How do you use kale?

[Debbi in Texas]

Mil gave me a soup pot full of uncooked kale. I know it is super good for you, but how do I cook/prepare it?

[mom2bee]

I made some for the first time when I made some chicken soup recently. It came out great, so I think throwing it in a soup might be a good way to use it.

I ate a bit raw and I do not like the taste of raw kale so I wouldn't think a salad is a good choice.

[Slartibartfast]

I throw it in smoothies and add it to soup. I cannot taste it in smoothies.

 

It is nice sauteed in bacon but that isn't healthy anymore. :lol:

[Arcadia]

I fry the kale and just use it on noodles. You can also crisp the kale in the oven so that it is crispy crunchy.

[PinkyandtheBrains.]

In soup

Sautéed

Roasted in oven as chips

In pasta sauce

[Mandylubug]

Very carefully

[Tammi K]

 

 

It is nice sauteed in bacon but that isn't healthy anymore. :lol:

 

Say it isn't so!!! :glare:

 

[MelAR05]

I can't provide the link because I am on my phone but look up Baked Kale Chips. Yum!!

[*lifeoftheparty*]

My absolute FAVORITE!!!

 

Sauté the Kale in Olive Oil- when it gets soft, add in minced garlic, smidgin' of lemon juice, handful (or more) of slivered almonds and a handful (or more) of raisins- cook for a few minutes more. When it's done sprinkle some feta over it and toss.

 

I'm telling you- it's SO good!

[Wilma]

Boiled with chicken broth, onion, garlic and a little bit of crushed red pepper. Delicious!

[PinkyandtheBrains.]

Just as a side note, cooler weather kale tastes better and sautés better than hot weather kale. (IMO)

 

Kale really likes slightly cooler weather.

[Denise in Florida]

Chopped, tossed with olive oil, spread on a cookie sheet, sprinkled with sea salt and baked until crispy.

 

 

[HRAAB]

I just made beef and kale stir fry.  I put it in scrambled eggs, smoothies, salad, soup, saute and toss with pasta.  Anything I do with spinach, I do with kale.

[Gentlemommy]

In soup, chopped very fine.

Tossed with olive oil, slat, garlic powder, and pepper and baked at 350 for ten minutes. Yum!!! My kids BEG for kale chips.

[redsquirrel]

I eat several pounds of kale a week, lol.

 

Mostly I put it raw in smoothies, but I have a vitamix.

 

I microsteam it and then saute it with garlic and olive oil and toss on a dash of Parmesan cheese. My 14 year old would eat a boatload of that.

 

 

[LibraryLover]

In addition to the above, quiche or frittata. Saute first.

[HS Mom in NC]

Raw in a salad with other greens.

[Guest]

We do smoothies or bake with some olive oil and salt.

[SoCalLynn]

Besides sauteeing with a little olive oil and cooked bacon, I make kale pesto. Made with kale, pepitas, parmesan cheese, olive oil, salt and pepper. Chop the kale in the food processor before adding the other ingredients. I use it on homemade pizza dough with tomatoes, parmesan and goat cheese. Or on pasta. In fact I made pesto pizza for lunch today. It was delish.

[Cinder]

Smoothies here also; about half kale and half fruit. It's also good in risotto or just sauteed with olive oil, garlic and salt for a side dish.

[kewb]

Smoothies, sauteed with garlic and olove oil, kale chips, throw it in some soup, use instead of spinach in dip.

[MiMi 4under3]

I blend it with avocado and lemon, then drink.

Kids bake it in the oven to make kale chips.

  

[ScoutTN]

In a marinated salad:

 

1/4 cup EVOO

1/4 cup fresh lemon juice

1 t. Honey

 

Mix dressing and pour over kale torn into bite sized pieces. Rub dressing into kale. Refrigerate at least several hours, better overnight.

 

Cut up one tart and one sweet apple and toss with salad.

[Debbi in Texas]

I knew I could count on the Hive to provide me with inspiration. Thanks everyone!! I had some raw with a salad earlier and it was ok but not my favorite salad green. So tomorrow I will try it another way.

[Laura Corin]

This recipe is good.  I sometimes puree it if the kale is a bit tough.  You can also use it as a dip if you don't put in too much liquid/oil then puree it when it cools.

 

L

[Reefgazer]

Rip into smaller leaves and saute it in butter with minced garlic (take out the big center vein first).  Then mix into the frying pan 1 cup of heavy cream, 3 slices of chopped turkey bacon, I cup of halved grape tomatoes, 1/2 teaspoon of nutmeg, and salt and pepper to taste. Now dump it all into a casserole dish.  Make 6 wells in the dish and crack a raw egg into each well.  Bake 1/2 hour at 350 degrees.  Makes a great main dish and even my kids love it!

[Indian summer]

Steamed or roasted with garlic. And my kids love kale chips!

[Luckymama]

Place chopped kale into the compost bin. Add water. Cover.

[Cindy in FL.]

I use it when I make Zuppa Tuscana, which is not very often. I do feed it to our rabbit every day, though!

[UnionJack]

Kale soup...adapted from a recipe in a Susan Branch cookbook

 

1 lb kale, thoroughly washed (I just use two bunches, whatever that weighs…maybe ½ lb?)

1.5 lbs linguica

3T butter

2T olive oil

½ c celery, chopped

1 c onions, chopped

½ c carrots, chopped

2 cloves garlic, minced

4 medium potatoes, diced

8 c chicken stock

4 c beef broth

28 oz diced tomatoes

14.5 oz stewed tomatoes

1-19 oz can garbanzo beans

1 tsp basil

1 tsp thyme

Sea salt, fresh pepper, to taste

 

Directions

Use tender part of kale only – leaves only, no stems. Chop into fairly small pieces – set aside. If using fresh tomatoes, peel, seed and chop them and set aside. Prick linguica with fork and drop into boiling water for 10 min. to get rid of the fat. Cut into 1/2†slices and quarter them. (If using Italian sausage, frit it; drain fat; reserve.) Melt the butter and oil in a large heavy soup pot; add celery, onions, carrots and garlic. Cook slowly till soft – add potatoes, chicken stock and beef broth. Bring to boil; reduce to simmer and cook, partially covered for 15 minutes until potatoes are cooked through. Stir in tomatoes and garbanzo beans. Simmer 15 minutes more. Add kale, linguica, basil, thyme and salt & pepper to taste. Simmer about 7 minutes more.

[sassenach]

http://www.cc.com/video-clips/oc6n23/stand-up-jim-gaffigan--jim-gaffigan---kale-propaganda

 

Just for fun. I love kale, but my family finds this hysterical.

[Saddlemomma]

You can steam it for 4-5 mins; boil it like spinach; put in soups and stews; dry it, then crush and sprinkle some on everything. I even put it in my smoothies, scrambled eggs, and yogurt.

[mom2scouts]

I use kale to feed my spoiled rotten house rabbit, but that's probably not what you meant.

[Susan in TN]

I pull out some kale when I think my kids are due for a bit of "something that is totally legal to do to your kids". :D They despise kale.

[linders]

Well, first we slice it into thin strips, then we take a small amount.....

 

...and feed it to the rabbit. I have a great (I think) sautéed kale and bean dish that I like, but the rest of the family won't touch kale on general principle. Ranks right up there with collard greens.

[Cosmos]

I had a delicious kale salad at a restaurant yesterday. It had grated carrots and dried cranberries, and it was amazingly good. I would have thought kale was too tough to use in a salad but maybe the dressing tenderizes it. At any rate, it had a very nice texture and great flavor combinations. I'm planning to try to recreate it at home.

[Jennay]

In a marinated salad:

 

1/4 cup EVOO

1/4 cup fresh lemon juice

1 t. Honey

 

Mix dressing and pour over kale torn into bite sized pieces. Rub dressing into kale. Refrigerate at least several hours, better overnight.

 

Cut up one tart and one sweet apple and toss with salad.

We also eat kale in a marinated salad. Our recipe has the above ingredients but also apple cider vinegar, sesame oil, garlic, salt, & pepper. We top with apples, onion, raisins, cashews, and diced chicken.

 

Even my kids love it.

 

I also sometimes add it to breakfast casseroles.

 

I also cook it with sausage & sweet potatoes - all in one pot until done. You can add apples to this as well.

[*lifeoftheparty*]

Rip into smaller leaves and saute it in butter with minced garlic (take out the big center vein first). Then mix into the frying pan 1 cup of heavy cream, 3 slices of chopped turkey bacon, I cup of halved grape tomatoes, 1/2 teaspoon of nutmeg, and salt and pepper to taste. Now dump it all into a casserole dish. Make 6 wells in the dish and crack a raw egg into each well. Bake 1/2 hour at 350 degrees. Makes a great main dish and even my kids love it!

Yum! Gonna try that!

[Ravin]

In scrambled eggs, or as kale chips. Or in soup.

[Mom in High Heels]

http://www.cc.com/video-clips/oc6n23/stand-up-jim-gaffigan--jim-gaffigan---kale-propaganda

 

Just for fun. I love kale, but my family finds this hysterical.

 

That was hilarious.  I love Jim Gaffigan.

 

 

I can honestly say I've never had kale.  Is it anything like collard greens?  If so, I will run screaming the other way.  I hate collard greens.  They stink when they're cooking and taste like dirty feet.  At least what I imagine dirty feet would taste like, having never actually eaten dirty feet.  Just the thought makes me shudder.  Of course James Bond loves them.  My mom makes them for him, and he's so happy when we visit, because that's about the only time he'll ever get them.  Shudder.

[Donna]

I add it to soups of all kinds even if the recipe doesn't call for it. I don't like it raw all that much but I like it sautéed in garlic and olive oil and in omelets.

[ChristyB in TN]

http://mywildveganways.blogspot.com/2014/05/i-love-my-farmer-co-op.html

Here's a link to my blog post with a kale recipe I use constantly.

And here it is copied and pasted.

 

Aka 'that's a lot of kale' my farmer's co-op is a big old highlight in my week. Yesterday's box 'o delicious had kale which happens to be the best breakfast is the world.

 

Kale for Breakfast Kale

 

One bunch of kale, cut into strips

Coconut or olive oil

1/2 tsp minced garlic

1 cup walnuts (pecans are super delicious, too)

1 avocado sliced

Salt to taste

 

Melt a tablespoon or so of the oil in a heated pan and add the walnuts. Move the nuts around for a minute or so and add the kale. Cook all this on medium until the kale starts to brighten a little, not too much, you want it crunchy. Add the garlic and salt and cook for another couple of minutes. Put it all on a plate and top with avocado. Eat. Now, go out into the world and be awesome.

[Debbi in Texas]

That was hilarious.  I love Jim Gaffigan.

 

 

I can honestly say I've never had kale.  Is it anything like collard greens?  If so, I will run screaming the other way.  I hate collard greens.  They stink when they're cooking and taste like dirty feet.  At least what I imagine dirty feet would taste like, having never actually eaten dirty feet.  Just the thought makes me shudder.  Of course James Bond loves them.  My mom makes them for him, and he's so happy when we visit, because that's about the only time he'll ever get them.  Shudder.

 

To me, kale is much milder tasting than collard, mustard, or turnip greens.

[Reefgazer]

LOL!

Place chopped kale into the compost bin. Add water. Cover.

 

[nansk]

I read a kale recipe this week and thought of it when I saw your thread. I haven't tried this yet.

Fettuccine with Kale Pesto

[JennyD]

I am in love with this kale salad:

 

http://smittenkitchen.com/blog/2014/03/kale-and-quinoa-salad-with-ricotta-salata/

 

I also really like kale frittatas.  Even my kids will eat them happily.  

[LibraryLover]

Mil gave me a soup pot full of uncooked kale. I know it is super good for you, but how do I cook/prepare it?

 

I think it is great you asked! What did you end up doing?  PS Sorry if you answered that already in the thread and I missed it!

[Liz CA]

Didn't have time to read all replies so this could be a duplicate:

 

Wash, tear into smaller pieces, put in oven proof pan with olive oil. Sprinkle with sea salt. Bake at F 350 until edges curl. Crispy Kale, yum!