Cranberry Kale Pecan Salad with Tofu
This cranberry kale pecan salad recipe is a fantastic high protein vegetarian salad with grilled tofu, spiced chickpeas, tender kale, and sweet dried cranberries. Tossed together with pecans and a bright and flavorful lemon vinaigrette, this makes the perfect hearty salad recipe!
Servings: 5 2-cup servings
Calories: 400kcal
Equipment
- Griddle Pan
- Serving Bowl
- Small Jar
Ingredients
For the Salad
- 6 cups kale shredded or chopped
- 14 ounces chickpeas drained and rinsed
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 cup dried cranberries
- ½ cup pecans
- ½ cup crumbled feta cheese
For the Grilled Tofu
- 1 teaspoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1 lemon juiced
For the Lemon Vinaigrette Dressing
- ¼ cup olive oil
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 2 lemons juiced
Instructions
- Start by making the tofu. Heat a grill pan over medium high heat. In a mixing bowl, add the olive oil, onion powder, paprika, honey, and lemon juice. Toss well to combine, making sure the tofu is coated well. Place the tofu on the grill pan, and grill for 2-3 minutes on each side, until it has grill marks.
- In another mixing bowl, add the drained chickpeas with the paprika and garlic powder. Toss well to combine, set aside.
- In a large serving bowl, add the chopped or shredded kale. With your hands, massage the kale for 2-3 minutes, until it begins to soften and wilt.
- To the massaged kale, add the grilled tofu, spiced chickpeas, the cranberries, pecans, and the feta cheese.
- Finally, in a small mixing bowl, add all the dressing ingredients and toss well to combine.
- Pour the dressing over the salad, and enjoy!
Notes
Expert Tips
- To make this vegan, omit the feta cheese and use maple syrup in place of the honey.
- If you want crispy chickpeas, you can air fry them for 10 minutes or bake them in the oven as a nice crunchy substitution for croutons.
- You can use a pre-marinated tofu that you buy at the store, instead of marinading your own.
Nutrition
Calories: 400kcal | Carbohydrates: 38g | Protein: 13g | Fat: 24g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 14g | Cholesterol: 13mg | Sodium: 441mg | Potassium: 601mg | Fiber: 12g | Sugar: 9g | Vitamin A: 2642IU | Vitamin C: 51mg | Calcium: 216mg | Iron: 3mg