We combined some of our favorite ingredients to make a delicious, hearty salad that serves as a great side or entrée. Fresh, crispy kale, homemade cornmeal croutons and creamy dressing that’s easy to make on your own—everything is fresh just the way you like it!

Of course, if you’re short on time, you can purchase pre-cooked polenta. Simply slice then follow the recipe to brown then drain the goods.

Because we believe that salad shouldn’t be drowned in dressing, we typically dress the salad with just half the dressing then serve the remaining dressing on the side. If you’ve ever paid close attention to your favorite dine-out salads, they’re always dressed just enough to get the leaves wet but no more!

Kale Caesar salad recipe

Kale Caesar Salad with Homemade Cornmeal Croutons Recipe

Prep Time: 20 mins
Cook Time: 30 mins
Total Time: 50 mins
Kale combined with homemade dressing and cornmeal croutons makes a tasty Caesar salad that goes with anything!
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Ingredients
 

Yield: 4 -6 servings
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croutons

  • 1 1/2 cups low-sodium chicken broth
  • 3 Tbsp unsalted butter, divided
  • 1/2 tsp kosher salt
  • 1/2 cup yellow cornmeal, coarsely-ground, or dried polenta
  • 1 pinch baking soda
  • 1/4 tsp garlic powder
  • black pepper, to taste

dressing

  • 3/4 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
  • 1/4 tsp garlic, minced
  • 1 Tbsp lemon juice
  • 2 tsp Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 tsp Dijon mustard
  • 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
  • 3 Tbsp plain Greek yogurt
  • 1/4 tsp sea salt
  • 1/4 tsp black pepper

salad

  • 2 bunches kale, deveined
  • Parmesan cheese, shaved or grated

Instructions
 

  • Spray a loaf pan with cooking spray and set aside. Bring broth, 1 Tbsp unsalted butter, and salt to a rolling boil over medium heat. Add cornmeal slowly while whisking constantly until all of the cornmeal is incorporated and the lumps are removed. Whisk in baking soda and garlic powder then reduce heat to medium-low. Cook 5 minutes or until it becomes very thick and starts to leave a film on the bottom of the pan.
  • Remove from heat and transfer to the loaf pan. Flatten into an even layer and sprinkle the top with fresh cracked pepper. Place pan in the fridge to cool 10–15 minutes, or until it has solidified. Once the cornmeal has become firm enough to slice, cut into 1" cubes.
  • Heat the remaining Tbsp of butter in a large non-stick frying pan over medium heat. Add half of the crouton cubes to the skillet. Allow them to fry undisturbed. Turn when you see a brown edge forming on the bottom after 4–5 minutes. Flip and brown the opposite side—it’ll cook faster and take only 2–3 minutes. Remove and drain on a plate lined with a paper towel. Space the croutons apart so they won’t steam each other and lose their crispy texture as they cool. Repeat the process with the remaining cubes.
  • Place all the dressing ingredients into a medium-sized bowl. Whisk until smooth and blended. If the dressing’s a bit too thick, just whisk in a small amount of water until you’ve reached the desired consistency.
  • Place kale in a large bowl and top with half of the salad dressing. Toss to coat then taste. Add more dressing if desired. Top with Parmesan, cornmeal croutons and freshly cracked black pepper.

Notes

We prefer shaved Parmesan cheese for the yummy punch of flavor, but grated Parmesan cheese will also do the trick!
Author: Cheryl Najafi
Course: salads
Calories: 356kcal, Carbohydrates: 18g, Protein: 10g, Fat: 27g, Saturated Fat: 10g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g, Monounsaturated Fat: 13g, Cholesterol: 37mg, Sodium: 1176mg, Potassium: 208mg, Fiber: 2g, Sugar: 1g
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