This is one of my favourite summer salad recipes that is nothing short of spectacular in flavour and nutrition!
Eating your greens just got a whole lot easier. This kale caesar is one of my year-round staples, and it's made even better in the summer with garden kale. This dressing is zesty and garlicky, and made entirely from scratch. Say goodbye to processed salad dressings with unnecessary added sugars, fat and processed ingredients. I topped this salad with hemp seeds for a boost of omega-3s and some nutritional yeast for an extra cheesy flavour. This salad is vegan, dairy-free and can be made gluten-free or keto-friendly too.
I use dinosaur kale (also known as lacinato kale) because it's less bitter, and when massaged with oil, it becomes softer and easier to digest. This is the "starter" kale I would recommend if you've never tried it. Make this into a heartier lunch or dinner by adding in your protein of choice (like tofu, chickpeas or lentils), or serve this as a perfect summer bbq side.
Cruciferous veggies like kale are an important part of a healthy diet. Our livers detoxify substances through Phase I and Phase II detoxification pathways and actually use nutrients from our food to help transform substances like environmental toxins including endocrine disrupting chemicals into inactive forms that can be efficiently eliminated. They also offer a wide range of important vitamins and minerals, and a good amount of fiber to ensure your body continues to efficiently eliminate toxins and other waste products.
Here's what you'll need:
This makes enough for 1-2 servings, so double (or triple!) the recipe for a larger crowd.
Salad base:
1 bunch lacinato kale
Caesar dressing:
3 tbsp mayo of choice ( I use Vegennaise)
2-4 medium cloves garlic
1.5 tsp Dijon mustard
salt, pepper to taste
½ tsp Worcestershire sauce
2 tbsp lemon juice
2 tbsp olive oil
1 tsp caper juice
Toppings:
Croutons
1 tbsp hemp seeds
½ tbsp nutritional yeast
More pepper
1 tbsp capers (optional)
How-to:
1. Remove kale pieces from the rib (pull off the leafy parts from the tough stem)
2. Rip up the kale into little pieces. Wash thoroughly in cold water.
3. Massage the kale with 1 tbsp of olive oil (use your hands!). Make sure all of the oil coats the kale evenly, and massage for about 2 mins.
4. Next make the dressing: whisk all dressing ingredients together.
5. Pour dressing over the kale and mix well.
6. Top with hemp seeds, nutritional yeast, croutons, capers and some extra pepper.
I hope you love this one. Let me know what you think!
Keep following along @aspoonfulofscience on instagram for more recipes and lifestyle tips.
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