Kale - My New Obsession
Kale hasn't ever been something I would normally put in my shopping cart, but in my recent attempts at healthier (and more frugal) eating, I have been trying to expand my family's "veggie vocabulary", as it were...introducing different things into our weekly menus....sneaking in different veggies or greens or ingredients to make meals pop; to add some healthful element; to get us out of the doldroms and out of our routines....
Well, Kale has become my new obsession. I cannot seem to get enough of it. Ever since I braised some in a bit of red wine and chicken stock and served it alongside some chicken cutlets, I have not been able to get enough. I find myself actually craving it. I dream about it. I think about what recipes I can add it to next. Unfortunately, my DH and two beautiful babies don't share my love affair with the stuff, so now I'm making it just for myself...and I eat plate after plate. Is there something in Kale that my body is craving, do you think? Why can I not seem to get enough of this stuff?? Do you all have a veggie or specific food item that you find yourself craving in the middle of the night?? Something that you will make for yourself even if nobody in the house will eat it with you, no matter how time intensive it is to cook?
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20 Comments:
The only thing I ever successfully put kale in is soup. I takes freakin forever to cook so Im too lazy to make it for a normal side dish. You can really throw it in any veggie soup, esp good in the crockpot. My mom' classic is "portuguese kale soup"- little sausage balls, kale, tomoatoes, onions and potatoes in chicken broth..mmm.
Embackus at 2:07PM on 12/29/08
I make a similar soup with it, only I leave out the potatoes and put in cannellini beans instead. SO YUM. I made a pot of it the day after Christmas and ate it all myself, with crusty bread.
I'm wondering if it's the iron in it that I'm craving so much?
juliebugsmama at 2:14PM on 12/29/08
Colcannon, Colcannon, Colcannon..... Look it up and make tons of it.... your family will eat it!
Pavlov at 2:52PM on 12/29/08
Loving broccoli rabe as I do, kale is a natural next step. You sound a lot like my brother who has fallen in love with the stuff. I tried it and although I'm a little underwhelmed, the nutritional payoff has me trying to eat more of it.
Slice a large onion and put it in a deep saute pan with some olive oil. Cook about 5 minutes over medium heat stirring when necessary. Add some washed kale to the pan. Add some chix stock (maybe half a cup) and reduce the heat to a simmer. Slice thickly a whole kielabasa and add it to the pan. Sprinkle with kosher salt and stir to combine. Cover and cook about 30 minutes, stirring occasionally. You might need to add more chix stock.
The kale will be tender and beautifully flavored by the kielbasa. Add some red pepper flakes if desired.
therealchiffonade at 3:11PM on 12/29/08
Call me crazy, but doesn't the kielbasa detract from the "healthier" aspect?
carolrsfMISSESTEXAS at 3:25PM on 12/29/08
"Couve a mineira" is kale or collard greens cooked the Brazilian way, chopped in a superfine chiffonade, sauteed with olive oil, chopped garlic and salt...gostoso!
"Caldo verde" is the classic Portuguese kale/collard soup, made with potatoes, onions, greens and linguica. With a piece of cornbread, that for me is soul food!
LadyMarmalade at 3:35PM on 12/29/08
I adore kale... it's my favorite green... i like to steam/sautee it w/ some sesame oil and garlic.
My favorite way is with chorizo, white beans and some broth, not quite a soup, but oh yummy goodness.
Alm25 at 3:47PM on 12/29/08
I second Caldo Verde - one of my favourite ways to eat kale! I also make a lentil, kale and sausage stew, and yes, I use it in colcannon - it really is as wonderful as Perky says!
brooke29 at 3:53PM on 12/29/08
Has anyone ever had "rumbledethumps" the Welsh take on colcannon? The Welsh apparently gave it that name to imitate the sounds that the dish creates in the body of those who eat it...gotta love members of the cabbage family!
LadyMarmalade at 4:29PM on 12/29/08
I never needed a reason to love the Welsh, but I've got one now.
Pavlov at 6:52PM on 12/29/08
@carole - only if you eat the whole pan. A few pieces of kielbasa and a mess of kale won't hurt you :D.
therealchiffonade at 7:12PM on 12/29/08
Kale showed up four times in our organic produce boxes this fall. Never had it before but now love it, sauteed with olive oil and garlic, and, I found a fantastic recipe for kale salad - throw some chopped walnuts onto finely shredded kale and whisk together 1/2 cup of mayo ;1TBS cider vinegar; 2 TBS sugar; 1/2 tsp ground allspice, oregano, thyme, paprika, cayenne; 1/3 tsp sugar, curry powder, 1/4tsp fresh pepper,salt; 1/8tsp ground nutmeg, cinnamon & clove. Toss, chill one hour and enjoy! The texture and bitter bite of the kale works wonderfully for the explosion of flavor from all those spices!!!
LindaY at 7:14PM on 12/29/08
The best one pot meal in the world - forgive me if you have read it as I posted it recently on another thread.
Cut the rib out of the Kale leaf, make a stack then roll the leaves together and make a chiffonade. Boil in a pot with potatoes and sausage (whatever tickles your fancy - smoked pork, chorizo, anything without a lot of garlic - my Dutch MIL made it with a special Dutch "DRIED" sausage (yes, thankyou, CarolrsMISSESTEXAS! lol) Drain the liquid after cooking, reserving a little of the liquid, then take out the sausage and slice it into rounds before adding it back to the pot, add the liquid, a little butter and white vinegar. Mix it up until smooth and creamy. Adjust vinegar to your liking - If I need a really special favour from my husband, I prepare this meal!
bareneed at 7:37PM on 12/29/08
believe it or not -- kale has calcium!!!! maybe you're craving calcium....
here's my kale & pasta recipe:
sautee garlic in olive oil and put some choppped washed kale, (leave some water on the leaves) saute slowly until it's very soft.... make sure it's a little juicy. boil your pasta, reserve a little pasta water. mix the kale, drained pasta and reserved water... you can add some cheese and hot pepper flakes.... it's delicious..... and makes a nice meal.
pooch at 8:30PM on 12/29/08
another fun thing to do with kale is to sprinkle it with salt and olive oil and bake it on a cookie sheet. it will turn crisp like a potato chip!
cybercita at 11:27PM on 12/29/08
thanks for all of your great ideas for my new green, leafy love. And no, Pooch, I didn't know it had calcium in it. Interesting. All I know is I finished my pot of sausage/kale/cannellini bean soup and I'm heading off to the market tonight for another few bunches to enjoy.
At least I'm craving Kale and not brownies....:o)
juliebugsmama at 8:47AM on 12/30/08
I still need to try kale but it looks amazing like steamed spinach but better! As for cravings, I crave buffalo sauce or hot peppers a lot. I'm fairly certain there is something addictive to spicy food.
Hillary
Chew on That
Chew on That at 11:44AM on 12/30/08
Not only does kale have calcium, its a great source of iron. I make a butternut squash-sausage and kale soup-YUMMO!
ejdesigns at 6:41PM on 12/30/08
@ ladymarmalade -- yup i make rumbledethumps but usually with savoy cabbage and to accompany haggis.
in general kale is my #1 choice for stir fry. i steam it for a bit before hand with maybe some butternut squash or sweet potato and then in it goes in the stir fry along with garlic/ginger/chillies; tofu; shitake mushrooms a seasoning of dried basil, tamari, rice vinegar and toasted sesame seeds. all on top of fluffy brown rice.
it's the classic crunchy granola stir fry from my college daze.
astarteny at 2:06PM on 12/31/08
I'm obsessed with spaghetti squash & eggplant! Oh and onions too! I crave these things... I also really really really crave Tomato Paste! I eat it out of the can with a spoon! It is wonderful & so incredibly healthy too!
Giasbash6260 at 10:59PM on 01/06/09