This delicious powerhouse veggie adds great flavor to soups and casseroles it’s perfect served up as a Easy Kale Salad with Fresh Lemon Dressing and great on its own as a side dish!
A Real Superfood
So what is Kale? Kale is a leafy green often used as a garnish or in ornamental uses however it’s also a deliciously flavorful green if prepared right! It has a rich earthy flavor and is a very popular superfood these days! You can buy kale chips, kale hummus, and even shredded kale! Kale is good for adding to dishes like salads, soups (like Zuppa Toscana), and green smoothies! It’s also great as a side dish or a Kale Salad! Is kale good for you? You bet it is! Kale is a powerhouse of nutrition! It’s high in fiber and potassium.
To Prepare Kale for Cooking
Clean Before cooking kale make sure the leaves are free from dirt and are dry and not mushy. Rinse leaves under cold water and shake dry Cut Remove any tough stalks by simply pulling the curly leaves off of the stalk. Discard the stalks. Cut (or tear) the kale into approximately one inch pieces.
How to Cook Fresh Kale
Fresh kale is an easy veggie to cook and enjoy. Kale can be sauteed in a pan (like in this recipe) or baked in the oven (to make kale chips). If you want to add it to soups/stews you can simply prepare the kale as directed above and add it to the soup allowing it to simmer for at least 12 minutes. To Cook Kale in Oven simply prepare as above and make sure you dry it very well. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Spritz with olive oil and a touch of salt & pepper. Bake until crisp but not burnt (about 10-15 minutes). These are delicious to snack on but they’re also great as a garnish sprinkled over dishes like risotto or creamy casseroles.
How Long to Cook Kale
The leaves are much sturdier than a spinach but don’t take quite as long to cook as Collard Greens. I saute kale about 5 to 7 minutes so it’s wilted and soft but not mushy. Just when you think it’s done, remove it from the heat, and it will ‘carryover’ cook to perfection! Sautéed kale is a flavorful alternative to creamed spinach or collard greens and when you make garlic kale with bacon it really adds an irresistible flavor boost to these nutrient packed greens! Season with salt and pepper or a splash of balsamic vinaigrette and enjoy! If you are wanting to keep it vegetarian just sautéed kale with garlic and olive oil is a delicious alternative to bacon kale!
More Healthy Side Dishes
Garlic Butter Kale Rice – even kale haters will love this one!! Cucumber Onion Salad – cool and refreshing side salad. Zucchini Casserole – perfect use for your garden vegetables. Roasted Cabbage Steaks Recipe – low carb and keto-friendly! Bacon-Wrapped Asparagus – another great side dish for all the bacon lovers! Crispy Kale Chips – healthy & low carb!
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