Description
Ina Garten’s savory kale salad blends crisp greens with tangy lemon vinaigrette and toasted pine nuts. Fresh ingredients create a delightful Mediterranean-inspired dish perfect for lunch or side accompaniment.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb lacinato kale (dinosaur or Tuscan kale)
- 4 oz pancetta, small-diced
- 1 cup bread cubes (½-inch, crusts removed)
- ½ cup (2 oz) shaved Italian Pecorino cheese
- ¼ cup freshly grated Italian Pecorino cheese
- 2 extra-large egg yolks (room temperature)
- 4 anchovy fillets, drained
- 1 large garlic clove
- 1 tbsp Dijon mustard
- ⅓ cup freshly squeezed lemon juice (2 lemons, room temperature)
- Kosher salt
- Freshly ground black pepper
- ⅔ cup good olive oil (plus extra to cook pancetta)
Instructions
- Dressing Preparation: Pulverize anchovies, garlic, dijon mustard, egg yolks, lemon juice, salt, and pepper in a food processor until smooth, creating a uniform base.
- Emulsification Process: While processor runs, slowly stream extra virgin olive oil through the feed tube, allowing the mixture to transform into a creamy consistency. Integrate Pecorino Romano cheese until well blended.
- Flavor Infusion: Refrigerate dressing in an airtight container for 30 minutes to allow flavor development and harmonization.
- Kale Transformation: Cleanse kale under cold water, meticulously dry, and remove tough central ribs. Slice leaves into delicate, thin ribbons, placing them in a spacious mixing bowl.
- Crispy Element Creation: In a heavy-bottomed skillet, render pancetta over medium-high heat until golden and crisp. Using a slotted spoon, extract pancetta and set aside. Toast bread cubes in the same pan until they develop a caramelized, crunchy texture.
- Final Assembly: Drizzle prepared dressing over kale, gently massaging to soften leaves. Incorporate crisp pancetta, toasted croutons, and Pecorino Romano shavings. Allow salad to rest for 5 minutes at room temperature to enhance flavor melding before serving.
Notes
- Chill Dressing Deeply: Refrigerate for minimum 30 minutes to allow complex flavor development and ingredient integration.
- Massage Kale Carefully: Gently work dressing into leaves to soften tough texture and enhance overall taste absorption.
- Toast Croutons Perfectly: Watch bread cubes closely during toasting to achieve golden, crispy texture without burning.
- Balance Pancetta Crispness: Remove pancetta from pan when edges turn golden brown to prevent overcooking and maintain delicate crunch.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Blending
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 560
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 50 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 30 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 20 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 14 g
- Cholesterol: 210 mg