
A hearty kale Caesar topped with roasted chickpea croutons
Prep Time
15 min
Cook Time
25 min
Total Time
40 min
Servings
4
4 servings
Difficulty
Easy
Cost
Budget
$
A hearty kale Caesar topped with roasted chickpea croutons
A modern twist on Caesar salad using massaged kale, a creamy anchovy dressing, shaved parmesan, and crunchy roasted chickpeas instead of croutons.
15m
Prep Time
25m
Cook Time
40m
Total Time
4
Servings
Easy
Difficulty
Budget $
Cost
(Updated )
Kale Caesar salad has become a modern classic because it actually improves on the original in one key way: kale holds up. Unlike romaine, it does not wilt under a heavy dressing, which means leftovers are still good the next day and it survives a buffet table without collapsing.
The crispy chickpeas stand in for croutons and add protein along with crunch. They get tossed with a little olive oil and salt and roasted until they crackle when you bite into them. Combined with a proper Caesar dressing and shaved parmesan, this salad is substantial enough to work as a meal.
Toss the chickpeas with a tablespoon of olive oil, salt, and pepper, then roast at 425F for 20 to 25 minutes until crispy.
Blend or whisk together the remaining olive oil, anchovy, garlic, lemon juice, Dijon, mayonnaise, grated parmesan, and pepper to make the dressing.
Massage the chopped kale with a drizzle of oil and a pinch of salt for about a minute.
Toss the kale with the dressing until well coated.
Top with the crispy chickpeas and shaved parmesan.
Serve with crusty artisan bread for dipping
Finish with a drizzle of high-quality extra virgin olive oil
Pair with a simple arugula salad dressed in lemon vinaigrette
Serve as a light main course or alongside grilled protein
Test Kitchen Pick
Dried Chiles
Helpful Pantry Staple
The chile base sets the flavor profile here. Whole dried chiles give you a deeper, cleaner taste than leaning on a generic powder.
This ingredient shapes the sauce more than another topping would.
Dried chiles are one of the best pantry upgrades if these flavors show up in your cooking.
Shop dried chiles for this recipeThe chickpeas will crisp up more as they cool.
This salad holds well for meal prep — dress it ahead without worry.
Add grilled chicken for a more substantial meal.
Refrigerate in airtight containers for up to 3 days.
No reheating needed.
Per serving (1 serving) · 4 servings
A moderate-calorie serving · based on a 2,000 cal daily diet
Nutritional values are approximate and may vary based on specific ingredients and preparation methods.
Sarah Chen is a professional recipe developer and food editor with over a decade of experience in test kitchens and food media. She trained at the Culinary Institute of America before spending six years developing and testing recipes for national food publications, where she honed her ability to translate restaurant techniques into approachable home cooking. At RecipePool, Sarah leads recipe development, ensuring every dish is tested at least three times for clarity, accuracy, and genuine deliciousness. When she is not in the kitchen, she is browsing farmers markets and collecting vintage cookbooks.
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