Kale used to only be used as garnish for buffet items like potato salad. But now it's a super food that's been trending for years. If we're being honest, most of us don't like kale if it's raw and tossed in a salad. We know it's good for us, so we blend abunch into oursmoothies and call it a day. But kale can be SO much more than a smoothie filler. Sautéed with some garlic it only takes 10 minutes to make and will bethe easy side dish you crave. Here's a few tips onhow to get the most out of your kale.
1. Seasonings are your friends.
Kale doesn't have to be bland to be healthy. Garlic has it's benefits too and makes kale taste 1000x better. My go to is always red pepper flakes, but chili powder or curry powder would taste amazing as well. Don't be scared of kosher salt either! It makes everything good.
2. Make it even healthier.
If you are trying to make your kale as healthy as possible, skip most of the olive oil. If you use a small skillet, you can get away withjust a teaspoon or two of olive oil to sauté the garlic,then add your kale with a couple teaspoons of water and it will wilt down perfectly.
3. Make it crispy.
If you want some crispy kale chips spread chopped kale on a baking sheet, season with salt and pepper,and bake at400° for 6 to 8 minutes. It will get crispy and a little charred on the edges. Makes a perfectly healthy chip!🙌Store these in airtight container at room temp!
4. Make a better kale salad.
To make a good kale salad, you must massage it. It sounds weird, but it's easy, quick, and makes all the difference. "Shred" your kale by slicing your de-ribbed kale VERY thinly. Then add your favorite dressing, season with salt, and use your fingers to rub the dressing into the kale. That's massaging. And you'll want to it for around 5 minutes. It'll tenderize the kale, therefore making it way less bitter and wayyy more appetizing.
Store your sautéed kale in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Leftovers are great cold or warmed back up in a skillet.
Have you upped your kale game yet? Let us know how it's going in the comments below!
Editor's Note: The introduction to thisrecipe was updated on September25, 2020 to include more information about the dish.
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- Yields:
- 2 serving(s)
- Total Time:
- 10 mins
- Cal/Serv:
- 187
Ingredients
- 2 Tbsp.
extra-virgin olive oil
- 2
cloves garlic, minced
- 1
large bunch kale, stemmed and roughly chopped
Kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper
Pinch crushed red pepper
Directions
- Step1In a large skillet over medium heat, heat oil. Add garlic and cook until fragrant, 1 minute.
- Step2Add kale and season with salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes. Cook, stirring often, until kale is wilted and tender.