Kale Potato Salad

Article written and reviewed by Cyrus Khambatta, PhD
Published March 24, 2024

A satisfying, high-protein dinner salad with bold flavors.

Bursting with vibrant colors and wholesome ingredients, this salad is a celebration of fresh flavors and nutritious goodness. Tender red potatoes, hearty black beans, and nutritious kale come together in a harmonious medley of textures and tastes, while tangy tomatoes and zesty capers add a burst of brightness to every bite. 

Drizzled with a tangy red wine vinegar dressing and seasoned with a dash of black pepper, this salad is a symphony of flavors that will leave you craving more. Whether served as a satisfying side dish or enjoyed as a light and refreshing meal on its own, this Kale Potato Salad is sure to be a hit at your next gathering.

Red Potato Power: Nutrient-Rich Goodness for Diabetes Wellness!

Red potatoes, with their vibrant skins and creamy texture, offer a multitude of nutritional benefits that make them a delightful addition to any meal, especially for individuals managing diabetes. 

Packed with vitamins, minerals, and dietary fiber, red potatoes are a nutrient-dense option that supports overall health. They are an excellent source of vitamin C, an antioxidant that boosts the immune system and aids in collagen production, promoting skin health and wound healing. 

Red potatoes also provide a significant amount of potassium, crucial for regulating blood pressure and supporting proper muscle and nerve function. With a moderate glycemic index (GI) of around 55 and a low glycemic load (GL), red potatoes have a relatively mild impact on blood glucose levels when consumed, making them a suitable choice for individuals monitoring their glucose levels.

Kale Crusade: Nutrient-Rich Greens

Kale, often hailed as a superfood for its exceptional nutritional profile, is a powerhouse leafy green that offers a plethora of health benefits, making it an excellent choice for individuals living with diabetes. 

Kale is a nutrient-dense vegetable that supports overall well-being. It is an excellent source of vitamin K, essential for bone health and blood clotting, as well as vitamin A, which promotes eye health and immune function. 

Additionally, kale provides significant amounts of vitamin C, an antioxidant that boosts the immune system and aids in collagen production. With its low glycemic index (GI) and glycemic load (GL), kale has minimal impact on blood glucose levels when consumed, making it a suitable choice for individuals monitoring their glucose levels.

As for its taste, kale has a robust and slightly bitter flavor that pairs well with a variety of ingredients. Its earthy taste adds depth and complexity to dishes, making it a versatile ingredient in both savory and sweet recipes. Whether enjoyed raw in salads, sautéed as a side dish, or blended into smoothies, kale adds a nutritious boost to meals while providing a satisfying texture and flavor.

Tofu Temptation: Nutrient-Rich Protein for Diabetes Management!

Tofu, a versatile plant-based protein, offers a wealth of nutritional benefits and culinary possibilities, making it an excellent addition to the diets of individuals managing diabetes. 

Rich in protein, vitamins, and minerals, tofu is a nutritious option that supports overall health. It is a good source of plant-based protein, essential for muscle repair and maintenance, as well as bone health. 

Tofu contains significant amounts of iron, calcium, and magnesium, important minerals for red blood cell production, bone strength, and nerve function, respectively. With its low GI and GL, tofu has minimal impact on blood glucose levels when consumed, making it a suitable choice for individuals monitoring their glucose levels.

Tofu has a mild flavor and a firm, yet soft consistency that absorbs the flavors of other ingredients well. Its neutral taste makes it a versatile ingredient that can be used in a variety of savory and sweet dishes.

Kale Potato Salad

Beverly Verwey
Servings 2 servings
Calories 450.9 kcal

Ingredients
 

  • 2 cups red potatoes - peeled and cubed (about 3 small potatoes)
  • 4 cups kale - stems removed and roughly chopped
  • 1 cup low-sodium black beans - if using canned - drained and rinsed
  • 6 oz firm tofu - crumbled
  • 1 cup tomatoes - chopped and seed (about 2 medium tomatoes)
  • 2 tbsp capers
  • 1/3 cup red wine vinegar
  • 1/4 tsp ground black pepper

Instructions
 

  • Bring a medium pot of water to a boil, and simmer the cubed potatoes for about 10-15 minutes, or until soft enough to pierce easily with the point of a knife. Note that the smaller you dice the potatoes, the more quickly they’ll cook.
  • Drain the potatoes, and if they’re already quite soft, you may want to rinse them in cold water to prevent them from cooking any further. Set aside.
  • In a large bowl, combine the chopped kale, crumbled tofu, black beans, chopped tomatoes, and capers.
  • Drizzle the salad with your red wine vinegar, and then sprinkle with ground black pepper.
  • Toss everything together, then serve and enjoy.

Notes

If you’d like, try sweet potatoes in place of the red potatoes, and/or replace the black beans in this recipe with your favorite bean variety.

Nutrition

Calories: 450.9kcalCarbohydrates: 79.1gProtein: 23.8gFat: 6.4gSodium: 592.5mg

About the author 

Cyrus Khambatta, PhD

Cyrus Khambatta, PhD is a New York Times bestselling co-author of Mastering Diabetes: The Revolutionary Method to Reverse Insulin Resistance Permanently in Type 1, Type 1.5, Type 2, Prediabetes, and Gestational Diabetes.

He is the co-founder of Mastering Diabetes and Amla Green, and is an internationally recognized nutrition and fitness coach who has been living with type 1 diabetes since 2002. He co-created the Mastering Diabetes Method to reverse insulin resistance in all forms of diabetes, and has helped more than 10,000 people improve their metabolic health using low-fat, plant-based, whole-food nutrition, intermittent fasting, and exercise.

Cyrus earned a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Stanford University in 2003, then earned a PhD in Nutritional Biochemistry from the University of California at Berkeley in 2012. He is the co-author of many peer-reviewed scientific publications.

He is the co-host of the annual Mastering Diabetes Online Summit, a featured speaker at the Plant-Based Nutrition and Healthcare Conference (PBNHC), the American College of Lifestyle Medicine Conference (ACLM), Plant Stock, the Torrance Memorial Medical Center, and has been featured on The Doctors, NPR, KQED, Forks Over Knives, Healthline, Fast Company, Diet Fiction, and the wildly popular podcasts the Rich Roll Podcast, Plant Proof, MindBodyGreen, and Nutrition Rounds.

Scientific Publications:

Sarver, Jordan, Cyrus Khambatta, Robby Barbaro, Bhakti Chavan, and David Drozek. “Retrospective Evaluation of an Online Diabetes Health Coaching Program: A Pilot Study.” American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine, October 15, 2019, 1559827619879106. https://doi.org/10.1177/1559827619879106

Shrivastav, Maneesh, William Gibson, Rajendra Shrivastav, Katie Elzea, Cyrus Khambatta, Rohan Sonawane, Joseph A. Sierra, and Robert Vigersky. “Type 2 Diabetes Management in Primary Care: The Role of Retrospective, Professional Continuous Glucose Monitoring.” Diabetes Spectrum: A Publication of the American Diabetes Association 31, no. 3 (August 2018): 279–87. https://doi.org/10.2337/ds17-0024

Thompson, Airlia C. S., Matthew D. Bruss, John C. Price, Cyrus F. Khambatta, William E. Holmes, Marc Colangelo, Marcy Dalidd, et al. “Reduced in Vivo Hepatic Proteome Replacement Rates but Not Cell Proliferation Rates Predict Maximum Lifespan Extension in Mice.” Aging Cell 15, no. 1 (February 2016): 118–27. https://doi.org/10.1111/acel.12414

Roohk, Donald J., Smita Mascharak, Cyrus Khambatta, Ho Leung, Marc Hellerstein, and Charles Harris. “Dexamethasone-Mediated Changes in Adipose Triacylglycerol Metabolism Are Exaggerated, Not Diminished, in the Absence of a Functional GR Dimerization Domain.” Endocrinology 154, no. 4 (April 2013): 1528–39. https://doi.org/10.1210/en.2011-1047

Price, John C., Cyrus F. Khambatta, Kelvin W. Li, Matthew D. Bruss, Mahalakshmi Shankaran, Marcy Dalidd, Nicholas A. Floreani, et al. “The Effect of Long Term Calorie Restriction on in Vivo Hepatic Proteostatis: A Novel Combination of Dynamic and Quantitative Proteomics.” Molecular & Cellular Proteomics: MCP 11, no. 12 (December 2012): 1801–14.
https://doi.org/10.1074/mcp.M112.021204

Bruss, Matthew D., Airlia C. S. Thompson, Ishita Aggarwal, Cyrus F. Khambatta, and Marc K. Hellerstein. “The Effects of Physiological Adaptations to Calorie Restriction on Global Cell Proliferation Rates.” American Journal of Physiology. Endocrinology and Metabolism 300, no. 4 (April 2011): E735-745. https://doi.org/10.1152/ajpendo.00661.2010

Bruss, Matthew D., Cyrus F. Khambatta, Maxwell A. Ruby, Ishita Aggarwal, and Marc K. Hellerstein. “Calorie Restriction Increases Fatty Acid Synthesis and Whole Body Fat Oxidation Rates.” American Journal of Physiology. Endocrinology and Metabolism 298, no. 1 (January 2010): E108-116.
https://doi.org/10.1152/ajpendo.00524.2009