Kale Caesar Salad with Homemade Dressing
This easy recipe for Kale Caesar Salad is made with tender massaged kale, crunchy homemade croutons and a traditional homemade Caesar dressing with anchovies.
Servings: 4 servings
Calories: 1073kcal
Ingredients
For the Dressing
- 2 anchovies packed in oil
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- salt and freshly cracked black pepper to taste
- 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
- 2-3 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
- ½ teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- 2 tablespoons mayonnaise or 1 medium or large egg
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
For the Salad
- 1 large bunch kale any variety, ribs removed and torn into pieces
- 2 teaspoons extra virgin olive oil
- salt and freshly cracked black pepper to taste
- ½ cup finely grated parmesan cheese plus more for garnish
- 2 cups homemade croutons
Instructions
Make the Dressing
- Place the anchovies, garlic, Dijon mustard, lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce, salt and pepper to the bowl of a small blender or food processor and blend until combined.
- Add the mayonnaise or egg and olive oil and blend until emulsified.
- Taste and adjust seasoning as needed, adding more salt, pepper and lemon juice to suit your preference.
- Alternatively you can grind the garlic and anchovies into a paste with the back of your knife or a spoon and whisk it together with the other ingredients.
Make the Salad
- Place the kale in a large bowl and drizzle with oil, salt and pepper. Use clean hands to vigorously massage the leaves until they wilt and soften, about 2 minutes.
- Drizzle kale with desired amount of dressing and toss until all the leaves are coated.
- Sprinkle with parmesan cheese and continue tossing until evenly distributed.
- Add a few handfuls of croutons and continue tossing until everything is evenly coated in dressing.
- Spoon into serving bowls, top with more cheese, pepper and croutons if desired. Serve immediately.
Notes
- Dry the kale as much as possible with a salad spinner, paper towels, a kitchen towel before massaging.
- You’ll know you’re done massaging the kale when it looks moist and the volume of kale has reduced to about ⅔ the amount you started with.
- Use a whole egg for a more traditional dressing or mayonnaise if that weirds you out.
- Use a mix of both kale and Romaine lettuce for a really nice texture!
Nutrition
Calories: 1073kcal | Carbohydrates: 132g | Protein: 23g | Fat: 51g | Saturated Fat: 15g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 15g | Monounsaturated Fat: 19g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 152mg | Sodium: 1807mg | Potassium: 440mg | Fiber: 6g | Sugar: 39g | Vitamin A: 2432IU | Vitamin C: 23mg | Calcium: 577mg | Iron: 5mg
