Flowering Kale Caesar Salad Recipe

Introducing: the world’s prettiest vegetable! Flowering kale. Traditionally used as an ornamental landscaping plant, this lovely lady is fit for your kitchen table, too.

Flowering kale packs the same healthy punch as other forms of kale, weighing in as the plant with the most nutrition per calorie. Best not to restrict this super food to life as eye candy—cut it out of your lawn and add it to your dinner table!

I spotted this beauty at my local supermarket, sitting under a sign that said, “Local harvest.” Sold!

Now, what to do with something so pretty? The vibrant purple hue called to be eaten fresh—added to my plate in a blaze of color. This time last year, an old friend of mine made me an outstanding birthday dinner that included a kale Caesar salad recipe inspired by the Tartine Bread cookbook. That’s exactly what I decided to do.

Homemade Caesar salad dressing dances in garlic and lemon inside your mouth in such a fresh beat. If you’ve never tried making it, I implore you to do so. You’ll wonder why you didn’t start sooner!

Topped with homemade croutons bathed in olive oil and freshly crushed black pepper, this salad serves to comfort while awakening your taste buds from the winter doldrums.

A few tips for the best salad experience:

1)      Squeeze the juice from half a lemon over your cut kale leaves and allow to stand for 10-15 minutes before adding the Caesar dressing. It will soften the leaves, making them easier to chew.

2)      Add homemade croutons to the salad, warm from the oven. In the middle of winter, the warm bread adds a hearty, comforting touch.

Flowering Kale Caesar Salad Recipe
3 cups flowering kale leaves, cut into thin strips
Juice from half a lemon
½ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese

Homemade Croutons
2 cups day old whole grain bread, cut into 1 ½-inch cubes
¼ cup olive oil
1 Tablespoon garlic powder
Salt & pepper to taste

Caesar Salad Dressing Recipe
2 organic egg yolks
Juice from one lemon
2 Tablespoons brown mustard (I use Boetje’s)
1 garlic clove, minced
1 anchovy
2 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper
¾ cup olive oil

Farmers’ Marketing Fare: kale, lemon, bread, olive oil, eggs, garlic
Supermarket Ingredients:  cheese, spices, mustard, anchovies

Instructions:
Preheat oven to 425 degrees.

Cut kale into strips and place in a large bowl. Squeeze the juice from half a lemon onto the kale and mix. Set aside to rest.

Next, make the croutons by slicing bread into 1 ½-inch cubes. Set them in a large bowl. Drizzle with olive oil, garlic powder, salt and pepper. Toss to coat the bread. Place the bread cubes on a baking sheet in the oven and toast for 10-12 minutes, or until golden and firm.

Meanwhile, in a medium mixing bowl, whisk together the egg yolks, lemon juice, brown mustard, garlic, anchovy, and black pepper. Whisk until well combined. Continue whisking as you slowly pour in the olive oil. Whisk until completely combined.

For every 3 cups of kale leaves you have, add about 4 to 6 Tablespoons of Caesar dressing and toss. Top with ½ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese and 1 cup of the warm croutons. Serve.

Yield: 2 large salads, plus leftover dressing and croutons.

Looking for more ways to use kale? 

Daily Unadventures in Cooking makes creamed kale.

Eat Well, Live Free creates a dish with herbed polenta, greens, and beans.