All Kale Caesar Recipes

KALE CAESAR SALAD

Steps:

• Coat a large saute pan with olive oil. Toss in half the garlic and the crushed red pepper and bring the pan to medium heat. Cook the garlic until it becomes golden and very aromatic, 2 to 3 minutes. Remove the garlic and ditch it-it has fulfilled its garlic destiny. Toss in the bread cubes and cook, stirring frequently, until they are golden, crisp, and have absorbed all the oil, like little olive oil sponges. Remove from the heat and reserve.
• In the bowl of a food processor, combine the Parmigiano, lemon zest and juice, the remaining garlic, the Dijon, anchovies, and Worcestershire. Puree until the mixture is smooth, 15 to 20 seconds. With the machine running, add 1/4 to 1/3 cup olive oil through the feed tube. Let the processor continue to run for another 10 to 15 seconds. Taste and season with salt if needed.
• In a large bowl, toss the kale with the croutons and two-thirds of the dressing. Let the kale sit for 3 to 4 minutes to soften. Taste, add the remaining dressing, and adjust the seasoning if needed.

KALE CAESAR SALAD

Steps:

• For the dressing: Put the vinegar, Parmesan, Worcestershire, anchovies, egg yolk, lemon zest and juice and garlic in a blender and blend to combine. With the blender running, slowly drizzle in the oil to emulsify. Season with salt, pepper and hot sauce (if desired). Note: if the dressing is too thick, you can thin it by adding a few drops of water while the blender is running.
• For the salad: Put the baby kale in a large mixing bowl and add the lemon juice and a pinch of salt. Using your hands, gently massage the kale with the lemon juice for 1 minute, then allow to sit for 5 minutes. Dress to taste with the Caesar dressing and additional salt and pepper. Serve in individual bowls topped with the Pecorino-Romano and croutons.
• Any extra dressing can be stored in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to 3 days.

KALE CAESAR SALAD

Steps:

• Gather your ingredients. Preheat the oven to 400 F.
• Remove the tough stems from the kale and chop it as coarsely or finely as you like. We went for thin strips, but you can use larger pieces if desired. Drizzle with 1 tablespoon of lemon juice and massage with your hands to soften; set aside.
• Meanwhile, toss the bread cubes with the olive oil, garlic powder, and salt on a baking sheet.
• Bake for 12 minutes or until the bread is golden brown, shaking the baking sheet after 6 minutes to ensure even browning.
• Add the mayonnaise, parmesan cheese, garlic clove, dijon mustard, anchovy fillet(s), remaining lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce, and black pepper to a food processor. Blend until completely smooth, then with the processor on low, slowly drizzle in the olive oil as it is blending.
• Add the dressing to the bowl with kale. Using a wooden spoon, pound the kale and the dressing together. This will tenderize the kale and help it absorb the flavors from the dressing. Stir and continue to pound with the spoon for another minute. It's hard to bruise the kale, so don't be afraid.
• Chop the baked bread cubes until they resemble large breadcrumbs.
• Toss the dressed salad with the shaved parmesan and crumbled croutons. Serve immediately.

KALE CAESAR SALAD

Steps:

• For the dressing: Whisk together the mayonnaise, lemon juice, Parmesan, olive oil, mustard, anchovy paste, pepper, salt and garlic in a large bowl. Set aside to let the flavors marry.
• For the salad: Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add the oil and heat another 30 seconds, then add the bread cubes. Cook, tossing often, until the bread cubes are beginning to brown and get crispy, about 6 minutes. Season with the salt and 2 tablespoons Parmesan and cook until the cubes are evenly golden and crispy, another 3 minutes. Remove to a paper towel-lined plate and reserve.
• Add the baby kale to the bowl with the dressing. Toss gently to coat. Add the toasted bread and the remaining 1/4 cup Parmesan to the salad and toss once again.

KALE CAESAR SALAD

Steps:

• Stem the kale and cut it into a chiffonade. Wash and dry thoroughly, then add to a large bowl.
• Combine the Parmesan, mayonnaise, olive oil, Worcestershire sauce, garlic, anchovies, lemon zest and juice in a large bowl and whisk until smooth. Taste, then add salt and pepper if needed. Pour the dressing over the kale and toss until coated. Serve immediately, or refrigerate for up to 3 hours.

KALE-ROMAINE CAESAR SALAD

Steps:

• Make the croutons: Heat oven to 400 degrees. Pull the soft bread out of the center of the loaf, leaving the crust behind, and tear the soft bread into bite-size pieces. You should have about 3 cups. Spread pieces on a rimmed baking sheet and bake for about 12 minutes, until golden and crisp. Let cool.
• Prepare the kale: One large leaf at a time, use the tip of a small, sharp knife to cut along the sides of the tough center ribs. (Or, use your fingers to pull the leaves off the rib.) Pull out the rib and discard. When all leaves are trimmed, cut into bite-size pieces. (Do not shred.)
• Prepare the romaine: Cut large leaves crosswise into bite-size pieces. Leave inner leaves whole.
• Fill a sink or salad spinner with very cold water and submerge the leaves. Swish and let soak 5 to 10 minutes. Working in batches, lift out and drain on a kitchen towel, then dry in a salad spinner.
• Place a plastic bag filled with ice in the bottom of a salad bowl. Pile the washed leaves on top, cover with a damp kitchen towel and refrigerate until ready to serve.
• In a blender (or using a hand blender), combine the garlic, anchovies, mustard, a large pinch of salt, about a dozen grinds of black pepper, olive oil and lemon juice. Blend until smooth.
• Cook the egg: Poach in simmering water or in a microwave, until yolk is thickened but still runny. (To poach in a microwave, break egg into a glass bowl or measuring cup. Gently pour in warm water to cover the egg by about 1/2 inch. In bursts of 30 seconds or less, depending on microwave power, cook egg until white is just firm and yolk is thickened. Hold a slotted spoon over the sink and pour the egg and water into it, so the cooked egg is held in the spoon while the cooking water and any uncooked whites drain off.) Put the egg in the dressing and blend.
• Taste and adjust the seasonings with mustard, oil, lemon, salt and pepper. It should be pungent and sharp but not acidic. Blend again, transfer to a container with a tightfitting lid, and chill until ready to use.
• When ready to serve (or up to 2 hours beforehand), remove towel and ice from the bowl and fluff the greens. (If necessary, transfer to a larger bowl; you will need plenty of room for tossing.) Shake the dressing. To the greens, add half the croutons, half the dressing and half the cheese and toss well. Taste and toss with remaining dressing as needed. (If necessary, transfer the tossed salad back to the salad bowl.) Add remaining croutons. Sprinkle remaining grated cheese over the top and grind coarse pepper over that. Serve immediately (or refrigerate for up to 2 hours). Toss once more at the table.