Sweet Potato Salad With Kale, Beets & Smokey Tahini Dressing

All you need to make this sweet potato salad are 11 simple ingredients:

• sweet potatoes
• kale
• beets
• pecans
• raisins
• tahini
• lemon
• garlic
• cumin
• smoked paprika
• maple syrup

Full ingredient measurements and detailed instructions are located in the recipe card at the bottom of this post!

While you will find some smaller amounts of protein from the tahini and pecans, feel free to serve this alongside your favourite protein/main dish. If you’d like to enjoy this sweet potato salad as a main meal, you can also throw some protein options directly into it.

Here are some ideas:

• hard boiled eggs (this is how I’ve been eating this recipe!)
• chickpeas (roasted or canned)
• sautéed shrimp (I also made this recipe with these smoked paprika shrimp – they went perfectly!)
• grilled or baked chicken
• crispy baked tofu

Yes! Kale salads always hold up really well, as I find the ingredients continue to absorb the flavours of the dressing and the kale softens a bit. Simply store it in an airtight container in the fridge.

Feel free to make this one in advance, or keep leftovers for a day or two! It makes a great packed or work-from-home lunch option 🙂

Sweet potatoes are a great source of dietary fibre, with one medium-sized sweet potato providing almost 4 grams (15% of your daily needs).

From a micronutrient standpoint, sweet potatoes are an incredible source of beta-carotene, which converts to vitamin A. One medium sweet potato provides 386% of your daily vitamin A needs! Beta carotene also has antioxidant properties, helping to prevent cellular damage.

Sweet potatoes are also a source of other micronutrients, like:

• potassium
• magnesium
• calcium
• iron
• phosphorus
• vitamin B6
• vitamin E
• vitamin C

The root portion of the beet plant is rich in nutrition. One cup of beetroot provides about 15% of your daily fibre needs, along with micronutrients like:

• vitamin C
• iron
• vitamin B6
• magnesium
• potassium
• folate

Beets are rich in different phytochemicals that give them their vibrant colours. These phytochemicals are known to support health overall (many of them act as antioxidants)!

Beetroots are also known for their dietary nitrate content, which your body converts into nitric oxide. Nitric oxide helps to dilate your blood vessels, increase blood flow, improve exercise endurance, and even to lower blood pressure.

Just one cup of kale provides over 100% of your daily needs for:

• vitamin A (206%)
• vitamin K (684%)
• vitamin C (134%)

Kale is also a good source of other micronutrients like:

• manganese
• magnesium
• potassium
• calcium
• copper
• vitamin B6

That same cup provides 2 grams of dietary fibre, helping to keep your gut and heart happy. In addition to micronutrients, kale is also loaded with antioxidants, which prevent cellular damage and provide a multitude of health benefits.