Quinoa Salad with Kale, Watermelon, Grapes and Feta Cheese

Sad to say, but watermelon is not my thing. It’s  just too clingy sweet for my taste.

I know that colorful melon is good for me, and most people think it’s crazy that I avoid it. In fact, World’s Healthiest Foods states that “Alongside of tomatoes, watermelon has moved up to the front of the line in recent research studies on high-lycopene foods. Lycopene is a carotenoid phytonutrient that’s especially important for our cardiovascular health . . .”

Sounds like a good reason to get over my aversion to it, so I decided to tone that clingy sweetness down by adding it to my favorite salad ingredients – quinoa and kale.

Along with the pile of grapes on the counter, a lovely bunch of tarragon and a few crumbles of feta cheese, I was able to mellow out that watermelon and turn it into a salad I was completely happy with.

I must admit, this is definitely a colorful dish!

As I was digging through my recipe archives, I discovered this earlier version of a watermelon salad with chickpeas and red onion.  The chickpeas add a nice protein boost, making it a meal in a bowl. But alas, my pantry was bare.

Let me know what you think of this easy salad combination. With just a handful of ingredients and watermelon readily available this time of year, it’s really a fun combination of flavors. Even this watermelon avoider loved it!

~Kristi

Print Quinoa Salad with Kale, Watermelon, Grapes and Feta Cheese

Serving Size: 4

Shake It Up! Baby spinach and cantaloupe would be a terrific combination in place of the kale and watermelon.

Ingredients

• 2 cups quinoa, cooked according to package directions and cooled
• 4 cups watermelon, cubed into smaller pieces
• 2 cups grapes, halved
• 2 cups kale, finely chopped
• 1 cup low fat feta cheese, crumbled
• 2 tablespoons tarragon, minced
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 2 squeezes lemon juice

Instructions

1. Combine all ingredients in a bowl and gently toss together to combine ingredients.

Notes

Food energy: 333kcal Saturated fatty acids: 6.18g Monounsaturated fatty acids: 4.28g Polyunsaturated fatty acids: 0.81g Total fat: 11.27g Calories from fat: 101 Cholesterol: 33mg Carbohydrate, by difference: 44.16g Total dietary fiber: 4.29g Protein: 11.73g Total lipid (fat): 13.76g Water: 294.37g Ash: 3.81g Total sugars: 18.51g Calcium: 262mg Iron: 2.71mg Magnesium: 94mg Phosphorus: 306mg Potassium: 592mg Sodium: 441mg

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