Kale Millet Salad

I try my hardest to eat healthy all the time, but it doesn't always happen. I tend to go in cycles where I'll get on a healthy kick for a couple weeks, then I break down and eat lots of sweets. I try to ignore my sweet tooth and convince myself I'd rather eat greens than a handful of chocolate chips (my weakness), but eventually the sugar beast emerges and before I know it, I've downed nearly a whole bag of chocolate chips.

Luckily I can usually get back on track after a sugar attack, and after a recent bout with a bag of chocolate chips, I used my kale millet salad as a mini detox of sorts to get me back on the straight and narrow.

Kale Millet Salad
Serves 3-4

Ingredients:
8-10 big kale leaves (I used lacinato kale)
1/2 cup millet
8 oz button mushrooms, sliced
1/4 cup sun dried tomatoes, chopped
1/4 cup cannellini beans
2 T slivered almonds
1 T chia seeds (optional)
1 T hemp seeds (optional)
1/2 - 1 lemon, juiced
1/4 cup olive oil, divided
Salt & pepper

Directions:
1. Strip the kale leaves off the stems and chop or tear into small pieces. Sprinkle with salt and drizzle with olive oil, then massage the kale until it wilts slightly and softens (a couple of minutes).
2. Mix in the millet, mushrooms, sun dried tomatoes, beans, almonds, chia, and hemp seeds. Squeeze about half the lemon over the salad and add more olive oil to coat the ingredients.
3. Add more lemon juice, olive oil, and salt & pepper to taste.

As with any salad, you can substitute the ingredients to your taste. This is just the taste profile that David and I prefer - bright and lemony with lots of different textures. The seeds and almonds provide a satisfying crunch while the beans and mushrooms give a wonderful creamy texture. The sun dried tomatoes top it all off with their slightly sweet, chewy goodness.

If you find yourself needing a mini detox or just want to eat a light, flavorful salad to remind you of warmer days ahead, give this dish a try. I think you'll enjoy it!

~Tammy

Shared with What I Am Eating, Backyard Farming Connection Hop, Tasty Tuesdays, Tweak It Tuesday, Down Home Blog Hop, Thursday Favorite Things, Creative Things Thursday, Home Sweet Home, Healthy Vegan Friday, Old Time Party, Sunny Simple Sunday