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Just because it’s getting cold outside doesn’t mean we can’t still enjoy a delicious and fresh salad. Sometimes we just need a break from the heavy comfort food and this Kale BLT Salad is one I’m currently obsessing over.
I was inspired to make this Kale BLT Salad after our anniversary trip to Vail a couple of weeks ago. We were sitting in the resort watching the Broncos game and decided to have dinner right there in the bar instead of going to the restaurant. Now the normal thing to order would have been what my husband had, the pub burger, fries, and a beer. However, I was craving a salad…it may have been because I had just eaten a bag of chocolate covered gummy bears. I was immediately drawn to the Kale BLT Salad. Why was I drawn to this salad you might ask, because it was served with lemon bacon vinaigrette! Mind blown!
Let’s talk about bacon for a minute. People either love it or hate it I’ve discovered. I love it, but try to limit my bacon intake to special occasions. My husband would eat it all day every day if he had his way, the man is seriously bacon obsessed! I also prefer thick cut bacon over the flimsy stuff, I like a little meat on it, not just fat. I don’t like it undercooked so it’s rubbery, but I also don’t like it overcooked so it’s bacon brittle (now there’s an idea). So, I guess you can call me a bacon snob. But hey if I’m going to splurge I only want the best and I want it prepared well!
Anyways enough rambling about my bacon snobbery. The bacon in this vinaigrette was nice large, thick, diced pieces, not those gross little fake bacon bits. While I didn’t come close to using all the dressing on my salad (do restaurants really think you are going to pour half a cup of dressing on your salad?), you better believe I spooned out all the pieces of bacon! The combination of the salty bacon, tart lemon vinaigrette, earthy kale, sweet tomatoes, spicy red onion, and pungent blue cheese was a flavor explosion in my mouth!
From that first bite I knew that I had to recreate this when I got home and recreate I did! My version of the salad turned out to be everything I was hoping for and the only big changes I made were putting the bacon on top of the salad instead of in the dressing, that way I could use more of it which is never a bad thing. If you find yourself craving a salad in the middle of winter then grab a package of bacon and a couple lemons and make this deliciously healthy Kale BLT Salad!
More Salad Recipes
Carrot Apple Salad with Yogurt Dressing
Spinach Orzo Chicken Salad with Goat Cheese
Kale BLT Salad
Ingredients
Salad
- 2 cups chopped kale
- 3 cups chopped romaine lettuce
- 1/2 cup diced red onion
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes
- 6 slices cooked bacon chopped
- 1/2 cup crumbled blue cheese
Lemon Dijon Vinaigrette
- 2 tablespoons white wine vinegar
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon dijon mustard
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon onion powder
Instructions
To Make the Salad
- In a large bowl toss together the chopped kale and romaine.
- Top the salad with the cherry tomatoes, red onion, blue cheese, and bacon.
To Make the Lemon Dijon Vinaigrette
- In a mason jar or glass measuring cup whisk or shake together all of the dressing ingredients.
- Top the salad with the dressing just before serving or serve it on the side.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Happy Belated Anniversary! I love that you’re a self-proclaimed bacon snob. ME TOO. Although I don’t mind the brittle bacon, the rubbery stuff is YUCK. This salad sounds delicious – and so healthy with the kale!
I’d have to skip the raw onions, but everything else about that looks delightful, I love the idea of lemon and bacon together, the acid makes the fatty bacon brighter!
Thanks Andi! You are absolutely right about the acid in the lemon making the bacon brighter!
I could totally go for this salad! Looks amazing and such a great combination of flavors!
Thanks Annie! Have a great weekend! :-)
I can see why you were smitten with this salad. That lemon dressing, alongside the bacon, sounds incredible!
The combination of the lemon and bacon is so perfect, who knew! Have a great weekend Dara!