kale caesar with southwestern chicken

This salad is becoming quite the staple in our household. It's incredibly easy to make, requires a minimal list of ingredients, and it's got kale - so it must be healthy, right?!

The salad is inspired by my lovely friend's blog. I typically throw in some white canellini beans or chicken for protein. And then - voila - we have dinner.

Since I'm a fan of everything spicy, I added a Southwestern spice mix to the chicken. Any type of spice or even just salt/pepper would be perfectly fine.

kale caesar with southwestern chicken
inspired by Mint Love Social Club and Mrs. Lilien
(makes 4 servings)

10 oz kale (I like the Tuscan kale from Trader Joe's)
1/4 cup panko crumbs
2 tablespoons olive oil
1/2 cup shaved parmesan
8 oz caesar dressing (I like the organic caesar dressing from Whole Foods)
1 lb chicken breast
1/4 cup Southwestern spice rub mix, optional

Place kale in a large bowl. Add parmesan and caesar dressing. I prefer to do this a few hours before dinner. It lets the kale break down a bit, so it's less aggressively crunchy. Just place in the fridge once mixed together.

Immediately before serving:

Rub spice mix into the chicken. Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a saute pan over medium heat. Saute chicken until cooked through, approximately 8 minutes on each side. Let chicken rest, covered in foil for 5 additional minutes. Cut into thin pieces and mix through salad.

Immediately before serving, heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a saute pan over medium high heat. Toast panko crumbs until lightly browned. Toast crumbs throughout salad