" Kale " Caesar - cooking recipe

Ingredients

1 cup fresh breadcrumb
2 garlic cloves, split in half lengthwise
1 teaspoon lemon zest
extra virgin olive oil
salt
1 lb kale (we used the lacinato or dinousar variety of kale for this salad)
4 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
1 ounce parmigiano-reggiano cheese (grated or shaved with a vegetable peeler)

Preparation

Toast the bread crumbs: Combine them in a small saucepan with the garlic and 3 tablespoons olive oil. Stir to coat well. There should be only a light trace of oil in the bottom of the pan.
Season with a pinch of salt and place over medium heat. Cook, stirring constantly, until the crumbs have turned golden brown and toasted, about 5 minutes. Lower heat if the breadcrumbs are browning too quickly. Transfer them to a small bowl stir in the lemon zest and set them aside to cool slightly.
Remove and discard the stems from the kale. Chop the leaves into bite-sized pieces.
Place the kale in a large mixing bowl with 1 teaspoon salt and 1 tablespoon olive oil. Grab the leaves by the handful and massage them.
After a minute or two, the coarse, stiff leaves will turn soft and silky. Note: You will end up with about half the volume of kale you started with. So, calculate wisely for serving amounts.
Add the toasted bread crumbs and lemon juice and toss well. Season to taste with more salt and lemon juice if necessary.
Arrange on separate salad plates or on a platter and sprinkle the Parmigiano-Reggiano over top.
Tip: Do not prepare the salad beforehand. Serve immediately. The salad is best eaten same day it is prepared.