Panzanella Kale Salad with Apples, Bacon and Cheese Vinaigrette
This kale salad recipe is a twist on Panzanella with grilled bread, apples, turkey bacon and the best smokey cheese vinaigrette. It's healthy, quick and easy!
Servings 4 -8
Ingredients
- 4 Cups Packed cubed crusty bread I used a wheat baguette
- Olive oil for drizzling
- 1 1/3 Cups Red onion Roughly chopped
- 4 Strips of Turkey Bacon
- 5-6 Cups Kale roughly chopped
- 2 Cups Apples diced (about 1 large apple)
- For the dressing:
- 1/2 Cup Jarlsberg Light Cheese FINELY grated*
- 2 Tbsp + 2 tsp Olive oil
- 1 1/4 tsp Hickory liquid smoke
- 1 Tbsp + 2 tsp Maple syrup
- 1 Tbsp +1 tsp Yellow mustard
- 1 Tbsp +1 tsp Apple cider vinegar
- 1/2 Tbsp Garlic minced
- Salt/pepper to taste
Instructions
- Preheat your grill[/url]to medium heat and place the cubed bread in a [url href=http://amzn.to/1ODgucb target=_blank rel=nofollow]large bowl. Lightly drizzle the bread with olive oil and toss so that it coats the cubes.
- Place the bread on the grill and grill until lightly charred and crunchy, about 1 - 1/2 mins (watch them closely, because they burn quickly!) Then flip and cook the other side until crunchy. Place into a bowl and set aside.
- Place a grill basket on the grill and add in the chopped red onion. Cook until lightly charred, stirring every so often.
- While the red onion cooks, heat a large pan on medium high heat and spray it with cooking spray. Cook the bacon strips until golden brown and crispy, about 1-3 mins per side. Transfer to a paper towel to remove an excess fat, and cut into thin slices.
- Place the kale and diced apples into a large serving bowl. Then, add in the cubed bread, red onion and bacon slices. Toss to evenly distribute.
- To make the dressing:
- Place all the ingredients in asmall food processorand blend until smooth and creamy. **
- Pour as much of the dressing as your heart desires over the the salad and DEVOUR.
Notes
Finely grated cheese is key to making sure your dress is creamy, not chunky. Use the finer side of your cheese grater for this
* We liked the constituency of the dressing best after letting it sit for a few hours in the fridge, as it got a little thicker and creamier. So, if you have time, make it a little in advance!
* We liked the constituency of the dressing best after letting it sit for a few hours in the fridge, as it got a little thicker and creamier. So, if you have time, make it a little in advance!