Kale Salad with Vegan Coconut Bacon
Surprise! I made kale salad.
Wait, you mean you’re not surprised? Oh.
I’m beginning to think I should have named the blog something to do with kale because I can’t go longer than a few weeks without posting something that includes it or revolves around it. It’s my fave!!
I just made Brandon cringe. He doesn’t like it when people shorten words. He finds it totes annoying. Sorry Bran! I can shorten his name though; that’s been approved. I can’t believe I just typed totes.
So let’s talk about bacon. Do you eat it? Chocolate covered bacon on ice cream? Bacon flavored cookies?
I’m not so into the craze but I’m guessing you might’ve known that already…actually, I haven’t had real bacon in almost ten years. Crazy, right?
Truth is I don’t really miss it. I do associate the smell of it with relaxing weekend mornings since that’s how I grew up, but other than the occasional BLT craving, I don’t even think about it.
I’m happy to substitute tempeh bacon on a BLT but after trying coconut bacon a few months ago when Brandon and I ate out at Café Gratitude, it opened me eyes to a whole new world of possibilities.
Like I said before, I don’t typically crave bacon so I put recreating it on the recipe back burner for some time but then I saw it again recently on The Honour System and was reminded that I need to make some pronto. So I did, obvs…what is wrong with me?!
Anyway, it was an awesome addition to this salad. The bacon flavor was a perfect match for the mustard shallot vinaigrette and the blue cheese crumbles that I had left over from Erica’s Buffalo Chickpea Sliders {which were amazing, as was her Kale Salad with Apple-Miso Vinaigrette}.
I can’t say for sure if it tastes like real bacon but I can say that it’s delicious enough to at least try. You never know, you might like it better than the real thing…
Ingredients
1 large bunch kale, de-stemmed and chopped
1/4 cup dried unsweetened cranberries
1/2 cup vegan coconut bacon (see recipe below)
1/4 cup blue cheese crumbles (or avocado for vegan version)
1/2 cup walnut pieces
Vegan Coconut Bacon
2 cups coconut pieces
1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
1 tablespoon high heat oil (I used sunflower oil)
2 tablespoons soy sauce
1 teaspoon maple syrup
1 teaspoon liquid smoke
Mustard Shallot Vinaigrette
1 shallot, peeled and minced (I used a food processor)
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 325°F then line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- In a medium size bowl, combine ingredients for coconut bacon then spread it out onto the baking sheet. Bake in the oven for 15-20 minutes, until it starts to lightly brown then remove from the oven and let cool.
- To make the dressing, combine all of the ingredients in a bowl or food processor and mix together.
- Place the kale in a large bowl and pour in the dressing while massaging the kale with your hands. Continue to massage the kale for 1-2 minutes so that it softens some and absorbs the dressing.
- Add the cranberries, bacon and walnuts to the bowl and toss until combined. Distribute the salad onto separate plates and top with avocado or blue cheese crumbles then serve.
Notes
Adapted from The Honour System
Tip: add roasted chickpeas for extra protein!
Ha you crack me up! I totes love shortening words. Actually, it started out as me making fun of people who do but now I actually do…..oops? Coconut bacon huh? Sounds better than the real thing to me! I’ve never been much of a bacon person. Maybe turkey bacon on occasion.
You know, if you keep posting delicious looking recipes like these I may have to actually try kale again ;-)
I had a friend describe bacon as a ‘gateway meat’ for vegans/vegetarians. Too funny! The coconut bacon is such a great alternative. Thanks for the shout out, doll. :)
totally did kale and raisins together, yum!
*dig
Haha I shortened a word the other day (can’t remember which one) and Riley definitely called me out. He hates it too!
I’ve never had coconut bacon, but I would try it for sure. I eat real bacon occasionally, but usually one piece is plenty for me.
What a great looking salad, love every thing about it!
I love everything about this salad!!!That vegan bacon just kills me!! I’ve made a version of it before and enjoyed it better than real bacon (which I love, so that’s saying a lot!). Love the blue cheese, the walnuts…UGH! So perfect!
I know so many people who hate when people shorten words but I def talk like that in person to David. I try not to do it in public but I so want to all the time!
This salad looks sooo perfect! Confession: I order kale salads whenever they’re on a restaurant’s menu, but I’ve always strayed away from making my own out of fear that they just won’t taste…right? Any tips?
Massaging the dressing into the kale really helps! It takes away the bitter flavor.
I’m pinning this recipe like crazy because it needs to become popular! I don’t eat bacon as well, I actually think it is smelly and way too fatty :) but that’s my opinion. I’m sure there are MILLIONS of fans around. Even for them, I believe, this alternative bacon would be a great option.
Thanks for the shout-out :) I am totally blown away by this coconut bacon idea! Never heard of it before and I’m soooo intrigued. It looks so much like bacon, too! I’m not a big fan of soy-based fake meats, so this is more my speed. And I am all for the inclusion of kale whenever possible, by the way!
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Ooh, I have never tried vegan bacon! I havent had real bacon in probably 20 years or so and I dont think I can even remember what it tastes like, though how people rave on about it I assume its pretty damn good! I’ll have to give this a go :) (Also, you are joking about chocolate covered bacon, right!?)
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