Massaged Kale Caesar Salad with Cashew Dressing

This massaged cashew kale caesar salad features a creamy, umami-packed vegan dressing and homemade croutons. (This article has been updated from its original December 2019 version).

Caesar salad has got to be one of the world’s most beloved salads. Well, here in the US at least, seeing as it’s on nearly every restaurant menu. Juicy leaves, funky dressing, crispy croutons… it’s just fun, ya know? As salads should be!

The inspiration for this one came from Dig Inn, a fast-casual chain here in NYC and one of my favorite lunch spots. They’re experts in cooking all the seasonal vegetables, but the one I can never resist is the vegan cashew kale caesar. The kale is tender, the dressing is packed with umami – the only problem is that I always want seconds.

The first time I had Dig Inn’s caesar was around Friendsgiving season and I had two potlucks coming up. While eating my lunch, I realized a similar salad would be the perfect thing to bring. Since F-giving is typically an ode to beige food (potatoes, mac-and-cheese, etc.), I figured we could use some green to balance things out. My caesar turned out to be a hit at both parties, and has gone on to become a staple at all my gatherings since.

What’s In This Cashew Kale Caesar

As you probably know, a traditional caesar consists of romaine coated in a pungent anchovy-flavored, egg yolk-based dressing. For this healthified vegan version, I use curly kale instead of romaine and make a creamy dressing with soaked cashews. (The recipe is adapted from the Compassionate Cuisine cookbook, which I had the pleasure of photographing!)

To imitate the funk of the anchovy, this dressing calls for capers and miso. This duo – along with garlic, mustard, and lots of lemon juice – makes for a super tangy, briny, and rich dressing that mimics the original perfectly. If you’re not a fan of capers, don’t worry – their flavor gets diluted in the dressing and it doesn’t taste caper-y at all. Apart from the cashew sauce and homemade croutons, what makes this salad special is the art of the massage (more on that below).

Step-by-Step Instructions

Soak the Cashews: First, soak raw cashews. Measure them out, cover with boiling water, and set aside for at least 30 minutes (or up to several hours). This softens the nuts and helps them blend up into rich, creamy goodness.

Make the Dressing: Drain the cashews and add capers, miso, Dijon mustard, garlic, lots of lemon juice, salt and pepper, and a cup of water. Puree until completely smooth and creamy. (I don’t advise doing this in a food processor, since the dressing will turn out gritty).

At this point, the dressing should taste really strong – salty and tangy. Don’t be alarmed – it will mellow out when you add the kale.

Make the Croutons: Tear up some bread (preferably sourdough) and add it to a skillet, along with olive oil, smoked paprika, garlic powder, and salt. Toast until brown and crispy, tossing frequently to avoid burning. These take all of 5 minutes, so don’t skip them! They’re crunchy and pleasantly addictive – way better than whatever you can buy in a bag.

Stem the Kale: Clean the kale leaves under running water and pat dry with a kitchen towel. To remove the tough stems, hold the stem end in one hand and pull off the greens with the other, pulling the piece in opposite directions as you go. Then tear the greens into bite-size bits. (If you make homemade juice, save the kale stems!) 

Massage the Kale: To finish the salad, put some kale in a very large bowl and drizzle on some dressing. Massage the leaves by squeezing firmly with your hands until the kale softens, and turns bright green and juicy – this takes a minute or two, so be patient (more details below). As the greens soften, gradually incorporate the rest of the kale and more dressing into the bowl. Toss the croutons into the salad and serve.

Why You Should Massage Your Kale

If you’ve never massaged kale before, you may be a little weirded out. But trust me, if you want to eat your kale raw, a massage is a must!

In comparison to, say, romaine or arugula, kale is much tougher and more fibrous. If you eat it as is, you’ll be chewing for a looong time. Massaging kale with salt and acid – or an acidic dressing like this cashew caesar – softens the leaves, brings out their moisture, reduces their bitterness, and makes the greens easier to chew and digest.

Make-Ahead Notes

You can prep all 3 elements (kale, croutons, dressing) in advance. When I make this cashew kale caesar for parties, I clean, stem, and tear up the kale the day before and keep it in the fridge. The croutons can be toasted, cooled completely, and kept in an airtight container at room temp for up to a day. The dressing can live in an airtight container in the fridge for ~5 days. This recipe makes 2 cups of dressing (enough for 2 large salads).

If you plan to bring this to a potluck like I did, bring the 3 elements separately and assemble the salad when you get there. You don’t wanna massage it too early – otherwise it’ll dry out before you eat it.

More greens this way…

• My Ultimate Sautéed Kale
• Saag Paneer-Inspired Collard Greens and Tofu
• Massaged Kale Salad with Tahini Dressing and Crispy Chickpeas
• Brown Rice Congee with Shiitakes and Spinach

Let me know if you try this recipe! Give it a rating below and leave a comment, and don’t forget to tag your creation with #TheNewBaguette and @thenewbaguette on Instagram.

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