This irresistible kale Caesar salad is always a favorite with family and friends. Topped with a creamy, roasted zesty garlic dressing, Parmesan cheese and toasted panko breadcrumbs, every mouthful is full of flavor. Not a kale fan? Read on– the secret is the massage!
Maybe I should call this the “Best Thing That Happened To Me This Week” salad. The first time I served it to my husband, he mumbled those words between elated mouthfuls. Yes, this salad has the power to induce major feelings of euphoria… kale! The thing I once despised, then learned to massage, then grew to love. Can you imagine?
In this Kale Caesar Salad with Parmesan and Panko, massaged kale salad is topped with a creamy garlic dressing and Parmesan cheese. I’ve replaced large, unwieldy croutons with delicate, crispy toasted panko and crushed red pepper flakes. I massage the kale with the dressing, then toss it with the toasted panko, chili flakes and Parmesan. This salad is simply delectable, with a bit of a spicy kick. It’s heavenly.
Is Kale Good For You?
Yes, it is! In fact, kale is one of the healthiest foods on the planet. This cruciferous leafy green contains Vitamins A, B6, C, and K along with magnesium, potassium, iron, copper, manganese and phosphorus. Additionally, it also contains strong phytonutrients and cancer-fighting antioxidants. The fiber in kale helps to lower blood cholesterol levels.
Eating kale regularly can lower your risk of cancer and heart disease. It’s fabulous stuff, especially when prepared like this. This salad is addicting. Serve it at a party and prepare to be asked for the recipe over and over and over again!
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Kale Caesar Salad with Parmesan and Panko
Ingredients
- 2 bunches curly kale, washed and chopped into bite-sized pieces (tough stems removed)
- 8 cloves garlic
- 1/2 cup panko breadcrumbs
- 6 tbsp olive oil, divided
- 5 tbsp grated parmesan, divided
- 2 1/2 tbsp mayonnaise
- 2 tbsp lemon juice, freshly squeezed
- 1 tbsp water
- 1 tsp Dijon mustard
- 3/4 tsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
- 1/8 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
- 1 dash Tabasco sauce, or to taste
NOTES
Instructions
- In a small saucepan, combine 1/3 cup of olive oil with the garlic cloves. Cook over low heat, stirring occasionally to prevent burning, until the garlic turns light golden brown and roasted, about 15 minutes.Carefully remove garlic from heat. The oil will be very hot. Once the oil has cooled to room temperature, remove and reserve the garlic cloves. Keep the garlic-infused oil, you'll need it soon.
- In a blender combine roasted garlic cloves, mayonnaise, lemon juice, water, 1 tbsp parmesan, Dijon mustard, Worcestershire sauce, salt, pepper and Tabasco. Blend until smooth and well combined.
- Turn the blender to medium and very slowly drizzle in the roasted garlic oil through the opening in the top. Do not pour it in all at once or it will not emulsify and you will have a broken dressing.
- Remove the lid and scrape down the sides with a rubber spatula. Replace the lid and blend on high once more. The finished dressing should be smooth and well combined with no streaks of oil.
- In a small mixing bowl combine panko breadcrumbs, 1 tbsp olive oil and crushed red pepper flakes. Toss to combine.
- Transfer the breadcrumb mixture to a frying pan and cook over medium heat until the breadcrumbs are toasted golden brown, stirring often to prevent burning. Immediately remove the breadcrumbs from the pan and set aside.
- Place chopped kale into a large mixing bowl or salad bowl. Pour the roasted garlic dressing over the kale, then massage the kale for 3-4 minutes until kale is wilted and well coated with dressing.
- Add breadcrumbs and 1/4 cup of parmesan to the salad and toss to combine. Serve.
Nutrition
This recipe is amazing! Made it for Mother’s day and everyone inhaled it, including my sister who despises vegetables. So good, definitely going on rotation.
This dressing is amazing. Of course it is fantastic on the salad as described but we are using it on other salads and my husband wants it to be the “house dressing”. Try it, it’s fantastic.
Agreed! Glad you’re enjoying it Mary. 🙂
Can this kale salad be made ahead of time, or does it have to be served immediately because of the bread crumbs (being lukewarm)?
It can be made ahead. What I do is separate the elements, then combine them just before serving. So I prepare the kale up to a day ahead – cut/tear into small pieces, massage, then keep refrigerated in a covered container. The dressing keeps really well for a few days in the fridge. You can toast the breadcrumbs that morning, then keep them in a covered container. Assemble everything just before serving, which takes less than 5 minutes.
I wanted to tell you and everyone that I made this and everyone LOVED it. I prepared it in advance, except for the panko – I did that right before serving. It was a hit! Thanks.
Yay!! So glad you tried it. This is one of my faves on the blog.
This was a lot of work for salad but worth it. Really delicious. Thanks!
I love this salad and I’m thinking of making it for Passover. Do you think I can substitute the Panko breadcrumbs with matzo farfel? If so, any specific suggestions on how work with the matzo? Thank you!
I love this salad too 🙂 I’ve never made it for Passover. Matzo farfel would probably work, just make sure you toast it with the pepper flakes and only add it just before serving so it doesn’t get mushy. Or, you can just omit the breadcrumbs– the salad works great without them, too.