Chefs Salad With Kale And Potato Croutons Recipes

CHEF'S SALAD

Steps:

• Tear the lettuce into bite-sized pieces and put into a large mixing bowl. Season with salt and pepper to taste and toss with 1/2 cup of the dressing. Divide the lettuce among 4 large individual serving bowls. Arrange the cheese, meats, eggs, and avocado, like the spokes of a wheel, on top of each salad. Scatter the tomatoes, cucumbers, and croutons on top. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Serve and pass the remaining dressing at the table.

CHEESY POTATO AND KALE GRATIN WITH RYE CROUTONS

Steps:

• Arrange a rack in center of oven; preheat to 350ºF. Arrange bread slices on a rimmed baking sheet and bake, flipping once halfway through, until dry and lightly toasted, 15-20 minutes. Let cool. Transfer to a resealable plastic bag and break into irregular, 1/2"-1" pieces. Transfer to a medium bowl; set aside.
• Meanwhile, wash and spin-dry kale, then layer between paper towels or a large clean kitchen towel and pat dry.
• Mix Gruyère and Parmesan in a medium bowl. Shingle one-quarter of potatoes in 3 or 4 rows, slightly overlapping, in bottom of baking dish. Sprinkle with one-quarter of thyme, 1/4 tsp. salt, and 1/8 tsp. pepper. Top with 2 cups kale and one-quarter of cheese mixture. Repeat 2 more times. Shingle remaining potatoes over cheese; top with 1/4 tsp. salt, 1/8 tsp. pepper, and remaining thyme. Reserve remaining kale and cheese.
• Stir cream, garlic, 1/4 tsp. salt, and 1/8 tsp. pepper in a liquid measuring cup. Pour evenly over potatoes.
• Bake gratin 40 minutes. Cover with foil and continue to bake until cream is bubbling and thick and potatoes are tender when pierced with a paring knife, 35-45 minutes more.
• Meanwhile, toss reserved croutons with 2 Tbsp. oil in a medium bowl. Toss remaining kale with remaining 1 Tbsp. oil. Top gratin with kale, remaining cheese, then croutons, allowing kale pieces to peek through. Bake gratin until croutons are golden brown and exposed kale edges are well-crisped, about 15 minutes more. Let cool at least 10 minutes before serving.
• Do Ahead
• Bread can be toasted 3 days ahead. Store in an airtight container at room temperature. Kale can be torn, washed, and patted dry 3 days ahead. Wrap in paper towels, place in a resealable plastic bag, and chill.
• Gratin can be made 1 day ahead. Let cool, then wrap tightly in plastic and chill. Bring to room temperature, cover with foil, and warm in a 300ºF oven until heated through, 15-20 minutes. Uncover and continue to warm to re-crisp croutons and exposed kale edges, about 5 minutes.

CHEF JOHN'S HOMEMADE CROUTONS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 300. Line a baking sheet with a silicone baking mat.
• Stir olive oil and garlic together in a bowl. Let sit at room temperature until flavors are infused, about 3 hours.
• Place bread cubes in a large bowl. Pour garlic oil through a strainer onto the bread; toss to coat bread with oil. Add 1/2 cup Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, Italian seasoning, paprika, black pepper, salt, and cayenne pepper; toss to coat. Spread bread cubes out in a single layer on the prepared baking sheet.
• Bake in the preheated oven for 15 minutes. Turn croutons and bake 15 minutes more. Push croutons together with a spatula so that they are in a compact rectangle on the baking sheet and no longer spread out; sprinkle remaining 1/4 cup cheese over the top. Bake until cheese is melted and the bread is crispy and crunchy, 10 to 15 minutes more.

MEDITERRANEAN CHEF SALAD WITH POLENTA CROUTONS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 400°F. Halve polenta lengthwise, then halve each piece lengthwise. Slice crosswise 7 times (to yield 32 triangles). Coat a small baking sheet with cooking spray; evenly arrange triangles; coat tops with cooking spray. Place tomatoes on a small rimmed baking sheet; spray with oil and toss. Place both sheets in oven for 10 minutes; remove tomatoes from oven and stir. Return to oven and cook until croutons are toasted on 1 side and tomatoes are wrinkled and brown in spots, about 20 minutes more. Remove tomatoes. Flip croutons; return to oven for 20 minutes more. Pour vinegar over tomatoes; transfer to a bowl. Mix in beans, salt, pepper and pepper flakes; set aside. Divide romaine and basil among 4 plates. Pour tomato mixture over greens; top with croutons and cheese.

GRILLED PORK AND PEACH SALAD

Steps:

• Combine olive oil, balsamic vinegar, Dijon mustard, minced ginger, minced garlic, cayenne, 1/4 teaspoon salt, and white pepper in a pint-sized jar with a lid. Place the lid on the jar and shake the ingredients until well blended. Taste and adjust seasoning, if desired. Place container in the refrigerator until ready to use.
• Clean grates of an outdoor grill and preheat to medium-high, about 10 minutes, or as the manufacturer recommends.
• When grill is ready, grease grates using tongs to hold a paper towel saturated with vegetable oil.
• While the grill is heating, combine smoked paprika, granulated garlic, 1/4 teaspoon salt, and black pepper in a small bowl.
• Sprinkle both sides of pork slices with dry spice mixture and allow to stand at room temperature until the grill is ready.
• Place seasoned pork slices on the grill and do not touch for about 2 minutes. Using tongs, flip the slices and continue to grill until grill marks form and the pork reaches an internal temperature of 145 degrees F (62 degrees C), an additional 2 to 3 minutes. Remove from the grill and set aside.
• Place peach slices across the grate and grill until grill marks form, 2 to 3 minutes per side. Add to the reserved grilled pork slices.
• Make a bundle of kale leaves and slice across into 1/8-inch slices. Place sliced kale and carrots in a large mixing bowl. Add grilled pork slices and grilled peaches, and toss with desired amount of dressing (see note).
• Arrange salad on plates, and sprinkle 1/4 cup blueberries on each plate.

KALE CAESAR SALAD WITH RYE CROUTONS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
• Submerge kale in a large bowl of ice water for 10 minutes. Then thoroughly dry in a salad spinner or colander, and place in a single layer on a paper towel-lined dish cloth. Roll up cloth; refrigerate until kale is crisp and completely dry (any water clinging to leaves may cause the dressing to break), at least 2 hours and up to 2 days. Tear the leaves into 2-inch pieces.
• Place garlic in a large wooden bowl, add 1/4 teaspoon salt, and mash to a paste with a fork. Transfer half of paste to a rimmed baking sheet; set bowl aside. With the fork, stir butter and 2 tablespoons oil into garlic paste on sheet. Toss with bread cubes to evenly coat. Sprinkle with 1/4 cup cheese, season with salt and pepper, and toss again to evenly coat. Spread into a single layer. Bake, stirring halfway through, until crisp and golden, 12 to 15 minutes. Let cool to room temperature on sheet.
• Add anchovies to bowl with garlic paste and mash to a paste with a fork. Whisk in lemon juice, Worcestershire, Dijon, and egg yolk. Season with 1/4 teaspoon each salt and pepper. Slowly add remaining 1/3 cup oil in a thin stream, whisking constantly. Add kale and toss to evenly coat, then toss with remaining 3/4 cup cheese and croutons. Serve immediately.

KALE SALAD WITH PEACHES AND CORNBREAD CROUTONS

Steps:

• Prepare the cornbread croutons: In a medium bowl, whisk 3 tablespoons olive oil with the paprika, onion powder and 1/2 teaspoon each salt and pepper. Add the cornbread pieces, crumbling them gently between your fingers as you do. Using a rubber spatula, fold the mixture gently until evenly coated. (The croutons will crumble, but do not panic: The smaller size means more crispy bits.)
• Heat a large skillet over medium-high. Add the cornbread mixture and cook, stirring occasionally, until crisp and golden, 5 to 6 minutes. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate to cool.
• Make the dressing: In a large bowl, stir together the red onion, olive oil, vinegar, mustard and honey with 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. (You should have 3/4 cup dressing.)
• Add the kale to the dressing and toss to coat. Then, using your hands, assertively massage the kale until tender. Add the peaches and blue cheese, and toss to coat. Season with salt and pepper.
• Transfer salad to a shallow platter or individual plates, and top with half the crispy cornbread crumbs. Serve with remaining cornbread crumbs, passing them at the table.