• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Clean Plate Mama
  • Home
  • Clean Eating Guide
  • Recipe Index
  • About Me
menu icon
go to homepage
search icon
Homepage link
  • Recipe Index
  • Clean Eating for Beginners: The Ultimate Clean Food Guide
  • About Me
  • Let's Connect!

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • ×
    Clean Plate Mama » Recipes » Salads

    Superfood Salad

    Published: Jul 11, 2023 by Sara · This post may contain affiliate links

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
    Pinterest pin for superfood salad.
    Pinterest pin for superfood salad.
    Pinterest pin for superfood salad.

    Nutrient packed and refreshing superfood salad. Made with a variety of colorful vegetables, leafy greens, and nutrient-dense ingredients. This salad is a powerhouse of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. Easy, healthy, and ready in 15 minutes.

    Superfood salad with blueberries, broccoli, walnuts, and avocado in a white serving bowl with white salad utensils with bowls of broccoli and walnuts off to the side.

    Look no further for your favorite salad. This superfood salad is made with a combination of kale, spinach, quinoa, blueberries, avocado, broccoli, and walnuts, and is drizzled with my homemade maple Dijon dressing. Whether you're looking for a light lunch or a healthy and flavorful side dish, this superfood salad is the perfect choice.

    Salads might just be one of my absolute favorite things to eat. So many variations and ways to play around with different veggies and proteins. If you're looking for more healthy salad recipes, be sure to try broccoli kale salad, southwest quinoa salad, cucumber radish salad, Asian cabbage slaw, or butternut squash kale salad.

    Jump to:
    • Ingredients for Superfood Salad
    • How to Make Superfood Salad
    • Salad Topping Variations
    • What to Serve with this Salad
    • What are the Health Benefits of Superfood Salad?
    • Prepping Ahead and Storing
    • Expert Tips
    • FAQs
    • More Salad Recipes for you to Try!
    • Superfood Salad

    Ingredients for Superfood Salad

    Labeled ingredients for superfood salad.

    A complete list of ingredients and amounts can be found in the recipe card below. Here are some specific notes to help with selecting ingredients.

    • Kale - I prefer curly kale for this salad (which is what you will most commonly see in the grocery store), but you could use lacinato kale (also known as Tuscan kale) in its place. Baby kale could even work too, but I like the tougher leaves of the curly kale.
    • Quinoa - I use white quinoa, but tri-colored or any color quinoa works.
    • Maple Dijon dressing - I highly recommend you make your own dressing to keep this salad as clean and nutrient dense as possible. The ingredients for the maple Dijon dressing are below.

    Clean food tips: For the spinach, kale, and blueberries, I recommend organic to avoid herbicides/pesticides. I also recommend organic edamame to avoid herbicides and GMOs.

    Ingredients for the Dressing

    Labeled ingredients needed for maple Dijon dressing.

    A complete list of dressing ingredients and amounts can be found in the recipe card below.

    How to Make Superfood Salad

    The recipe for this superfood salad couldn't be any easier. Follow these simple steps to assemble this salad.

    • Step 1: Add all salad ingredients to a large mixing bowl or serving bowl, starting with the kale and spinach.
    Large bowl with sections of walnuts, soybeans, quinoa, red onion, broccoli, and blueberries with 2 halves of avocado on the sides.
    • Step 2: Add all dressing ingredients to a small mason jar. Close tightly and vigorously shake the dressing until creamy (about 15 seconds).
    Maple Dijon dressing shook up on a mason jar.
    • Step 3: Pour dressing over salad ingredients and toss until ingredients are coated in dressing.
    White salad utensils mixing up superfood salad ingredients in a white bowl.
    • Step 4: After you have mixed the salad, chop the avocado and top with avocado pieces.
    Superfood salad in a large white bowl with two small salad bowls and forks in the background.

    Salad Topping Variations

    There are so many ways you can play around with this salad and lots of alternative healthy toppings you could add. Try some of the below!

    • Thinly sliced red cabbage
    • Craisins (preferably no added sugar)
    • Thinly sliced Brussels sprouts
    • Roasted cashews (instead of the walnuts)
    • Toss in some hemp seeds or sunflower seeds
    • Shredded carrots
    • Pomegranate seeds
    • Diced chicken (easy way to add in some protein)

    Any of the above would make a great addition, or you could swap some of the existing ingredients with any of these and you will still have a nutrient-dense superfood salad!

    What to Serve with this Salad

    To make this beauty a complete meal, you can simple add some cooked/grilled chicken for an easy protein or serve alongside one of the below options:

    • Cilantro Lime Chicken
    • Salmon
    • Turkey Burgers
    • Teriyaki Chicken
    • Slow Cooker Pulled Pork
    • Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese
    • Roasted Sweet Potato Cubes
    Superfood salad in a large white serving bowl with a bowl of walnuts and broccoli on the side.

    What are the Health Benefits of Superfood Salad?

    There are many health benefits when it comes to a superfood salad. To start, a superfood salad is packed with nutrient dense whole food ingredients, like avocado, blueberries, and walnuts. These ingredients range in benefits from being high in antioxidants, fiber, omega-3 fatty acids (heathy fats), and an array of vitamins and minerals.

    Regardless of how you make your superfood salad, be sure to include dark leafy greens, healthy fats, berries, and cruciferous vegetables.

    Prepping Ahead and Storing

    Prepping ahead: If you aren't going to serve the salad right away, you can store the spinach and kale in one container, the salad toppings in a separate container (the toppings would weigh down the greens and they could become soggy), and dressing separately. Wait to dice the avocado until you serve the salad.

    When ready, add the toppings to the greens, toss with the dressing, and top off with the freshly diced avocado.

    I would fully assemble the salad within 24 hours of prepping.

    Storing: If there are any leftovers, you can store in an airtight container for 48 hours. It might get a little soggy, but it's still fine to eat.

    Tip: If you know you will have leftovers, or are making for food prep, serve the dressing on the side and store the dry salad and remaining dressing separately.

    Expert Tips

    Cook the quinoa ahead of time so it can cool and be ready to add to the salad. If you end up cooking the quinoa when the salad is needed, you can lay the quinoa out on a baking sheet and place in the freezer for 10 minutes to quickly cool.

    Be sure to use homemade dressing to keep this salad as healthy as can be. But, if in a pinch, I recommend a vinaigrette by Primal Kitchen or another brand of dressing that doesn't use seed oils (Primal Kitchen uses avocado oil).

    To easily strip the kale leaves from the stem, grab the thick stem with one hand and with the other hand rip down along the stem to pull/strip the leaves from the stem. Repeat with all stems until you have enough kale leaves.

    Superfood salad in a large white bowl with a white serving utensils and a bowl of walnuts in the background.

    FAQs

    Which foods are considered superfoods?

    Superfoods are whole foods that are nutritionally dense and are higher in vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants compared to other whole foods. For example, blueberries, dark leafy greens, nuts, avocados, and extra-virgin olive oil are all considered superfoods.

    Can I add protein to this salad?

    Yes! Make this a complete meal by adding in some diced chicken, steak, fish, or shrimp. Or serve your protein of choice on the side.

    Do I have to use quinoa?

    Nope, to keep this grain free, you can completely omit the quinoa.

    More Salad Recipes for you to Try!

    Looking for other healthy recipes like this? Try these:

    • Salad bowl filled with a BLT salad with chicken, avocado, asparagus, and a side of ranch.
      Ultimate BLT Chicken Salad
    • Kale and Brussels Sprouts Salad
    • Dressing being poured on kale salad with butternut squash.
      Roasted Butternut Squash Salad w/ Goat Cheese and Kale
    • Mediterranean salad in shallow salad bowl with side of tahini dressing.
      Vegan Mediterranean Buddha Bowls (w/ tahini dressing)

    If you make this recipe, please let me know what you think! I would so appreciate you leaving a star rating and/or comment below. And don't forget to share a photo on Instagram or Facebook and mention @CleanPlateMama!

    Eat Clean.Be Well!
    -Sara

    Superfood salad with blueberries, broccoli, walnuts, and avocado in a white serving bowl with white salad utensils.

    Superfood Salad

    Nutrient packed and refreshing superfood salad. Made with a variety of colorful vegetables, leafy greens, and nutrient-dense ingredients. This salad is a powerhouse of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. Easy, healthy, and ready in 15 minutes.
    5 from 6 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: dinner, lunch, Salad, Side Dish
    Cuisine: American
    Diet: Gluten Free
    Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 15 minutes minutes
    Servings: 6 servings
    Author: Sara

    Save This Recipe For Later!

    We'll email this post to you, so you can come back to it later. Plus, enjoy weekly clean eating recipes as a bonus.

    Equipment

    • 1 large salad/mixing bowl
    • 1 mason jar (for making the dressing)

    Ingredients

    Ingredients for the Salad

    • 2 cups loosely packed curly kale
    • 2 cups loosely packed spinach
    • 1 cup cooked quinoa
    • 1 cup chopped broccoli
    • ¾ cup blueberries
    • ½ cup chopped walnuts
    • ½ cup shelled edamame/soybeans
    • ⅓ cup finely diced red onion
    • 1 large ripe avocado

    Ingredients for the Dressing

    • ⅓ cup extra-virgin olive oil
    • 1 tbsp. apple cider vinegar
    • 1 tbsp. fresh lemon juice
    • 1 tbsp. Dijon mustard
    • 2 tbsp. pure maple syrup
    • ½ tsp. fine sea salt
    • ¼ tsp. garlic powder

    Instructions

    • To assemble salad, start by adding the kale and spinach to a large salad bowl or mixing bowl. Add the remaining salad ingredients to the bowl except for the avocado.
    • Make the dressing by adding all dressing ingredients to a mason jar. Cover lid tightly and shake until creamy (about 15 seconds). Alternatively, you could whisk all ingredients together in a bowl, but I find shaking works much better. Taste, and if desired, you can add more salt.
    • Pour dressing over salad and toss well to combine.
    • Lastly, chop avocado and add to top of salad. Serve immediately.

    Notes

    • Cook the quinoa ahead of time so it can cool and be ready to add to the salad. If you end up cooking the quinoa when the salad is needed, you can lay the quinoa out on a baking sheet and place in the freezer for 10 minutes to quickly cool.
    • Leftovers can be stored in the fridge for up to 2 days. The salad may become a little soggy, but it's still okay to eat. If you know you'll have leftovers, serve dressing on the side, and store the salad and dressing separately. 

    Nutrition

    Calories: 321kcal | Carbohydrates: 22g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 25g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 7g | Monounsaturated Fat: 13g | Sodium: 217mg | Potassium: 545mg | Fiber: 7g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 3328IU | Vitamin C: 44mg | Calcium: 114mg | Iron: 2mg
    Tried this Recipe? Tag me Today!Mention @CleanPlateMama or tag #CleanPlateMama!

    Save This Recipe For Later!

    We'll email this post to you, so you can come back to it later. Plus, enjoy weekly clean eating recipes as a bonus.

    More Clean Eating Salads

    • Single serving of fall quinoa salad with roasted butternut squash on a small white plate with 2 vintage forks.
      Fall Quinoa Salad
    • Arugula and apple salad with pecans, parmesan cheese, and red onion in a large salad bowl with vintage silverware.
      Apple Arugula Salad with Toasted Pecans
    • Asian cabbage salad sprinkled with sesame seeds and fresh cilantro in a small white bowl with two vintage forks.
      Asian Cabbage Salad
    • Cucumber radish salad in a serving bowl with red onion and sprigs of fresh dill.
      Cucumber Radish Salad

    Reader Interactions

    5 from 6 votes (6 ratings without comment)

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    Hi! I'm Glad You're Here!

    Hello and welcome! I'm so glad you stopped by. My name is Sara and I'm a clean foodie! I love cooking and baking family friendly foods using real/whole ingredients. I believe the food we eat plays a vital role in our overall health and that the best form of nutrition comes from high quality/whole foods, which is where my inspiration comes from. I hope you stay awhile and find some new favorite recipes.

    More about me!

    Clean Eating Spring Recipes

    • Cucumber radish salad in a serving bowl with red onion and sprigs of fresh dill.
      Cucumber Radish Salad

    • Carrot cake ball topped with glaze bit in half to show texture.
      Carrot Cake Energy Balls

    • Healthy Broccoli Kale Salad

    • side view of bread with two pieces cut and laying down
      Almond Flour Blueberry Lemon Bread

    • overhead view of roasted asparagus with tahini on white serving plate
      Easy Roasted Asparagus with Lemon Tahini Sauce

    • Three mini fruit tarts on a small white plate with 2 vintage forks on the plate and fresh berries off to the side.
      Vegan Fruit Tarts (no bake)

    Popular Recipes

    • two mason jars filled with overnight oats with chia seeds and blueberries
      Blueberry Chia Overnight Oats

    • Chicken and kale soup in a white soup bowl with a spoon.
      Healthy Chicken and Kale Soup (one-pot!)

    • Chocolate peanut butter balls sprinkled with coconut flakes stacked in a small white bowl.
      Chocolate Coconut Peanut Butter Balls

    • Stacked oatmeal cookies.
      Easy Coconut Flour Oatmeal Cookies

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • About Me
    • Nutritional Disclaimer
    • Accessibility Statement
    • Privacy Policy

    Contact

    • Contact

    CLEAN PLATE MAMA © 2025 FOODIE PRO THEME ON GENESIS FRAMEWORK LOG IN

    Rate This Recipe

    Your vote:




    A rating is required
    A name is required
    An email is required

    Recipe Ratings without Comment

    Something went wrong. Please try again.

    Privacy Policy