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More Salads Recipes
Bacon & Kale Salad with Blue Cheese Dressing
Kale and bacon salad with blue cheese dressing is one of those big, gutsy salads I love when I want something green but still filling. I crisp up smoky bacon, massage the kale until tender, then drizzle it all in a creamy, tangy blue cheese dressing. The salty crunch of bacon and the bold kick from the cheese make every bite a flavour bomb. Perfect on its own or served with grilled meats, this salad is hearty, satisfying, and far from boring.
Ingredients
Salad
- 100g bacon lardons
- 100g kale
Blue Cheese Dressing
- 1/4 cup sour cream
- 1/4 cup mayonnaise
- 50g blue cheese
- 1 tsp dried parsley
- 1/2 tsp mustard powder
- 1/2 tsp garlic salt
- Salt & pepper to season
Instructions
Salad
- Heat a small amount of oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add the bacon lardons and cook until crisp and golden, about 4-5 minutes.
- Remove the bacon from heat and immediately toss both the bacon and the bacon fat and oil through the kale. Divide between two salad bowls.
Blue Cheese Dressing
- Combine all ingredients and blitz well until smooth and creamy. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Drizzle blue cheese dressing over prepared salad, and serve.
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
2Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 585Total Fat: 51gSaturated Fat: 17gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 32gCholesterol: 97mgSodium: 1869mgCarbohydrates: 6gFiber: 1gSugar: 2gProtein: 24g
Please note, this nutrition information is to be used as a guide only. Nutrition information isn’t always accurate.
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Kale & Bacon Salad with Blue Cheese Dressing
How This Salad Came to Be
A few evenings ago, I was curled up on the sofa watching reruns of Nigella Bites. Now, I am sure I’ve confessed this a dozen times over, but I simply adore Nigella Lawson’s cooking programs. They were my first introduction to so many classic British dishes! However… I’m not the greatest fan of her actual recipes – they often just don’t work out for me the way they do on the screen – but her ideas? Always inspiring. And it was during one of these reruns that the idea for this Kale and Bacon Salad with Blue Cheese Dressing first came to life. The episode itself is nearly impossible to track down online, but the moment I saw that gorgeously rubenesque pancetta turning golden, and those parmesan shavings cascading onto a mound of greens, I just knew I had to create something of my own.
It turned into this: a gorgeously rich bacon and blue cheese salad, all served on a bed of perfectly seasoned kale. It’s comforting and crispy, creamy but still just a little bit bitter in that lovely green way. Everything I believe a salad should be. The bacon crisps up beautifully, the blue cheese adds a welcome tang, and the kale, if handled with the right amount of coaxing, softens into something hearty but still light. It’s a little indulgent, sure, but not in that over-the-top way. Just enough to make you feel like you’ve treated yourself.
I made this on one of those evenings where I was craving comfort but also didn’t want anything too heavy – I’ve been unwell the past few days with what I suspect is Covid-19. Anyway, I wanted something with flavour, a bit of fat, a lot of texture. And as far as salads go, this one ticks every single box. Best of all, it’s easy – quick enough for a Saturday lunch, but indulgent enough to feel like a proper treat. It took about ten minutes, most of which was spent frying the bacon, and the dressing blitzed together in a flash. It felt very Nigella in that way – beautiful food with minimal fuss.
Welcoming the Warmer Days
With the promise of Spring blooming just around the corner, I’ve started updating my meal planner with more salads and lighter fare. I don’t know what it is, but I’ve always linked longer days to brighter meals. My winter casseroles have been packed away for now, and I’m leaning more into crisp lettuces, roasted veg, and tangy dressings. This Kale and Bacon Salad with Blue Cheese Dressing fits that vibe perfectly. It still feels filling enough to keep me going, but it doesn’t leave me slumped on the sofa in a food coma afterwards.
I find the shift in seasons always brings a shift in cravings. I start to want things that feel alive on the plate. More colour, more crunch, more freshness. But I’m still me, so a salad without cheese or bacon rarely makes the cut. This one balances both worlds. The saltiness of the bacon, the punch of the cheese, and that ever-so-slightly chewy bite of the kale all bring something different to the table. It’s also incredibly easy to scale up if you’re feeding a crowd, or to serve as a side for grilled meats or even a bit of roast chicken.
And let’s be honest, we all have that bag of kale in the back of the fridge waiting to be used. This recipe turns it into the star, not just a background player. Massaging the kale with just a touch of olive oil makes all the difference. It softens the leaves, deepens the flavour, and gives them that bit of shine that makes the whole dish feel special. And while it’s perfect for lunch, I’ve also had it for dinner on more than one occasion, glass of wine in hand, TV humming softly in the background.
The Joy of Cooking Shows
Speaking of TV humming in the background – who else finds cooking shows completely relaxing? Honestly, I could watch them all day. There’s something so soothing about watching someone else cook – the rhythm of chopping, the clink of spoons, the sizzle of a hot pan. It just does something to my nervous system! I don’t even need to pay full attention – they can play quietly in the background while I potter about the house, and I still feel inspired by osmosis.
Nigella, in particular, has that sort of dreamy, poetic way of talking about food that makes even the simplest salad feel like a sacred experience. I love her joy, the way she eats with abandon and always reaches for a bit more cheese. I may not always follow her recipes to the letter, but the inspiration is always there. This salad was absolutely one of those moments. I saw the pancetta, I saw the parmesan, and I thought, “I need something like that in my life, but with blue cheese and kale.”
It reminded me that some of the best ideas come from letting ourselves be immersed in the world of food. We don’t need to reinvent the wheel every time. Sometimes it’s about seeing a combination, hearing a sizzle, and thinking, “What if I did this my way?” And that’s exactly what this Kale and Bacon Salad is – my way. Inspired by the screen, adapted for real life, eaten with pleasure. Preferably while still in pyjamas.
Ingredients Breakdown
This salad keeps things simple, but every ingredient earns its spot. Kale forms the base, of course. I use it often because it’s hearty and a bit bitter, which balances the richness of the other elements. A good handful, massaged just enough to soften and darken, becomes the perfect green bed for the rest. Bacon lardons bring the salt and crunch, little golden bites of joy that make this feel indulgent without much effort. I like them crisp but not dry, and still with a bit of chew for interest.
The dressing is where the magic really happens. A mix of sour cream and mayonnaise makes it thick and velvety, with just the right amount of creaminess to coat each leaf. Crumbled blue cheese brings a bold, tangy hit, balanced out with mustard powder and garlic salt for depth. I always add dried parsley – not for show, but for that earthy lift – and season generously with salt and pepper. It’s a punchy little dressing, but it doesn’t overpower. It lifts everything around it.
When it’s all tossed together, you get the best of everything. Crispy bacon against cool creamy dressing. Kale that holds its own. Little pockets of blue cheese goodness. It’s the kind of salad that doesn’t feel like a compromise. The kind you eat and think, “Yep, I’d happily have this again tomorrow.” Nothing overcomplicated, no fancy garnishes. Just flavour, comfort, and the kind of satisfaction that lingers long after your plate’s empty.
Not a fan of kale bu will try this for sure lol
This looks SO good! I used to hate kale when I was younger, but now I can’t get enough of it. It’s funny how our tastes change over the years.
Make Life Marvelous
This looks amazing!
X Merel
http://www.andathousandwords.com
Thanks Merel! xx