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    Home » Hunger

    Roasted Broccoli and Kale Caesar Salad

    By Lauren on April 1, 2019, Updated April 27, 2021 12 Comments

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
    roasted broccoli and kale caesar salad in a bowl and plated on two plates

    Just when you think your standard caesar salad can't get any better....it does! Roasted Broccoli and Kale Caesar Salad boasts crunchy, tender tuscan kale, roasted and crisp broccoli, cast iron toasted sweet corn, shaved parmesan cheese and easy truffle oil croutons. It's your standard kale caesar salad but on level 'epic.'

    You guys, listen. I'm terrible at pranks. A natural born 'whatever I'm thinking is on my face' awful liar. So when I say that this Roasted Broccoli and Kale Caesar Salad is divine, it is not an April Fools prank. File this under 'delicious things to hide in the fridge.' 

    Bowl of roasted broccoli and kale caesar salad

    That's right, we've got another kale salad on the books and I am not one iota sorry about it. I'll just be over here eating Roasted Broccoli and Kale Caesar salad, happy as a clam that I've made three meals out of this and it is still delicious every time.

    While the Autumn Kale Salad will always hold my heart in its clutches (it's the dressing!!), this kale caesar salad is in a serious tooth and nail fight for first ranking.

    Why this kale caesar salad is going to change your caesar salad game:

    • tuscan kale is more tender than standard curly kale (plus we will talk about a tip for making your kale less bitter!)
    • roasted broccoli provides crunch
    • cast iron roasted corn is here for the 'you didn't know you need it' touch of sweetness
    • TRUFFLE OIL CROUTONS - cause you fancy AF without having to put in the work - or the dollar bills!!

    roasted broccoli and kale caesar salad on a plate

    Tips for the Best Roasted Broccoli and Kale Caesar Salad

    Prepping the kale

    Just a few quick tips makes this caesar salad upgrade better than your average salad. Let's start with at the very beginning, with our green and mighty friend...the kale.

    If you can find tuscan kale, I would highly encourage you to give that type of kale a try - especially if you're skeptical. It's texture is much more similar to savoy spinach than it is to curly kale. More tender, less bitter - better for first time kale salad triers or veterans like you and me.

    tuscan kale drizzled with caesar dressing

    Second go to step for your kale is all in the prep. Remove the kale from the stem (the most bitter part), chop into bite sized pieces and then soak in cold water. This step doesn't just clean the leaves, it will make the chopped greens less bitter. There's a chemical reaction that happens between the structure of the kale leaf and the cold water that breaks down some of the fibers that typically make the leaves tough.

    Okay, now that we have tender greens, time to bang out the rest of our kale caesar salad prep.

    Bowl of roasted broccoli and kale caesar salad

    Roasted the veggies

    Preheat your oven to 425°F. This high heat is going to get you that crispy, slightly charred, perfectly roasted broccoli. Be sure to have enough space between each of the florets.

    While your broccoli is in the oven, get that grilled corn taste and appearance with this cast iron hack.

    grilled corn kernels in a cast iron pan

    I used a cast iron grill pan, so I could grill a whole ear of corn too, but you can also achieve the same results with a regular cast iron pan. Alternatively, you could cut the kernels from the cob and roast in the oven as well but you'll get the most 'fresh off the grill' likeness in a cast iron pan.

    Truffle Oil Croutons

    On to the not so secret ingredient of this kale caesar that is a sneaky pop of luxurious flavor. A touch of white truffle oil brings a fancy savory flavor without having to drop mucho moolah for actual white truffles. I mean, the real thing would be pretty rad, but not practical for an every day salad.

    White truffle oil is easy to find in the grocery store, but you can also grab it here (this is an affiliate link). A little goes a long way too, but I've found that it does loose a little gusto during the baking process. So I'd recommend tossing the cut sesame bagel cubes with half of the oil before baking and the remaining half after. 

    roasted broccoli and kale caesar salad in a bowl and plated on two plates

    Tips for Assembly and Beautiful Presentation

    If planning to serve for a crowd, there are a few tricks to have up your sleeve.

    • Toss kale leaves with caesar dressing in a large bowl before platting in a large bowl or on a platter
    • Top with croutons, broccoli, corn then the cheese
    • Measure the amount of cheese with your heart
    • Add sliced avocado for a pop of bright green and texture
    • Use your favorite creamy caesar dressing for an easy time saver
    • You can toast up an additional ear of corn and cut in 4 pieces, as seen in these photos, to add a little more vibrant yellow to your presentation

    Simple, yet super flavorful. A great combo of crunchy, savory, sweet and fresh. Impress your friends with your salad skills, trick your family into eating more greens, or just enjoy by yourself with a nice glass of fumé blanc. Cheers my kale lovers!

    Did you make this recipe? Tell me about it in the comments!

    Want to pin it for later? Grab it here.

    roasted broccoli and kale caesar salad on a plate

    Roasted Broccoli and Kale Caesar Salad

    Just when you think your standard caesar salad can't get any better....it does!  Roasted Broccoli and Kale Caesar Salad boasts crunchy, tender tuscan kale, roasted and crisp broccoli, cast iron toasted sweet corn, shaved parmesan cheese and easy truffle oil crouton.  It's your standard kale caesar salad but on level 'epic.'
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    Course: Salads
    Cuisine: American
    Keyword: best spring and summer salads, kale caesar salad recipe, recipes using truffle oil, roasted vegetable salads
    Prep Time: 20 minutes mins
    Cook Time: 15 minutes mins
    Total Time: 35 minutes mins
    Servings: 4 to 6 servings
    Calories: 447kcal
    Author: Lauren
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    Ingredients

    • 1 large head lacinato kale (about 6 cups after prep)
    • 1 broccoli crown
    • 1 sesame seed bagel
    • 1 ear of corn (kernels cut from the cob)
    • 3 teaspoons canola oil (divided)
    • 3 tablespoons white truffle oil
    • ¼ to ⅓ cup creamy caesar dressing
    • ¼ cup parmigiano reggiano (shaved)
    • 1 avocado sliced (optional)

    Instructions

    • Prep. Remove the kale leaves from the stem.  Chop into bite size pieces and soak in a bowl of cold water for 5 minutes.  Strain and dry completely.
    • Roast. Preheat oven to 425°F.  Cut the florets of the broccoli into smaller bite sized pieces.  Toss with 2 teaspoons of canola oil and salt.  Spread onto half of a sheet pan so there is plenty of room between pieces.
    • Cut the bagel into small cubes and toss with 1 ½ tablespoons of white truffle oil and salt.  Spread onto the remaining half of the sheet pan.  Roast the broccoli and croutons for 10 to 15 minutes, until broccoli is well roasted and slightly charred on the 'leaves' and croutons are golden brown (see note.)  After the croutons are golden brown, drizzle with the remaining 1 ½ tablespoons truffle oil.
    • Toast.  Heat a cast iron pan over medium high heat.  Cut the kernels of corn off the cob.  Drizzle the remaining 1 teaspoon of canola oil over the pan.  Add the corn and stir to coat with the oil.  Cook for 5 to 7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the corn is bright yellow and slightly charred.
    • Assemble.  In a large bowl toss the kale with the caesar dressing.  If serving in a different bowl or platter, transfer the dressed leaves first before topping with the croutons, broccoli, corn and shaved parmigiano cheese.  If preparing ahead, wait until serving to add the croutons.

    Notes

    • The croutons may be done before the broccoli.  You can either cook the broccoli and croutons on separate sheet pans or have a bowl nearby to scoop the croutons into before returning the broccoli to the oven.
    • You sholud be able to find white truffle oil in the oil and vinegars isle at the grocery store.  It will most likely be 'truffle flavor' which will work just fine.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 447kcal | Carbohydrates: 33g | Protein: 11g | Fat: 32g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 10mg | Sodium: 475mg | Potassium: 823mg | Fiber: 8g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 1141IU | Vitamin C: 142mg | Calcium: 164mg | Iron: 2mg

     

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    Comments

    1. Julie says

      April 14, 2019 at 11:50 pm

      Your photos and food styling are just gorgeous! Salads can be so flat and hard to style but these are beautiful.

      Reply
    2. Karyl Henry says

      April 14, 2019 at 9:44 pm

      I love the heartiness of this salad! I've never done raw kale before, but I definitely want to give it a try. And I really like that you use a bagel for the croutons. Great shortcut!

      Reply
    3. Chef Markus Mueller says

      April 14, 2019 at 8:38 pm

      Yum! kale salads are a favourite of mine, I love making my kale slaw with lemon garlic dressing its a great way to use up kale from my garden!. Loving the broccoli, corn and avocado combo with the kale here, now I just need to wait for my homegrown kale to mature a little! I can't wait to give this recipe a shot!

      Reply
    4. Charity says

      April 14, 2019 at 8:18 pm

      Any excuse to eat caesar dressing is good in my opinion. But I love this mix of bitter and sweet ingredients.

      Reply
    5. Sharon says

      April 14, 2019 at 12:47 pm

      This kale salad looks out of this world! I love everything about it. Perfect for lunch or dinner.

      Reply
    6. Linda says

      April 13, 2019 at 7:42 pm

      I love everything about this recipe! It looks fantastic, and you can't go wrong with truffle oil croutons. That's the best thing ever!

      Reply
    7. Amanda says

      April 13, 2019 at 11:41 am

      I'm 100 percent obsessed with these truffle oil croutons -- the best! This is such a delicious recipe to elevate your typical Caesar salad, and I look forward to eating this all spring and summer long. Thanks for sharing!

      Reply
    8. Tammy says

      April 12, 2019 at 2:55 pm

      This is some next-level kale salad and I am digging it! 😀 Gorgeous photos...you're making us all crave salad now I'm sure ;D Definitely want to try this <3

      Reply
    9. Danielle Wolter says

      April 11, 2019 at 1:56 pm

      now this sounds like a salad! what an amazing combination of flavors. definitely loving the toasted corn and shaved Parmesan!

      Reply
    10. Patti says

      April 11, 2019 at 1:05 pm

      I love the all of the flavors in this salad, and I appreciate how clear all of your instructions are. I can't wait to prepare this recipe.

      Reply
    11. Veena Azmanov says

      April 11, 2019 at 11:02 am

      This is such a healthy and crunchy and flavorful salad. Surely unique by taste too. Salad is always special for Dinner. Love your recipe with this unique combination.

      Reply
    12. Linda says

      April 02, 2019 at 7:17 am

      I should have known that she was destined to be a kale lover when as a mere child she would pitch out the white pieces of her iceberg lettuce and only eat the greenest pieces.

      Reply

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    Hi, I'm Lauren! This is my slice of the internet to share seasonally-inspired recipes. I live in the heart of New England with my two kiddos. Life is busy AND delicious!

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