Salad / American
Crispy Kale Caesar Salad
Lacinato kale massaged with creamy vegetarian Caesar dressing, roasted chickpea croutons, and shaved vegetarian Italian-style hard cheese.
By Vegetarian Recipes Kitchen · Updated
- Prep
- 15 minutes
- Cook
- 20 minutes
- Total
- 35 minutes
- Serves
- 4
Gather your ingredients
Everything you need.
Allergen notes
- Contains milk. Check dairy and cheese product labels.
- Contains mustard.
- Yeast extracts, stocks, seasoning blends and fermented sauces can contain additional allergens such as cereals, celery or sulphites; check the actual product labels.
- Check all packaged ingredients and substitutions for allergens; vegetarian or vegan labels do not establish allergen safety.
Check product labels and any substitutions; packaged ingredients can introduce additional allergens.
Let's cook
Step by delicious step.
Tap a step number to mark it complete as you cook.
Dry chickpeas thoroughly, toss with 1 tablespoon olive oil, paprika, and half the salt, then roast at 425°F (220°C) for 20 minutes until crisp. Spread dried chickpeas with gaps between them; let steam escape before combining them with dressed kale.
Whisk yogurt, lemon juice, mustard, Worcestershire, garlic, water, remaining salt, pepper, and 1 tablespoon olive oil until smooth.
Destem kale, slice into ribbons, and massage with half the dressing for 1 minute to soften.
Fold in chickpeas, vegetarian Italian-style hard cheese, toasted panko, and additional dressing to taste; serve immediately.
0 of 4 steps complete
A little kitchen know-how
- Dry chickpeas in a clean towel to ensure crisping.
- Make extra dressing—it holds for up to 48 hours chilled and doubles as dip.
Make it yours & keep it well
Use plant yogurt, omit hard cheese and add nutritional yeast to taste for a dairy-free dressing.
Storage: Keep perishable components covered in the fridge and use within 48 hours, or sooner if a product use-by date requires. Keep roast chickpeas and panko apart from dressed kale. They soften quickly after mixing.
For cooling and reheating, follow the Food Standards Agency’s leftover guidance. Rice has a shorter refrigerated storage limit, as described in its recipe notes.
Estimated nutrition per serving
310 kcal · Protein 14 g · Carbohydrates 32 g · Fat 14 g
Approximate figures; brands, portions and substitutions change the result.
Good things to know
Can I make it vegan?
Use vegan yogurt, omit vegetarian Italian-style hard cheese, and sub nutritional yeast for cheesy flavor.
How far ahead can I dress the kale?
Up to 2 hours—the hearty leaves stay crisp while absorbing flavor.
How do I soften tough kale?
Remove the thick stems, slice the leaves finely and massage with dressing until they relax slightly. Avoid crushing them into a paste.
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