments

  2. Wendy says

    Oh kale no! But I could see substituting spinach in for the kale. The tahini dressing sounds fabulous!

    • Deborah Brooks says

      Tahini is a paste often used in hummus and other middle eastern type of foods. You can find it at your regular grocery store. I am kind of obsessed w the chick pea croutons at the moment

  12. Megan @ Meg Go Run says

    Sometimes I am in the mood for kale and sometimes not. Mostly, I am okay if it is mixed in with lettuce! My hubby makes kale chips in the oven and that is sooooo good. I mean, anything with salt and oil on it is good, right!?

  15. Sarah says

    This looks amazing! Love all the flavors and the addition of tahini dressing and the chickpea croutons!!

  30. Mary says

    It’s definitely the season for kale topped with pomegranates, it looks very festive and Christmas-y. We got a tray of pomegranates from Costco and went right through it, putting them on almost every salad lately. I can definitely second the idea of paprika (or smoked paprika) on chickpeas, it’s a good combo!
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