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–+ servings
Kale Caesar Salad in a salad bowl on the dinner table

Bacon Kale Caesar Salad with Garlic Parmesan Croutons

Yield: 6 servings
Prep Time: 25 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 25 minutes
Sturdy curly kale tossed with a creamy homemade Caesar dressing, crispy bacon, garlic parmesan croutons, and thick shavings of parmesan. Ready in 25 minutes and holds up beautifully as leftovers.

Ingredients

The Salad

  • 4 strips bacon
  • 5 cups curly kale leaves, stems removed and roughly chopped
  • 1 cup homemade croutons, see notes
  • ½ cup shaved parmesan cheese, see notes

Caesar Dressing

  • ½ cup mayonnaise, try homemade mayonnaise!
  • ¼ cup shredded parmesan cheese
  • 3 tablespoons lemon juice, fresh is best
  • 2 teaspoons anchovy paste, or 2 minced anchovies
  • ½ teaspoon dijon mustard
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 pinch sea salt
  • 1 clove garlic, finely minced

Instructions 

  • Slice the bacon into 1" pieces. Heat a medium-sized frying pan over medium heat. Add the bacon slices and cook until they're crispy. Remove them from the pan.
    4 strips bacon
    image for recipe instruction
  • In a medium-sized bowl, whisk the caesar dressing ingredients together.
    ½ cup shaved parmesan cheese, ½ cup mayonnaise, 3 tablespoons lemon juice, 2 teaspoons anchovy paste, ½ teaspoon black pepper, 1 pinch sea salt, 1 clove garlic, ½ teaspoon dijon mustard
    image for recipe instruction
  • Add the kale to a large salad bowl and pour the dressing over the top. Toss so that the kale is coated in the dressing and then let it sit to soften for about 10 minutes.
    5 cups curly kale leaves, 1 cup homemade croutons
    image for recipe instruction
  • Add the crispy bacon, croutons, and parmesan cheese and toss again. Serve with a little extra parmesan on top, if you'd like.
    ¼ cup shredded parmesan cheese
    image for recipe instruction

Notes

To shave parmesan, use a vegetable peeler and shave medium-sized pieces from a wedge of cheese. 
Homemade croutons are so much better than anything you buy in the store and are 100% worth the few minutes it takes to make them. You won't regret it! For a different option, try using toasted cashews - they taste wonderful in this salad!
Serving: 1 serving = ⅙ of the recipe, Calories: 214kcal, Carbohydrates: 10g, Protein: 7g, Fat: 17g, Saturated Fat: 4g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 5g, Monounsaturated Fat: 6g, Trans Fat: 1g, Cholesterol: 16mg, Sodium: 299mg, Potassium: 376mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 1g, Vitamin A: 5611IU, Vitamin C: 70mg, Calcium: 97mg, Iron: 2mg