Kale is a leafy green of the brassica family, that has gotten quite a bit of attention for it’s health value. Kale can be baked into “chips” added to smoothies, juiced, eaten raw as salad, or simply steamed. Kale comes in several varieties, on the farm we grow curly green kale (pictured), Red Russian kale with deep purple stems, and lacinato or dinosaur kale with dark green bumpy leaves. Kale is high in vitamins and minerals including, Vitamins K and C, beta carotene, and calcium. The whole plant is edible, although the stem is often removed for cooking.
Storage
Store in a plastic bag in the refrigerator for a few days.
Preparation
Wash thoroughly using a salad spinner. Remove thick stem, if cooking stem slice finely and add to pan before the leaves as the stem will take longer to cook. Cut leaves into bite-size pieces, an easy way to do this is to stack on top of each other, roll into a bundle, and finely shred. The leaves can be sautéed with garlic and olive oil, steamed or blanched, added to stir-fries, smoothies, juices, soups, or enjoyed raw in a salad. When cooking kale a teaspoon or so of an acid like vinegar or lemon will help balance the bitterness.
Recipes
Braised Kale with Tomatoes, Blue Cheese, & Pecans
Peppers Stuffed with Greek Quinoa
Okonamiyaki – Japanese Vegetable Fritters
Easy Fajitas with Cumin Scented Kale
Massaged Kale Salad with Grilled Peaches
Turkey, Kale, & Mushroom Risotto
Acorn Squash Rings with Kale Quinoa Pilaf
Hakurei Turnip, Beet, & Kale Medley with Hazelnuts
Apple Cider Braised Fennel & Kale
Red Pepper & Potato Hash with Kale
Polenta Squares with Kale Pesto
How to Cook Greens Without a Recipe
