Let me start by admitting that kale can be a hard lettuce to work with. It generally has a tough, leathery texture and a flavor that many people don’t love. However, despite kale's difficulties, it can make some of the best salads ever if it is treated correctly. And the pinnacle of kale salads, in my opinion, is the delicious yet easy kale Caesar salad. The thick, briny Caesar dressing perfectly counters kale’s tough exterior, making for a delicious yet hearty salad to bring to a potluck or hoard for yourself. 

Kale Caesar Salad

  • Prep Time:0
  • Cook Time:10 mins
  • Total Time:10 mins
  • Servings:2
  • Easy

    Ingredients

  • 1 Head Kale any variety you'd like
  • 1 Egg Yolk
  • 1-3 Cloves Garlic depending on preference
  • 1-2 Anchovies depending on preference
  • Juice 1 lemon
  • 3 TBS Olive Oil
  • about 1/4 cup Parmesan Cheese
  • Freshly Ground Pepper
Lola Cleaveland

  • Step 1

    Prepare your kale. Remove your kale leaves from the stem, rip them into bite sized pieces, and wash your kale if you need to. The exact size of your kale is up to you. I like to leave my leaves relatively big for this recipe.

    herb, vegetable, salad, parsley
    Alex Tom

  • Step 2

    Prepare your dressing.

    Lola Cleaveland

Prepare your dressing. I like to do this directly into the salad bowl I'm using, because it generates less dishes and will season your salad bowl with flavor over time.

First, crack an egg and separate your yolk from your white. Once you have removed all of the egg white, place your egg yolk directly into the salad bowl. Next, finely mince your garlic and anchovy and throw them into the bowl as well. Sprinkle a generous amount of black pepper into the bowl, and mix your ingredients together well. 

The next step is to use your lemon juice to "cook" your egg yolk. The acidity in the lemon is will transform your dressing from a viscous mess into something not only safe to eat but delicious. Squeeze your lemon juice into the bowl and mix vigorously with a fork until your dressing becomes light yellow and almost frothy. 

Next, add in your olive oil and mix vigorously again until the dressing is well combined. Stir in your parmesan cheese and your dressing is done!

Now, the only thing left to do is toss your kale into the dressing. Here is where I like to massage my kale to ensure that every piece gets coated in dressing. 

This salad can definitely stand on its own, but it is also great topped with garnishes like croutons and cherry tomatoes. Enjoy!