This Kale Caesar Salad is exactly what you’re craving! Greek yogurt serves as the creamy base in this lightened up Caesar dressing recipe, which is tossed with tender lacianto kale and toasty breadcrumbs. This delicious salad is bound to be one you’ll go to repeatedly!

It’s December.

We all know what that means…

• The food.
• The drinks.
• The merriment.
• The loss of routine.

And while this time of year brings so much fun and joy, it also can lead to feeling less-than-stellar about the amount of sodium, sugar, and booze you’re ingesting. Likely eliciting feelings of, “I can’t WAIT for the New Year so I can start getting back to myself!”

But why? Why is December 31st “the finish line”? Why can’t this pursuit of eating healthier, finding balance, and being better versions of ourselves need to start when the clock strikes midnight signifying the start of a new year?

You tracking? There is NO NEED to wait! Making small changes NOW, being more mindful of what we’re eating, and though not restricting ourselves -rather seeking balance this time of year – can happen right now.

Resolutions Aren’t Just For The “New Year”

Why start something later than you can start it now? Didn’t someone say that? Well, I’m saying it now. There’s no need to polish off an entire dish of artichoke dip, linger a little too long at the charcuterie, or feel obligated to have a cocktail just because someone is offering.

Now let me be clear: these things don’t need to occur regularly throughout the holidays. If you want that third glass of Prosecco? DRINK IT. Only get those scrumptious phyllo bites made by your Aunt on Christmas Eve? EAT ‘EM. The key here is everything should be in balance. I’m not suggesting you totally limit yourself one bit! Believe me – this time of year holds a lot of nostalgia for me when it comes to food, and I tend to overindulge quiiiite a bit. But I also am more mindful of my water to cocktail ratio. The number of sweat sessions I’m getting in per week. How often I’m having a home cooked (normal!) meal, as I would any other time of year.

And when I’m feeling a tad gluttonous, all I want is KALE.

Well, truthfully, I want kale doused in something salty or crunchy or that makes it inevitably NOT kale-like. You feel me?

Sooooo why not opt for something that only seems to be non-kale like?

 Like a Kale Caesar salad, perhaps?!

Whenever I see a Kale Caesar Salad on a menu, I MUST try it. No joke. It’s a problem.

There are a few criteria that I use to determine the “success” of a KCS:

1. Texture of the kale: is it too cruciferous…too “kale like”? It needs to be tender and easy to chew.
2. The dressing: it has to be PACKED with flavor, but not overly salty, overly anchovy-ie, or bland. There also had to be enough dressing to thoroughly coat the kale, but not drown it.
3. The right amount of crunch: nothing drives me more crazy than dangerously sharp croutons that destroy the roof of your mouth! Breadcrumbs are king!

And I have to admit…I haven’t found one that beats my homemade version!

It checks all the boxes, and best of all – it’s lightened up! I use Greek yogurt as the creamy base, which gives that classic tang. Add some Worcestershire sauce, lemon, garlic, and of course….the non-negotiable….

ANCHOVY PASTE.

Yes, you’re doing it. No, we’re not talking about. Get over your weirdness with anchovies…they’re GOOD! I use this anchovy paste , which makes using the fishy ingredient a lot less intimidating. I promise you that every Caesar dressing you’ve ever loved includes anchovies. So just DO IT!

This gorgeous, feel-good salad is waiting for you NOW. Not on January 1st. Not when you menu plan, telling yourself you’re going to home make all of your meals every single day for the whole year (if you set this intention and accomplished it…please call me out!). Be real with yourself. Be gentle. Give yourself some grace. We’re all human! Give yourself the space to indulge smartly, enjoy the holiday season, and squeeze in a Kale Caesar Salad.

Print Recipe

Kale Caesar Salad

This Kale Caesar Salad is exactly what you're craving! Greek yogurt serves as the creamy base in this lightened up Caesar dressing recipe, which is tossed with tender lacianto kale and toasty breadcrumbs. This delicious salad is bound to be one you'll got to repeatedly!

Prep Time10 minutes mins

Total Time10 minutes mins

Course: Salads

Servings: 1 servings

Ingredients

• 2 cups lacianto kale, washed, de-stemmed, and uniformly chopped
• 1 tsp olive oil
• 1/2 tsp garlic minced (about 1/2 clove)

For the Greek Yogurt Caesar Dressing:

• 1/3 cup Greek yogurt
• 1/4 cup Parmigiano Reggiano Cheese, shredded
• 1 Tbsp olive oil
• 1 clove garlic roughly chopped
• 1 tsp anchovy paste
• 2 tsp Worcestershire sauce
• 1 1/2 tsp dijon mustard
• 1/2 lemon juiced
• 1/4 cup bread crumbs see note

Instructions

• Add kale to a large bowl. Be sure you've chopped it in to uniform bite-sized pieces.
• Drizzle with about one third of the dressing. Add more as your tastes prefer! Toss thoroughly to coat all the kale.
• To make the toasty breadcrumb crouton topping, heat 1 teaspoon oil in a small sauté pan. Add garlic, sauce until fragrant. Add breadcrumbs along with a small sprinkle of salt and a few grinds of freshly cracked pepper. Stir for about 2 minutes to allow the garlic to cook down and meld with breadcrumbs.
• Top dressed kale with the breadcrumbs.

Notes

• Be sure you get super crunchy breadcrumbs! These are serving as the crouton, so super fine breadcrumbs won't do! I like using Panko Bread Crumbs or even something like a Cubed Stuffing mix.
• Don't skip on the anchovies! Promise they aren't as fishy as you think. I also promise that the dressing won't taste the same without it! I like using this paste.