Kale-Quinoa Sunburst Salad
Spring is finally here in the San Gabriel Mountains of Southern California. This is how we can tap into Ayurveda to shake off winter and prepare for summer!
Kale-Quinoa Sunburst Salad (makes 2 servings)
1 bunch of kale, stripped from the stems and chopped
1 cup of dry quinoa, cooked (follow instructions on package)
4 kumquats, sliced, remove seeds
1/2 cup blueberries
1/4 cup Hemp seeds/Hemp hearts
Olive oil
squeeze of lemon juice
Redmond’s Real Salt
Dressing:
1/4 cup tahini
1 lemon, juiced
2 tbsp Agave syrup (optional)
1 tsp Bragg’s Aminos or Coconut Aminos
up to 1/4 cup of olive oil
Sprinkle of ground coriander
Black pepper
Redmond’s Real Salt
To make the dressing:
Place all ingredients in a blender except for the olive oil and blend thoroughly. Add a small amount of hot water and blend. Begin to add olive oil in small amounts to the consistency you desire.
To make the salad:
Gather the chopped kale in a large bowl and drizzle a small amount of olive oil on the kale. Squeeze half a lemon on the kale, and sprinkle some Real Salt. With your hands, massage and squeeze the kale until it softens, usually 1-2 minutes. Taste the kale after 1-2 minutes to check on the flavor, keep massaging if it’s still tough or too bitter.
Place the kale in bowls, then sprinkle 1/2 cup of quinoa on top. Add 1/4 to 1/2 cup of cooked Chickpeas, sliced kumquat, and blueberries, and sprinkle with the hemp seeds. Add dressing, or serve in a small bowl so everyone can add the amount of dressing they desire.
Give thanks and enjoy!
With late spring, Kapha season comes to an end. The cold, moist, slow energy of late winter and early spring leaves us in a fog of short days, long nights and a slowing down. But with the dawn of summer, we need to melt off the snow and ice, the slowness, the heaviness so we can thrive in the summer.
For many, Kapha season means weight gain, seasonal mood disorders and general heaviness. Even though the sun is shining and the flowers are in bloom, we may notice we have some residual stickiness in our bodies.
Move first thing in the morning. Whether it’s a 5 minute walk, a 15 minute run or an hour bike ride, moving before coffee and breakfast is a great way to give your body a little boost. It’s important to clear out the old, and there is no better way than through pumping your blood and creating some space (I.e., hunger) to flush out the stagnant energy.
Eat warm veggies. Lightly warmed, grilled or cooked veggies with light grains are the perfect way to get things moving. Avoiding heavy foods, red meats, creamy (dairy) sauces and instead opting for lemon-based dressings to help give you a boost.
Walk barefoot in the dirt. Take your shoes off and connect with Mother Earth. The energy of the warming earth is a great way to really connect with the seasons and remember who you are. Look deeply at the flowers and really study them.
Namaste
-Tonya