KALE AND SALMON CAESAR SALAD
Canned salmon is an excellent shelf-stable and affordable way to get extra fish. I am awestruck by the fact that canned salmon is convenient. There’s no cooking required, and it’s ready whenever you want it, and you don’t need to think about how you will use it immediately after purchase. Although canned salmon can be somewhat larger than tuna in price, it’s an excellent treat for a few times. It is a steal if you pair it with kale and pasta, which are both cheap ingredients, the Kale and Salmon Caesar Salad!
ABOUT CANNED SALMON…
The 14oz. The can of salmon I purchased cost $3.99, which, when you think about the fact that fresh-caught wild salmon could cost, at a minimum, double the price per pound. I would say it’s an excellent price! The salmon wasn’t very appealing when I opened the can and wasn’t the most attractive. However, once I cut it into pieces and removed its skin, it looked like it was on par with canned tuna. It was nothing to behold. However, it was still delicious. My particular salmon was “with skin and bones,” So I scraped the skin off (but it’s up to you). could You can eat it if you like) and remove any large bones. Most of the bones were thin and soft (probably gelled by the canning process) and, consequently, were delicious. High in calcium from diet even!
CAN I SUBSTITUTE THE KALE?
You can certainly make this salad using Romaine and spinach. If you’d like, be aware that neither one will stand up to the cold, and kale will not.
WHAT KIND OF DRESS SHOULD I WEAR?
I used a light Caesar dressing to make this salad ( Girard’s). You can use a non-creamy Caesar dressing If you’d like. However, I think a creamy version works more nicely with the salad.
CAN I USE A DIFFERENT PASTA SHAPE?
You can use any small or short-shaped pasta, like penne, orzo, and orecchiette. You can skip the pasta and add homemade Croutons from scratch to replace it.
INGREDIENTS
8 oz bowtie pasta ($0.75)
6 oz chopped kale* ($1.50)
14 oz can of wild catch of salmon ($3.99)
Two large hardboiled eggs (optional) ($0.54)
1/2 cup of shredded Parmesan ($0.96)
1/2 cup (or according to your preference) Creamy Caesar dressing ($1.16)
INSTRUCTIONS
Cook the bowtie pasta according to the instructions on the package, and then drain it in a colander.
In the meantime, chop the kale into pieces, and remove any stems with large amounts. Put the kale pieces in an empty bowl. Once the pasta is rinsed, then add it to the kale. Stir to let the heat gently make the kale slightly wilt.
Remove the salmon from the can and remove bone and skin (if included). Break the salmon into bite-sized pieces as you move. Slice and peel eggs that have been hardboiled.
Mix the Salmon chunks with diced hardboiled eggs and shreds of Parmesan to the pasta and kale. Sprinkle with Caesar dressing and stir to coat everything with the sauce. Split into four portions to make portions of salad for a meal or six smaller salads for side dishes.
