Marinated Kale and Rice Salad in a Jar

A BIG YES! We CAN pack, a healthy salad, for picnic!! Check it out, how?!

Posted On: Jun, 22 |  Author:
Marinated Kale and Rice Salad in a Jar
Diet Info: DF GF F LF Na LS VG V Fa

This marinated kale and rice salad is vegan, gluten free, packed with ton of flavor and it travels great with you!! That's right - raw kale enjoy the company of zesty cilantro dressing, slowly marinates as you reach to your favorite picnic destination.

First, as you open the jar, the delicious aroma of cilantro-lemon dressing awakens all your senses...... As you dig-in, the sweetness of raisins, cherry tomatoes, toasted peanuts...... compel you to keep going back for one MORE bite!

Isn't it great? Enjoying scrumptious food with family, without breaking the calorie-bank!

I'm sure you know by now, I can't live without salads! I'm addicted to eating and serving salads all YEAR long! And Yes, I do plan and pack, at-least one healthy salad for picnic or even for road trips! :)

Marinated Kale and Rice Salad in a Jar | chefdehome.com

But, here is catch. In my books, BEST packed foods are that:

1) don't go bad easily.
2) don't require much cooking.
3) and which need least amount of containers :)

Isn't these, THE basic need of picnic food?! I mean, really.... I find it so so hard to carry a load of plates, bowls and all, for picnic! So, my personal favorites are everything which I can just easily pack a night before, and hand over, one per person. Like salads in jar, desserts in jar, and pre-wrapped single-serve foods... all these make me a-happy-camper :) 

Packing salad in a jar solves third problem in the list above - less containers!!

What about 1 and 2?!

Delicious Salad in a jar for picnic or family fun Road Trip | chefdehome.com

For a longtime, I thought, salad is not a picnic food!! But, as I moved on to my quest of eating more salads for lunch....... I, finally have good idea to make salads work for summer picnics!

Here is what I do:

1) Packing in Mason Jars or in to-go containers with lid, makes it SO easy to serve salad! 

2) Choosing Right Greens: If you pick sturdy greens which don't get soggy, and layer them correctly... salad can actually be a great picnic food! Like choosing leafy greens which will not wilt with dressing, no baby romaine or spinach, rather use kale, swiss chard, or mustard greens. And always layer most sturdy vegetable next to dressing. This way, dressing will not make anything else soggy.

3) Choose Hearty Carbs: Like rice, quinoa, chickpeas which are filling and also will not go bad easily. Also, adding hearty carbs, makes salad: not just a salad in jar, rather a complete mini-meal!

4) Keeping Flavors Balanced:  Well, this may not be a requirement for a picnic, but it sure is absolute necessary for having good time!! :) Isn't it? A little hint of sweet, a little crunch, a little bite of acid, aroma of fresh herbs, with healthy and fresh greens and vegetables!!

Do you need anything else from a salad?

5) Make-Ahead: This is my personal requirement for a successful road trip or picnic! I don't have no time to spend in kitchen, the day we leaving!!

Ask me, why? Well, my husband freaks out if he sees me in kitchen, when we supposed to leave early or have planned an outing! He knows, if I enter kitchen, I usually have long plans of packing everything, from snacks to even dinner (if we staying out) lol!! So, he keeps a close watch on what am I doing, in the kitchen!

What do I do? I don't give up that easily!! :) I rather pack and pre-prep everything I can, a night before.... even before, he is home from work. Then, when he is busy getting ready, I assemble things, and a little bit of cooking (if absolute necessary).

So, we both are happy :) I'm specially happy when ready-to-eat: snacks, salads, even desserts come out of my magic bag.

and (a silent dialog)

he is wondering.... When did you exactly pack all this?

Me: Actually..... a ghost works for me, overnight ;-)

Delicious Salad in a jar for picnic or family fun Road Trip | chefdehome.com

Friends, 4th of July long weekend is just around the corner! I would say, wear your creative thinking hat and make a solid menu for picnic or family road trip! I have given you lots pointers for head start :)

Keep the list ready, collect all your recipes, buy some mason jars :) and get ready for family fun times!

I will try (my best) in giving you few more awesome, ready-to-eat and carry, homemade food ideas in coming days :)

PS: This salad is also great to pack for lunch. Plus it is vegan, and gluten free.

Now, I'm getting up for lunch! You guys have a great start of the week! - Savita


Here are a few more salad ideas which are great to pack in a jar!

Indian Mint and Sweet Potato Salad | Vrat Ki Chatpati Pudina Shakarkandi Chaat Sesame Sriracha Marinated Kale (Egg Nests) Salad Quinoa Tabbouleh Salad

Marinated Kale and Rice Salad in a Jar

Marinated Kale and Rice Salad in a Jar
Total Time: Prep Time: Cook Time: Cuisine: American () Difficulty: Easy
Yields: 6 Servings - Serves: 6

Ingredients

Cilantro-Lemon Dressing
Kale and Rice Salad
Smart Swap: You can also use quinoa or chickpeas instead of rice layer.

Directions

  • Step for Recipe - Marinated Kale and Rice Salad in a Jar 1. To make dressing, in a food processor, combine garlic, cilantro leaves, jalapeno, lemon juice. Now, with motor running, at slow speed, add olive oil in a slow stream to emulsify. Taste and add salt and black pepper. Yields about 3/4 cup of dressing.
  • Step for Recipe - Marinated Kale and Rice Salad in a Jar 2. To assemble salad, start with 1 tablespoon cilantro dressing at bottom, then arrange layer of julienne kale, dividing equally among 6 jars. Top with 1/2 tsp of more dressing in each jar.
  • Step for Recipe - Marinated Kale and Rice Salad in a Jar 3. Now, add halved cherry tomatoes, rice, cucumber slices, remaining dressing, peanuts, raisins, and cilantro leaves, dividing equally among 6 jars. Additional Notes: Pack rest of the dressing in separate jar for using as per need.
Savita's Notes:

To get best flavor of salad with marinated kale: keep mixing in everything in the dressing as you dig deeper into this salad. Enjoy!

This salad works great with day-old rice. So, you can get your leftovers to a creative use!

If cooking fresh rice, let'em cool completely before layering in salad or fresh crisp vegetables will become soft.

DID YOU MAKE THIS RECIPE? Tag @SAVITACHEFDEHOME on Instagram and hashtag it #SAVITACHEFDEHOME

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22 Responses

  1. This salad looks wonderful and has such a pretty presentation! Yum!
    thanks, Keri!
  2. I love salads in a jar - they are so much easier to transort. We must be on the same wave length, as I posted a kale salad recipe today too :)
    :) Dannii, I can never have enough Kale. Now, I'm headed to check your recipe :)
  3. Serving salad in a jar? Thats an awesome idea! And to make it a whole meal by adding rice... terrific , loved this idea :)
    Gauri, thanks my friend! Glad you like it :)
  4. Wow, salad in a jar? So creative Savita ! Looks awesome! Pinned!
    thanks, Mira! I'm glad you like it! and "high five" for pin!
  5. I love how colorful and handy this salad is! Perfect for weekday lunches...and that dressing sounds delicious!
    David, thanks for sweet words! I'm glad you like it!
  6. This looks so gorgeous and healthy!! Love the recipe!!
    thanks, Puneet!
  7. The flavors in here sound AMAZING, Savita! I definitely have to try this one.
    Annie, thanks! I hope you like it when you try :)
  8. Wow, these jars look adorably delicious, Savita! Love how vibrant they look! Perfect picnic lunch! :)
    Thanks, Anu!!!
  9. This salad looks amazing, Savita1 I love that you served it in these jars. This would be perfect for a picnic! Sounds so delish!
    Gayle, thanks for your sweet words! I really appreciate!
  10. oh yes this is like best go-to-snack ever. Love the marination idea :) As always yum pics :)
    Shweta, thanks dear! :)
  11. What a great idea Savita! seriously we eat so unhealthy when we are out..this salad would be great to cut down on those calories! looks yum!
    thanks for sweet words. :) Glad you like this salad!