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Kale, or leaf cabbage, belongs to a group of cabbage cultivars grown for their edible leaves, although some are used as ornamentals. Kale plants have green or purple leaves, and the central leaves do not form a head.
The great thing about Kale is it is super healthy, full of antioxidants and vitamins. It's not good for some people that have an underactive thyroid, it might be a good idea not to eat too much of it.
There are many ways you can do Kale and add it into your healthy diet:
Add It To Soups
When adding kale to soups, the greens are cooked down until they're supremely tender while all the nutrients stay right there in your bowl. Beans and potatoes are favorite companions for the kale and the the kale makes sure that your soup is always filled with flavor. This Kale Potato & Sausage Soup is something we love to make! Check out the recipe over on our Pinterest!
Crisp It
It's surprisingly easy to make your own crisp kale chips. All you need is a tiny bit of oil and a hot oven. You can add salt if you like and top them with parmesan cheese. No matter how you dress them up, it's delicious and super healthy snack.
Braise It
Braising means to cook food slowly in a bit of liquid. Kale's natural tough texture responds extremely well to long, slow heat in an enclosed environment. It turns tender and soaks up the flavor of whatever else you've put in the pot. Bacon, garlic, chiles and tomato are all good braising flavor agents.
Roast It
A brief fling in the over warms and wilts kale with no effort. Cut it, spread it on a tray and roast it in a very hot oven for about 5 minutes. Your roasted greens are ready to be dressed as a salad with any of your favorite toppings. Check out the recipe on our Pinterest!
Sautee It
Cooking kale in a frying pan over medium-high to high heat with a bit of butter or oil is a quick and tasty way to serve it. Seasoned with sale & pepper or add garlic or sweet or chile peppers for extra flavor. It's also a great method when you want to cook a variety of greens; cook delicate greens like spinach a little less than kale or chard. However you approach it, sautéing will have a healthy side ready for dinner in only 15 minutes or so.
Toss It In Salads
Kale salads can, indeed, be delicious. For those who like to chew a lot, just treat chopped kale like lettuce. If you find raw kale a bit too intense, give the leave a nice massage first. Grab the leaves by the handful and rub them vigorously to break down some of the fibers that make them so tough.
Put It In A Smoothie
A handful or two of the kale adds tons of nutrients to a smoothie. Green smoothies offer many flavor possibilities and you can take the bite out of kale with sweet fruits like avocado, blueberry, mango and pear. Let your imagination and refrigerator stash guide you into transforming kale into a healthy and delicious blended drink!