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Grilled Kale Caesar with Torn Croutons

Several months ago, I had a grilled kale salad at a special event, and I’ve been dying to recreate it ever since.

Grilled-Kale-Caesar-(smaller)

Organic lacinato kale, also known as dinosaur or black kale, is the star ingredient of this healthy, summer salad.  When cooked over hot coals, this leafy superfood transforms into something truly delicious.  Crispy edges provide savory notes of smoke and char while the inner portion of the kale leaf stays tender and chewy.  These grilled greens are tossed in a creamy Caesar dressing spiked with lemon, garlic and Parmesan cheese.  Torn croutons add pops of satisfying crunch.  This salad is a delicious mix of flavors and textures.  Continue reading for the recipe.

Bread and Kale

Would you just look at that beautiful loaf?  This Bread & Cie Country Levain has a crisp, golden crust that surrounds a light, airy interior.  When torn to pieces, drizzled in olive oil, and baked until crunchy, this bread makes perfect croutons.  Be sure to tear the bread rather than cut it into cubes.  The uneven pieces will develop varying textures when baked.  Some bits will get wonderfully caramelized while others retain some chew.

Caesar Dressing Ingredients

Caesar dressing is very simple to make.  Especially with an immersion blender!  A raw egg yolk is a must, and anchovy paste is highly encouraged.  I’ll have to admit that I’m still on the fence with anchovies.  Sometimes I like them, and sometimes I don’t.  I’ve really grown to like the anchovy element in Caesar dressing though.  Even the smallest amount will add intriguing depth of flavor.  In this dressing, I use 1/4 teaspoon anchovy paste.  You could certainly add more if you are an anchovy fan.  You can also use whole anchovies that have been chopped up (1 or 2).  I just like the convenience of anchovy paste.

Croutons and Oiled Kale

I purchased all of the ingredients needed for this salad at the new Jimbo’s… Naturally! now open at Westfield Horton Plaza.  The Caesar dressing can be prepared a day in advance, and stored in the fridge.  Torn croutons can be made earlier in the day, and stored at room temperature.  I’d recommend cooking the kale leaves beside a main course.  Don’t fire up the grill just for a salad!  This Grilled Kale Caesar would pair perfectly with a tri-tip roast, brined pork chops or a juicy cheeseburger.

Grilled Kale

Grilled Kale Caesar with Torn Croutons
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Grilled Kale Caesar with Torn Croutons

Servings 4 servings
Author Brandon Matzek

Ingredients

For the croutons:

  • 1/2 loaf of country bread
  • Extra-virgin olive oil
  • Kosher salt
  • Freshly ground black pepper

For the salad:

  • 2 bunches organic lacinato kale, also known as dinosaur or black kale
  • Olive oil
  • Kosher salt
  • 1 tablespoon organic red wine vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon organic lemon juice
  • 1/4 teaspoon anchovy paste or 2 chopped anchovies
  • 2 cloves organic garlic, chopped
  • 1 organic egg yolk
  • Freshly ground black pepper
  • 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese, plus more for sprinkling

Instructions

  1. Preheat an oven to 350°F. Tear bread into 1-inch pieces into a medium bowl. Drizzle extra-virgin olive oil over the bread, and season with a big pinch of kosher salt and several turns of black pepper, tossing to coat. The bread pieces should be well-coated with olive oil. Bake until croutons are golden and crisp (15 – 20 minutes total), turning a few times while they cook. Let croutons cool before using.
  2. Prepare an outdoor grill (charcoal or gas) to high heat. Let the grill grate preheat for 15 minutes, and clean and oil it just before cooking. Drizzle kale with olive oil, and using your hands, rub the oil all over the leaves. Sprinkle with kosher salt. Cook kale in batches on the grill over high heat , turning once, until crispy and charred at the edges (about 2 minutes total). Once cool enough to handle, cut the thick center stems from the cooked kale leaves, and chop remaining leaves. Discard stems.
  3. To prepare the dressing, place vinegar, lemon juice, anchovy paste, garlic, and egg yolk in a wide mouth jar. Add a pinch of kosher salt and several turns of black pepper, then, using an immersion blender, blend until combined. With the blender running, slowly stream in the extra-virgin olive oil until the dressing emulsifies (thickens). If you don’t have an immersion blender, you can use a regular blender or food processor. Stir in grated Parmesan, and season to taste with additional kosher salt and black pepper.
  4. To serve, divide chopped kale between 4 salad plates, top with torn croutons and a drizzle of Caesar dressing. Finish with a final sprinkling of grated Parmesan.

I partnered with Jimbo’s… Naturally! and Westfield Horton Plaza on this article.  Also, at the time this articles was written I was an employee of Westfield.  All thoughts, opinions and recipes shared in this article are my own.

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Looks awesome, man. I’m really intrigued by the grilling process. Do you put the kale directly on the grill then? They won’t burn, right?

    • Yeah the kale goes directly on the grill. The batches will cook quickly (about 1 minute per side). The edges will get crisp (like kale chips), and the part close to the stem will stay tender with a little chew. Thanks!

    • Thanks Kirbie! Yeah, I was unfamiliar until I had it at an event. Was pleasantly surprised with the taste!

  7. Love your photos and step-by-step descriptions. Will try this once my diet becomes a little less restrictive. Yum!

  9. Grilled kale is definitely an awesome experience. It lifts the veg to a completely different level. I’ve never actually tried the dinosaur/lacinato kale though, it looks more tender than the curly variety that we often get in the shops here (in Australia, or at least near me in Perth!). I’ll have to track some down. Great version of Caesar!

    • Thanks Laura! Glad to see another grilled kale fan chime in 😉 Dino kale can be a bit more tender, and I find it easier to work with.

  12. This is one of the best kale recipes I have ever tried! I made it for lunch this weekend and we loved it. I’m a big fan of grilled greens, and the kale stands up well to the heat so the resulting texture was delicious. The dressing is also spot on – I will definitely be making more salads with that dressing!

    • Hey Katie! So glad this worked out for you as well. And YES the dressing works well with plenty of other greens

  13. This sounds perfect for a dinner I’m planning this weekend – only problem, I don’t have an outdoor grill. Is there an oven/stove solution that you’d recommend? Thanks!

Trackbacks

  6. […] I used to be on the fence about anchovies.  But now, I’m a big fan.  The anchovy component in this recipe does not make the finished pasta fishy.  Instead, it adds a salty back note that gives this dish wonderful depth of flavor.  Seriously give it a try. […]

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