This sriracha kale caesar salad turns takes the traditional salad and turns up the heat and health with spicy sriracha and tuscan kale.
My husband is a caesar salad addict. I’m not even slightly exaggerating. When we go out to nice dinners, I have to have a “talk” with him before we leave the house informing him he’s not allowed to order a caesar salad for dinner.
I wish I could be the kind of person who just didn’t care what he eats, but I’m not.
1. It’s a complete waste of an order at any place we go. If he wants to order a caesar salad for lunch while he’s working, sure, totally appropriate. On a night out at a half way decent restaurant, no. Just no.
2. It limits what I get to eat. Damn straight I’m tasting his food. He’s so not a “let me taste your food” kind of person and I so am. He’s not ordering a caesar salad because I want to taste pretty much everything else on the menu besides that.
3. It’s embarrassing. It’s like a grown-up kids meal if that makes sense and comes with a side of “I’m judging you” waiter glances.
4. Half the time, I know he doesn’t even want the stupid salad, he’s just too lazy to look at the rest of the menu and make a decision. I live with the most chill/sometimes verging on lazy person on the planet and the amount of crazy this can sometimes make me isn’t even quantifiable.
So, I made this with him in mind and he then proceeded to get all squeamish when he saw me taking out the anchovies for the dressing. To which of course I maturely called him the stupidest caesar salad fanatic there ever was if he didn’t realize he was eating anchovies all these years in the pounds upon pounds of ceasar dressing he’s consumed.
His face contorted in such a way you’d think I told him he was eating crickets or something, not a measly anchovy.
And that, my friends, is how I think I ended the caesar salad addiction…by making ceasar salad. Go figure.
Sriracha Kale Caesar Salad
Ingredients
For the Sriracha Kale Caesar Salad
- 2 bunches tuscan kale, stems removed and leaves chopped
- 1/2 cup grated parmesan
- 2 slices day old multigrain bread, torn into pieces
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 1 tablespoon sriracha
- salt and pepper
For the Dressing
- 1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt
- 1 tablespoon mayonnaise
- juice of 1/2 a lemon
- 1 tablespoon dijon mustard
- 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
- 1 large clove garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
- 1-2 tablespoons sriracha, depending on spice preference
- 1 anchovy filet, minced
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Toss bread with olive oil, salt & pepper and sriracha and spread out in an even layer on a baking sheet.
- Bake for 5-7 minutes, toss and bake for another 5 until golden brown and crispy. Remove and set aside.
- Combine the kale and parmesan in a large bowl.
- Combine all the dressing ingredients in a bowl and whisk together until well combined.
- Toss the salad with the dressing until fully coated.
- Top with the croutons and serve.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Gina Matsoukas is an AP syndicated writer. She is the founder, photographer and recipe developer of Running to the Kitchen — a food website focused on providing healthy, wholesome recipes using fresh and seasonal ingredients. Her work has been featured in numerous media outlets both digital and print, including MSN, Huffington post, Buzzfeed, Women’s Health and Food Network.
I love sriracha! I would’ve never thought to add it to a salad before. What a great idea! I know I will love this!
Wow, that looks like my kind of salad! I’m a total hot sauce addict, so I’ll have to try this. :)
Gina, while I was reading your post I was laughing so much because my husband is a caesar salad addict also and every time we go out to dinner I say the something to him “please, baby, don’t order salad this time” hahahha. I will show him this post. He will laugh… And I am exactly like you I wish I could be the kind of person who didn’t care what he eats, but I’m not AT ALL ;-)
Thanks for sharing this water-mouthing recipe ;-)
Beautiful!!!! Yummyy!!
This made me laugh so hard because Matt is so the same! Hes obsessed with caesar salad! I am dying to try this one now, and maybe open Matt’s caesar box a little ;)
You made this salad for me and not Ulys, right? I mean, really…caesar is my FAVORITE plus now I’m heavily addicted to sriracha cause I put it on EVERYTHING….sooo yeah…I’m going to need you to fedex this to me ASAP!
Ha, that’s hilarious! So did he eat this salad, or was he too grossed out by the anchovies realization?
I love that he didn’t know it has anchovies in the dressing…..haha! This salad looks kick ass and I would gladly eat it for dinner. While I’m not one for ordering a giant salad for dinner (at a nice restaurant) I’m totally cool with doing that at home. I must make this soon!
oh my goodness. i loved the story. and my parents have caesar salad at least 2 x per week! i have to pass this recipe onto them!
haha so funny that your husband didnt realize about the anchioves! this looks so good, though! a healthy spicy kick on regular caesar salad! cant wait to try it i loveeee caesar salad! but dont worry- i usually only order it for lunch . never at a nice dinner place haha