The Healthy Writer Blog

Revisiting Kale

Posted by Mary Curry Jan 29 2011, 8:29 am

I’m starting to run low on vegetable options so I thought I’d revisit Kale today. I was just learning about this vegetable when I first began doing the Saturday vegetable blogs and now it’s become a mainstay in my diet. There’s something very satisfying about making a delicious meal centered around something you know is so good for you.

I’ve had Kale on my mind a lot this week because it’s the featured vegetable of the week over at World’s Healthiest Foods. I received several emails touting the benefits of kale and suggesting recipes. You can find the information here – Kale.

Since I was snug at home due to the snow storm yesterday, I decided to cook up my version of WHF’s Kale soup. It was so amazingly delicious that I couldn’t wait for lunch today to have the leftovers. Apparently, Kale becomes extra sweet in winter – something about the cold triggers it. I can vouch that it made my soup deliciously sweet.

You can find the recipe here – Super Energy Kale Soup. I added canneloni beans to make it a meal and I went with the vegetable stock so my vegetarian daughter could enjoy. I also skipped the thyme and sage since they’re not high on my list of favorite spices and left out the celery because I didn’t have any on hand.

Several of you have tried the Kale chips and I hear raves so I’ll repeat that video here.

I adjust by using much less olive oil and using garlic powder in place of salt.

I bought red kale to use this time – pretty!

For those of you who love smoothies – here’s a video recipe for a banana blueberry kale smoothie. Given how sweet the kale has been, I’d bet this tastes delicious.

Emeril’s recipe for Braised Rice Beans with Kale

Sweet Kale Salad with Kiwi Avocado Dressing

Marinated Kale salad

One of the things I love best about Kale is its versatility. It doesn’t have to be the star of the meal, but it can easily substitute for other items (like noodles when I made kale layered lasagna) or be added in to soups, stews, pasta, etc.

Have any of you tried kale since my last blog? Become a fan of it?

13 Comments

Comments

13 Responses to “Revisiting Kale”

Michelle Butler says:

January 29, 2011 at 11:41 am

I’m also a huge fan of kale and completely agree that winter kale is the absolute best! When I did my cooking marathon a couple of weekends ago, I put extra kale in a bunch of stews and casseroles. Very yummy. I will have to try to make the soup you just said was so good.

Have you tried eating raw kale yet? I’ve not done that yet even though you have provided some yummy looking salad recipes in your series.

Reply
MaryC says:

January 29, 2011 at 12:54 pm

Funny you should ask that, Michelle. I haven’t but I was thinking about it today. I liked the recipe that massaged the avocado into the kale for a creamier dressing. Might try a version of that.

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Michelle Butler says:

January 29, 2011 at 4:44 pm

We are on the same kale wavelength. Your column inspired me to have caldo verde soup (with kale of course) for lunch!

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MaryC says:

January 29, 2011 at 5:37 pm

Yum.

I think I just bought out the market on kale.
Dinner (for me, not the rest of the un-kale-convinced household) is casserole of kale, spinach, artichoke hearts, black olives, plain Greek yogurt, mixed with some organic pasta and some tomato sauce.
I hope it’s good – I have enough to last for lunches all week.

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Anna Sugden says:

January 30, 2011 at 8:30 am

I must admit to never thinking about getting kale. Your post has inspired me to give it a try. I will check out first that it’s not one of those I might be allergic to!

Thanks for including all those yummy recipes! Look forward to trying the soup and the crisps.

Reply
- MaryC says:
  
  January 30, 2011 at 9:32 pm
  
  I hope you’re not allergic, Anna. I really love kale and trust me, I didn’t think I’d ever see the day I’d prefer vegetables to cookies.
  
  Reply
Rachel says:

January 30, 2011 at 2:04 pm

Love the kale chip video!
I’d just recently heard about these and was dying to try them – now I know how.

I even have kale in my little garden – it’s about the easiest thing to grow, next to dandelions.

Reply
- MaryC says:
  
  January 30, 2011 at 9:33 pm
  
  Hi Rachel,
  Thanks for stopping by. I had a hectic day today so I only got to check in briefly on your blog. Best of luck to you with the program. I’ll come back to visit.
  
  Reply
Jessica says:

February 2, 2011 at 7:40 am

I didn’t realize it was so versatile!

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MaryC says:

February 2, 2011 at 5:48 pm

Hi Jessica,

I am getting so addicted to this. And the best part is all these vegetables are seriously dropping the pounds off me.

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- Michelle Butler says:
  
  February 3, 2011 at 9:13 am
  
  That’s wonderful news, Mary! Congratulations.
  
  Reply
Michelle Butler says:

February 8, 2011 at 1:47 pm

I just saw this recipe for kale in an enewsletter, and it looked so yummy to me. I had to share.

Kale Celebration

Serves 4
1 bunch kale, washed, de-stemmed and coarsely chopped
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
¼ cup golden raisins, rehydrated in 1/2 cup water
¼ cup pinenuts, toasted
1 teaspoon crushed red pepper
Salt to taste

1. Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Saute garlic until fragrant, about 1 minute.
2. Add the soaking water from the raisins, bring to a simmer.
3. Add chopped greens and cook until bright green and tender, stirring often, about 5 minutes.
4. Add raisins, toasted pinenuts, crushed red pepper and salt to taste. Mix well and serve hot.

Reply
The Healthy Writer Blog says:

February 4, 2012 at 9:07 am

[...] This might be a great time to pull out the Kale Chips. [...]

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