Quinoa Stuffing with Kale, Apples, and Walnuts

Post date: November 13, 2025

Author: Sarah Axtell, ND

Gut health tip: Sometimes quinoa can be difficult to digest, resulting in bloating. Soak your quinoa in water and 1 TBSP apple cider vinegar for at least an hour (I often soak it overnight). Then rinse well before cooking it. This will help remove phytic acid, which improves digestion and absorption of nutrients, and it helps speed up the cooking time. Soaking also removes bitter-tasting saponins.

Ingredients:

  • 4 cups chicken, bone, or vegetable broth (plus 1/3 cup for last step)
  • 2 cups quinoa
  • 4 cups kale, de-stemmed and finely chopped
  • ¼ cup olive oil
  • 1 onion, diced
  • 1 clove garlic, minced
  • 2 tsp dried sage
  • ½ tsp cinnamon
  • 1 TBSP fresh thyme
  • 3 stalks of celery, chopped
  • 1 apple, chopped
  • 1 cup walnuts
  • ½ cup dried unsweetened cranberries or cherries
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  2. In a large saucepan, bring 4 cups broth to boil. Add quinoa. Cover, reduce heat to low, and simmer for approximately 15 minutes (or until quinoa is cooked through and broth has been absorbed).
  3. Remove quinoa from heat and set aside.
  4. In a large skillet, combine kale, olive oil, onion, garlic, sage, cinnamon, thyme, and celery over medium heat. Cook for 7-8 minutes, stirring well. Season with salt and pepper. Remove from heat.

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Quinoa Stuffing with Kale, Apples, and Walnuts

Post date: November 13, 2025

Author: Sarah Axtell, ND

Gut health tip: Sometimes quinoa can be difficult to digest, resulting in bloating. Soak your quinoa in water and 1 TBSP apple cider vinegar for at least an hour (I often soak it overnight). Then rinse well before cooking it. This will help remove phytic acid, which improves digestion and absorption of nutrients, and it helps speed up the cooking time. Soaking also removes bitter-tasting saponins.

Ingredients:

  • 4 cups chicken, bone, or vegetable broth (plus 1/3 cup for last step)
  • 2 cups quinoa
  • 4 cups kale, de-stemmed and finely chopped
  • ¼ cup olive oil
  • 1 onion, diced
  • 1 clove garlic, minced
  • 2 tsp dried sage
  • ½ tsp cinnamon
  • 1 TBSP fresh thyme
  • 3 stalks of celery, chopped
  • 1 apple, chopped
  • 1 cup walnuts
  • ½ cup dried unsweetened cranberries or cherries
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  2. In a large saucepan, bring 4 cups broth to boil. Add quinoa. Cover, reduce heat to low, and simmer for approximately 15 minutes (or until quinoa is cooked through and broth has been absorbed).
  3. Remove quinoa from heat and set aside.
  4. In a large skillet, combine kale, olive oil, onion, garlic, sage, cinnamon, thyme, and celery over medium heat. Cook for 7-8 minutes, stirring well. Season with salt and pepper. Remove from heat.

Explore Related Posts:

Let's Work Together For Your Health