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Roasted Sweet Potato Kale Salad

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I need to preface this post by saying I’m a fan of kale.

Garlic roasted sweet potatoes, tangy blue cheese and protein packed chickpeas combine with massaged kale to make one super sassy and satisfying salad.

Granted I don’t own a Kale Yeah shirt or feel the need to sing its super food praises from the mountain tops.  Even so, I happen to puffy heart this sturdy green. It appeals to my taste buds and my veggie loving heart, not to mention what it does for my colon either. Yeah, kale can pack a punch. 

When it comes to this leafy powerhouse, I’m a fan of making kale chips, especially when their covered in salty cheesy goodness, or guzzling it in my morning smoothies. Side note: kale is nothing like spinach; you can absolutely taste it in a drink. It’s strong and sometimes bitter taste doesn’t scare me though, which is why I also like to eat it straight up in this Roasted Sweet Potato Kale Salad.

Garlic roasted sweet potatoes, tangy blue cheese and protein packed chickpeas combine with massaged kale to make one super sassy and satisfying salad.

The trick, for me anyway, is massaging the kale ahead of time with some good quality olive oil. It helps soften the blow so to speak. I also pair these lovely leaves with crispy garlic roasted sweet potatoes, tangy blue cheese and chickpeas because protein bro. It’s a musical medley in your mouth.  

That being said, I do like my kale, so while the combination of flavors here is a creamy smattering of success, this salad will not magically transform kale into something it isn’t. It won’t fool kale haters into suddenly loving this gorgeous green. Case in point: the Hubby ate all the toppings and three pieces of kale before calling it quits. Twice.

I on the other hand licked my bowl clean and then followed it up by licking his bowl clean too. Needless to say, my tongue got a workout that day.

Garlic roasted sweet potatoes, tangy blue cheese and protein packed chickpeas combine with massaged kale to make one super sassy and satisfying salad.

“So if you like [leafy veggies], getting caught in the rain, if you’re not into [spinach], if you have [sweet taters]. If you like making love at midnight [with kale in your right hand]
I’m the love that you’ve looked for, [eat me up] and escape.”*

Roasted Sweet Potato Kale Salad
Serves 2
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Prep Time
15 min
Cook Time
2 hr
Total Time
2 hr 15 min
Prep Time
15 min
Cook Time
2 hr
Total Time
2 hr 15 min
Ingredients
  1. 1 large bunch of Curly Kale (enough to feed two people), washed and massaged.
  2. 2 1/2 Tbsp. Extra Virgin Olive Oil, divided
  3. 1 medium Sweet Potato, peeled and cut into 1/2 inch pieces.
  4. 2 cloves Garlic, chopped into large pieces**
  5. Salt and Pepper, a sprinkle
  6. 3 Tbsp. Blue Cheese, crumbled
  7. 1/3 cup Chickpeas
  8. 1/2 Tbsp. Balsamic Vinegar
Instructions
  1. Wash and dry kale. Massage 1 Tbsp. of oil into the leaves and let sit for two hours at a minimum or up to all day. This will allow the leaves to soften somewhat.
  2. When you're ready to eat, preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Peel and cut your sweet potato to small 1/2 inch sized pieces. Add the diced sweet potato to a small metal baking dish. Toss with 1/2 Tbsp. Olive Oil, the 2 cloves of chopped garlic and a sprinkle of salt and pepper. Bake for 35 minutes, until crispy, stirring once at the twenty minute mark. The potatoes will be browning at the edges and soft on the inside when they're done. If they are easily pierced with a fork, they're done.
  3. Add the roasted sweet potato and garlic, the blue cheese crumbles, and the chickpeas to the kale.
  4. Toss the entire salad with an additional 1 Tbsp. Olive Oil and 1/2 Tbsp. Balsamic Vinegar.
Notes
  1. *Cook time is wait time.
  2. **Keep the garlic at large sized pieces to prevent it from burning.
Clean Eats, Fast Feets http://cleaneatsfastfeets.com/
*Hopefully Jimmy Buffett doesn’t sue my non-ass ass.

Garlic roasted sweet potatoes, tangy blue cheese and protein packed chickpeas combine with massaged kale to make one super sassy and satisfying salad.

sweet potatoes, blue cheese and #chickpeas combine with massaged #kale to make one super sassy and satisfying #salad.

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For more information on the health benefits of kale, click here.

I find people either love or hate kale, and the same goes for Jimmy Buffett. Which camp do you fall into?

Comments

  1. Tara says

    Always looking for salad inspiration to jazz up my lunch game, so thank you for that! While kale is already a staple, blue cheese has not made its way in in quite some time. Definitely need to pick some up soon.

    Reply

  2. Lily says

    Mhmmmmmm kale yeah. This looks delicious. AND reading this makes me think you are a genius because I have never thought to put roasted tats (not to be confused with tits) on my salad! DUH! But that is such a perfect little topping and very ‘fall’ themed. Love it!

    Reply

  3. Juli @1000lovelythings says

    I am not a fan of kale so I would follow your hubby’s example and pick out the toppings. I can toally see me liking this salad when I swap the kale for other greens. Maybe rocket to keep the tangy kick!

    Your tribute to Jimmy Buffet made me laugh out loud. Especially the making love part. I’d still rather have a Pina Colada in my right hand though 😉
    Juli @1000lovelythings recently posted…Finding Color in the GreyMy Profile

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  5. Suzy says

    I love anyone named Jimmy. Your snaps yesterday were hilarious. “It’s just good shit.” HA HA or something like that. I actually used to use kale in smoothies all the time, especially when I was pregnant with C. I don’t put in much, otherwise it’s hard on my tummy tum tum and I use baby kale, for some reason. I dunno. Maybe it’s easier to digest.
    Suzy recently posted…CARES 10K Race RecapMy Profile

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  8. Miss Polkadot says

    Bring on the kale! Actually, really -bring-it because we’ll still be kale-less over here for at least a month.
    Kale has been popular over here for eons. It’s a traditional German winter dish and far from hipster-healthy smoothies or kale chips. Though the latter are so good I hope I’ll remember to make some this year. I will admit I”m skeptical about raw kale but feel free to have me over for dinner and serve this. Because cheese and chickpeas – those alone would lure me in.
    P.S.: Is it bad I have no clue who Jimmy Buffet is?
    Miss Polkadot recently posted…Flourless Hazelnut Shortbread [vegan]My Profile

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  10. Danielle says

    What the kale is going on with kale lately?!?! I swear this gorgeous green is inserting herself into my life in every nook and cranny. I happened to buy some kale mash for our dinner on Monday, and it’s going into two more meals this week. Then my brother in Aberdeen just sent me his kale and butternut squash risotto recipe. What the kale, kale!! I’m not complaining since I adore it. So yes I love your recipe and will happily enjoy more kale.
    Danielle recently posted…WIR sleep less play moreMy Profile

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  11. Brittany says

    I’m with you on this, kale is my homie. I prefer my kale lightly steamed to soften it a bit, and then layered with some kind of fatty oil (olive or coconut) and anything else! This look delicious!
    Brittany recently posted…MilestoneMy Profile

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  12. Chelsea A says

    I’d put myself in the kale lovers camp, although I don’t eat it nearly as much as I used to BEJ (before the era of John). He’d be like your hubby, picking around all the kale. And the blue cheese. 🙁 But *I* love all the ingredients in this and will happily eat it all myself!
    Chelsea A recently posted…Small Batch Stovetop Baked BeansMy Profile

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  14. Khushboo says

    While I can’t get on board with kale smoothies, kale salads are my JAM…even better when paired with sweet potatoes and any strong cheese! That being said, obvs this salad is looking somewhat irresistible to me- YUM! Fortunately kale is now locally grown in Mumbai which means I need to recreate this next week!!
    Khushboo recently posted…Eating my way through MaryleboneMy Profile

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  17. Arman @ thebigmansworld says

    Omg. I’m sorry but the J man gets two twirls and snaps AND an extra batch of tim tams- Kale is Nasty, like shady Phaephae.

    Chelsea even taught me (Virtually) how to massage kale, and I really couldn’t get on board. I did enjoy fondling it though. I would eat this, but swap out the kale for … cauliflower.

    Love
    Arman @ thebigmansworld recently posted…Two Ingredient Flourless FlatbreadsMy Profile

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