Kale Caesar Salad brings a festive twist to a classic favorite with thinly sliced romaine and kale, crispy bacon, torn croutons, plenty of Parmesan, and a roasted garlic Caesar dressing. With plenty of crunch and texture, it’s a beautiful addition to holiday side dish recipes.
The combination of deep green kale, crisp bacon, rustic homemade croutons, and generous shavings of Parmesan gives this salad plenty of visual appeal. It’s the kind of side dish that can hold its own alongside the richer foods often served at holiday dinners.
The salad itself keeps the ingredient list simple, while extra grated Parmesan adds a cheesy bite throughout. The croutons are an important part of the texture, while the bacon can easily be left out if desired without taking away from the salad.
The roasted garlic Caesar dressing brings the tangy, bright flavor to everything. Roasted garlic combines with lemon juice, Dijon mustard, anchovy, and more Parmesan to create the familiar salty Caesar character with a deeper garlic flavor.
For the best texture, slice the romaine and kale into thin shreds so the dressing can coat the greens evenly. Toss everything together in a large bowl, then finish with plenty of freshly cracked black pepper before serving.
Roasted Garlic & Kale Caesar Salad
This simple kale Caesar salad is a fresh and festive addition to any Christmas menu. You get thinly sliced romaine and kale for a crisp and hearty base plus crispy bacon for that salty crunch and torn croutons that soak up just enough dressing.
Ingredients
- 2 heads garlic
- olive oil, as needed
- kosher salt
- ¾ lb raw, sliced bacon
- ¼ cup freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 1 tbsp dijon mustard
- 3 anchovy fillets packed in oil, drained
- ½ cup grated parmesan cheese
- 1 cup olive oil
- freshly cracked black pepper
- 1 bunch (6-7 large leaves) lacinato kale, stemmed + rinsed + dried
- ½ lb crusty italian bread, torn into ½” pieces
- 3 hearts of romaine, both ends trimmed + rinsed + dried
- 1 small chunk parmesan cheese, shaved for topping
Instructions
Step-By-Step Instructions
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