Name: Avocado Crema
Total time: 5 min
Ingredients: 4-5 medium-sized ripe avocados; 3 tablespoons lime juice; 1/4 cup cilantro; 1/2 teaspoon salt; 1 garlic clove

30 Minutes or Less

Quick and Easy Kale Caesar Salad

By Samantha Russo February 10, 2022

This kale caesar salad is bursting with fresh flavor! It’s hearty and super satisfying, but won’t leave you feeling weighed down. Fuel up on this healthy and delicious restaurant-quality salad for lunch or dinner!

caesar dressing being poured over a kale caesar salad

What You’ll Need

Kale – Duh! It wouldn’t be a kale caesar salad without it. There’s a pretty large variety of kale out there, and really any kind will work in this recipe. I used curly kale, but dino kale tastes just as good. To prepare your kale for this dish, start by removing the thickest part of the stem located at the base of each leaf. Once that’s gone, lay all kale leaves down on a cutting board horizontally and run your knife through them. Keep your cuts about 1 to 2-inches apart, anything bigger may become difficult to chew!

Romaine – Crunchy romaine adds the perfect, fresh bite to this healthy salad recipe! Since romaine is made up of mostly water, it’s softer and easier to chew than fibrous kale. I experimented with both a romaine and non-romaine version of this recipe, and adding in romaine is definitely the way to go! However, if you don’t have any romaine lettuce on-hand, feel free to make this salad without it.

Croutons – This kale caesar salad is allllll about a good crunch. We stop at literally nothing to add as much crunch to it as possible. Personally, I don’t think any caesar salad is complete without at least a few croutons – they’re arguably the best part! You can use store-bought croutons, but I included a note below this recipe on how to make your own homemade croutons. It’s actually super quick, easy, and that much more delicious.

Anchovy Filets – Guys, I don’t wanna hear it! Anchovies have such a bed rep, but they actually work wonders in many recipes. Also, if you think you “hate” anchovies, but enjoy caesar salads on a regular basis, then think again! Most caesar dressings contain some form of anchovies, or at least all the really good ones do. And don’t worry, 3-4 anchovy filets won’t make our dressing taste at all fishy. They simply add a delicious, briny touch that’s truly unmatched! Therefore, don’t make this recipe without them.

kale caesar salad being lifted out of a serving bowl

Add Protein

Turn this easy salad recipe into a complete meal by topping it with cooked chicken, shrimp, salmon, or some crispy chickpeas!

What Makes This Kale Caesar Salad So Healthy?

Kale is one of the most nutrient-dense foods on the planet! I mean, it’s a literal superfood, so it’s full of:

Vitamin A – strengthens immune system.
Vitamin K – necessary to prevent blood clotting.
Folate – great for brain development.
Potassium – aids nerve and muscle function.
Vitamin C – prevents chronic diseases.
Calcium – builds strong bones.
Zinc – strengthens immune system and metabolism.

Adjust This Recipe To Your Dietary Needs

Make it Gluten-Free: Use gluten-free croutons instead!

Make it Dairy-Free: Either omit the parmesan cheese, or use nutritional yeast or your favorite non-dairy parmesan cheese in its place.

Vegan Option: Make this a vegan kale caesar salad by replacing the parmesan cheese with nutritional yeast, the mayonnaise with vegan mayonnaise, and the anchovy filets with a teaspoon of capers.

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Kale Caesar Salad

This kale caesar salad is bursting with fresh flavor! It’s hearty and super satisfying, but won’t leave you feeling weighed down. Fuel up on this healthy and delicious restaurant-quality salad for lunch or dinner!

Print Rate

Prep Time: 5

Total Time: 5

Servings: servings

Ingredients

For the salad:

1 bunch kale, stems removed and chopped
4 cups romaine, chopped
1 cup croutons, see Notes for homemade croutons
1/4 cup parmesan cheese shreds, optional

For the dressing:

1/2 cup mayonnaise
3-4 anchovy filets
2 garlic cloves, peeled
1/2 tablespoon lemon juice
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1/2 teaspoon salt

Instructions

Add all salad ingredients to a large bowl.
Add all dressing ingredients to a blender or food processor and blend until smooth and combined.
Drizzle dressing over salad, toss to coat, then serve.

Notes

Homemade Croutons: Slice thick, crusty bread (such as French bread) into 1-inch cubes. Place cubed bread on a baking sheet and drizzle with about a tablespoon of olive oil, and a sprinkle of salt and black pepper. Bake croutons at 350° Fahrenheit for about 15 minutes or until golden brown and crispy.

Nutrition

Calories: 300kcal

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30 Minutes or Less

Roasted Beet Hummus

By Samantha Russo February 8, 2022

A stunningly vibrant, simple, and healthy beet hummus recipe, made in under 5 minutes! The perfect plant-based snack, appetizer, or side dish. This roasted beet recipe will quickly become one of your favorite ways to sneak more veggies into your diet.

overhead image of roasted beet hummus in a bowl with crackers on the side

I had the BEST roasted beet hummus a few weeks ago while visiting Salt Lake City, Utah. It was perfectly smooth, tangy, and all-around delicious. We ordered it as an appetizer ahead of our meal, but I quickly (…like ate the whole bowl in under a minute) filled up on it. So as I was sitting there, belly fuller than full on the most incredible beet hummus, I took out my phone and made a note to recreate that out-of-this-world appetizer recipe as soon as I got home!

Fast forward a few days, I’m home and stocked up on everything I’ll need for this recipe. Roasted beets, cans upon cans of chickpeas, tahini, olive oil, plenty of garlic, lemons, and of course salt. I quickly began experimenting and I can’t lie, it took a few tries, but I eventually achieved that same flawless, stunningly pink beet hummus as I had in SLC!

What You’ll Need

Roasted Beets – Use as many or as few roasted beets in this recipe as you’d like! I bought pre-roasted beets to save myself a bit of time, but you can definitely roast the beets yourself instead. For instructions on how to cook beets, check out this post I wrote for 40 Aprons.

Chickpeas – Chickpeas are the base to every single hummus recipe out there! They’re high in protein, and blend up super smooth, creamy, and delicious. You can of course cook your own chickpeas for this recipe, but I almost always opt for the pre-cooked canned chickpeas in my recipes. They’re easier, just as good, and will save you a bunch of time. Regardless of what kind of chickpeas you’re using for this recipe (canned or homemade), be sure to drain and rinse them well ahead of placing them in a food processor or blender.

Tahini – Here’s another ingredient you’ll find in all hummus recipes. Tahini is ground sesame seeds, it has a nutty flavor with a slightly bitter finish. This nut-free spread is delicious on its own, slathered on toast, and of course, in this easy beet hummus recipe.

roasted beet hummus being scooped out of a bowl with a cracker

Top Tips

Use either a food processor or high-speed blender to blend all ingredients together! I’ve tested both appliances for this recipe, and they honestly both work great. The food processor achieved an ever-so-slightly smoother beet hummus, but the difference was negligible.
Homemade hummus can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Yes, the store-bought kind lasts longer, but doesn’t even come close in flavor and freshness to this homemade recipe!
Serve this easy snack or appetizer however you’d like! I went with gluten-free crackers, but pita bread, or even a sliced baguette would pair beautifully with this recipe. Also, for an even healthier option, serve your beet hummus with fresh cut veggies such as cucumber, carrots, and bell peppers!

This Roasted Beet Hummus Is…