Avocado Kale Caesar Salad is a life-changer! Kale, avocado, and crunchy seeds drenched in a quick creamy avocado caesar dressing that can easily be made vegan, too. Toss some crispy sweet potato fries in are you are SET FOR LIFE.
Avocado Kale Caesar Salad + Sweet Potato Fries
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This was SO SO good! I thought the dressing was perfectly Caesar-esque and the sweet potato cooking method was the best I’ve ever tried. They actually got crispy!
Lauren
Salad and fries. The restaurant power-combo.
It is impossible for me to order a salad at a restaurant without a side of fries. Um, a little flavor-loaded fresh veg action with a fistful of hot and crispy fried potatoes to carb it up and wash it down? AND YES I WANT A SIDE OF RANCH DRESSING, DUH.
What was already a beloved food combo in my heart has just been elevated to a new status. This homemade Avocado Kale Caesar Salad – you guys, what can I even say right now. I literally do feel like it has changed my life. Just hear me say this: I love to eat kale right now. I LOVE TO EAT KALE! Because fun fact – kale is delicious when soaked in a creamy homemade caesar dressing and tossed around with chunks of avocado and handfuls of crunchy nuts. If you’re not opposed, Parmesan is a nice addition, and the sweet potato crispers filling out the other half of your plate make it a done deal.
Let’s start with the (EASY) Caesar dressing.
My rules for Caesar dressing:
- Let’s use avocado instead of a whole ton of mayo.
- Okay but let’s still use a little mayo, because the creaminess, you guys. Use vegan mayo if you want – it’s tasty.
- Exactly zero anchovies. Anchovies are not in my pantry, like, ever, so therefore they are a not in my Caesar dressing. I know it’s the true way of Caesar dressings, but look at who you’re talking to. Recipe rule-following was never my game.
- Dijon, salt, garlic, lemon, mwah. It’s honestly magic.
Honestly, this dressing is so, so good, I put it on just about everything (like green beans! yes and yes).
How To Make Our Kale Caesar Salad + Sweet Potato Fries:
The sweet potato fries should get done first – they take about 30 minutes whereas the salad takes about 2, so start on those right away if you want fries with that pile-o-greens.
And then? Voila.
You have a plate full of hot fries + lemony, avocado-creamy, crunchy salad and it’s all just SO GOOD (dip your fries in the dressing, I dare you) and also – I might quit the blog now because this is the food I want to eat forever.
I mean, I never said I was fancy.
Avocado Kale Caesar Salad + Sweet Potato Fries
- Total Time: 10 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings as an entree salad, 6 as a side 1x
Description
Avocado Kale Caesar Salad! Kale, avocado, and crunchy seeds drenched in a quick creamy avocado caesar dressing that can easily be made vegan, too. Toss some crispy sweet potato fries in are you are SET FOR LIFE.
Ingredients
Units
Scale
Avocado Caesar Dressing:
- 1 avocado, divided
- 1/2 cup water
- 1/4 cup mayonnaise (optional – see notes)
- 2 small cloves garlic
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
Kale Caesar Salad:
- 1 bunch kale, stems removed, chopped (5–6 cups)
- Parmesan and/or pepitas for topping
Instructions
- Cut the avocado in half. Reserve one half for the salad. Blend the other half with the water, mayo, garlic, lemon juice, Dijon, and salt. Taste and adjust!
- Toss the chopped kale with the dressing. Throw in a handful of pepitas and Parmesan and toss it all around. Finish the salad with the remaining half of the avocado, cut into cubes. YUM!
Notes
Sweet Potato Fries (do this first, because the salad doesn’t take long): Preheat oven to 450 degrees with the pan in the oven so it gets hot. Peel 4 sweet potatoes and cut into fry-shapes. The thinner they are, the more crispy they’ll get. Toss with a teaspoon or two of olive oil and a sprinkle of salt, pepper, and garlic powder. Remove hot pan from oven, arrange fries evenly, and bake for 20 minutes. Turn and bake for another 10 minutes or so until crispy.
How to make this vegan: Leave out the Parm and sub vegan mayo.
Thoughts on mayo: I found mayonnaise to be the right ingredient to add creaminess and flavor to the dressing. If you really don’t want to use mayo, you could sub Greek yogurt (more tangy flavor), or just leave it out altogether with the consequence of a more watery but still delicious dressing.
Thoughts on anchovies: Traditionally, Caesar salad is made with anchovies – paste, oil, or whole. I don’t normally keep anchovies on hand and I thought the dressing tasted great without them, so that’s why you don’t see them included them in this recipe.
Extra Dressing? Use it on these Avocado Caesar Green Beans! YUM!
Nutrition info is for salad only.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Lunch
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: avocado kale caesar salad, sweet potato fries, kale caesar salad
One More Thing!
This recipe is part of our collection of yummy kale recipes. Check it out!
Filed Under: All Recipes Avocado Bowls Dairy-Free Gluten-Free Healthy Kale Lemon Most Popular Quick and Easy Salads Sugar Free January Sugar-Free Sweet Potato Vegetarian Winter
January 29, 2018
Nice to meet you!
I’m Lindsay and I ♡ FOOD. I used to be a teacher, and now making food and writing about it online is my full-time job. I love talking with people about food, and I'm so glad you're here.
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This looks fantastic… can’t wait to try it. I have always said.. I forever be the girl who orders a salad with a side of fries! Glad to know there are others out there!
I forever be the girl who orders a salad with a side of fries! Glad to know there are others out there!
Why did you copy and paste what the person before you said in her comment? Unless you talk exactly like her and have the same thoughts as her, which means there are two of you and you should definitely meet. I find that there’s a lot to be said for having your own thoughts and being original though – even when trying to get your site links.
Who are you to judge people? bet she sure feels ashamed and condemned now, ooooooooh you got her, and put her in her place, huh?
Lol nobody cares what you think, and do you really even care that much about what she does? Admit that it just makes you feel good to call somebody out. You dont know her, she doesn’t know you, she hasn’t affected you, or has she? Are you really that bothered? If so, THAT’S what’s shameful. Who made you an authority Karen? Lol people kill me, but these are LEARNED behaviors. Just enjoy the recipes if you’re here.
I’ve been coming back to this awesome combo for several years now. The dressing is one of my all time favorites. Sometimes I mix some shredded Parmesan in for extra cheesiness. And dipping the fries in extra dressing is marvelous!
ooooohhhh! i didn’t do meal planning for the week and i think the universe is rewarding me with this easy recipe! cannot wait to give it a whirl. salad + fries = power couple. xo
Hope you enjoy it, Jess!
You had me at “no anchovies”!!!! Looks great. Love the sweet potato and salad thing.
I love salads. My hubby is totally opposite to me in this case. I always force him to have salad, just like my daughter. Thanks for sharing such a wonderful recipe. 🙂
This is very much diving into “Pittsburgh Salad” territory, and I.love.it. Serving a salad without a big ol’ pile of french fries and cheddar cheese on top? It’s a totally necessary and normal thing for a yinzer. 😉
Love love love this, and I’m totally trying that dressing soon!
So I’m thinking this means we need to take a team trip to Pittsburgh because um YES. 🙂
Yes! Please come to Pittsburgh!!!
OMG this is me too! I love that salad/fries combo because you get what you want, while also getting to be a little healthy too. 1000% making this combo for Monday night dinner!
Yes! It’s a perfect balance. 🙂 Thanks for the comment, Abby!
Way to go! Easily made, but dang that kale is crunchy! I thoroughly enjoyed making and eating this.
mmmm yummy !!
You are truly an inspiration. I love your recipes and have been following your blog for 2 years. And yes, this is dish looks, fresh , looks colorful and YUM 🙂
Keep sharing … see yaa
Thanks, Priya!
This reminds me of when I order fries with my soup. Especially a creamy or cheesy soup. It’s like a nice hearty bowl of french fry dip. This looks amazing, I love colorful food. Thanks for sharing your recipes!
That sounds amazing. Thanks for the comment, Tina!
Your salad looks great and your way of talking about make me think of: mmh when’s my next shopping day to fill in the list?….
YAS! Very excited to make this! The Copper Hen in Minneapolis was serving a salad sorta similar to this recently and it was so good.
Ah, love The Copper Hen! 🙂
I kept seeing this in your Instagram stories and I’ve been DYING for the recipe. Cannot wait to try.
Hope you enjoy it, Lauren!
Well this just recipe showed up in my email and I was so excited that I already have all of these ingredients at home! If I didn’t already have your beef stew recipe in the slow cooker, I’d be making this tonight!
Yum, that’s a great one! Hope you enjoy it!
This looks so yummy!! Since I wiuld be the only one eating this salad, how long donyou think the dressing would keep? Or would it even? Thanks!!
It should for a few days before the avocado starts to brown!
This looks so good and healthy! What a great meal combination!
Awesome combo! The kale salad and sweet potato compliment each other no nicely (:
The ultimate combo! Remind me of my favorite local restaurant, where – without fail – I order the kale avocado quinoa salad with and truffle fries! The best compliment to a Friday night cocktail.
Uh that sounds amazing!
I can’t wait to try this dressing, but I am here to say that if you are feeling lazy, avocado + kale + parm + bottled Caesar dressing is still super delicious, especially if you add fresh corn or (again, if you’re feeling lazy) fire-roasted frozen corn.
Thanks for the tip, Sarah! 🙂
Love this combo! I kinda forget about sweet potato fries for a little while, time to bring them back 🙂 I have some new garlic infused olive oil I am gonna try with your sweet potato recipe. Yum!
That sounds amazing!
This looks tasty, but this isn’t ceaser dressing. Ceaser needs egg yolk for creaminess and anchovies for brine. It’s a creamy tangy dressing, but not ceaser. Why not call it what it is?
Hi – I read an article the other day about how people can write comments that are / come across as mean. I am sorry if this comment came across that way. This salad looks great (as does all your food)!
Wow. This combo is so perfect, and I don’t know how I’ve never realized it before. Caesar + sweet potato fries= life.
Omg! Fries and salad are a must! I’m with you I can’t just order a salad! I need the fries to round out the meal!
This was so good and easy! I knew I had to make this when I saw this on your insta last week. I made the dressing in 5 minutes and smothered it on a bag of trader joe’s kale salad and felt like it was something that I would get a restaurant. Bookmarking this recipe to make over and over again!
So glad to hear that! Thanks for the comment!
I’m going to try this. You have a gift for making healthy stuff also yummy. Thanks for sharing your food creativity! And I love sweet potato fries. Interesting tip about pre-heating the pan – another thing for me to try.
Hope you enjoy it, Jenn!
This looks delicious!!! Do you think the dressing will keep in the fridge for a few days? Can’t wait to make this!
It should keep for a day or two, but then will start to brown from the avocado.