So, I will admit, it did take me a little while to warm to kale. By that, I don’t mean that it took me long to fall for its earthy taste and texture (it was love at first bite); what I mean is that it took me a while to pick it off the shelf, to pay for it, and to take it home. Sitting there in the organic section of IGA it looked tough, dry, hard to digest. But finally, and thankfully, the courage came to me. We made a date. We came home together. And, I admit (once again). I was wrong.
While raw kale does need a little TLC, this is a very versatile and highly nutritious green. In fact it is so good for you that it is often refered to as ‘the queen of greens’! Jump here to read about some of the benefits associated with adding more kale to your diet.
Kale can be used in soups, stews, salads, smoothies,or in a frittata, on pizzas, in pesto, and in so many other ways. If you like to keep it simple to start, it is also quite delicious when gently massaged with your favourite dressing and then eaten raw. I like to whisk together some extra-virgin olive oil, fresh lemon juice, a clove of garlic, a touch of maple syrup or honey, and some salt and pepper. Then I rub this into the leaves before leaving it to macerate in the fridge for a minimum of 30 minutes (the longer the better). Then I eat the lot. And then, I make some more.
Below you will find some more tasty (and Paleo friendly) ways to incorporate this super-veggie into your New Year nourishing.
Smoothies
- Kale spinach and pear smoothie
- Green machine smoothie
- Kale cucumber pineapple smoothie
- Ultra green juice - perfect for the NY detox!
Salads
- Kale salad with grapefruit - wonderfully light and refreshing
- Come and join me in the Caribbean with this tropical mango, banana, pineapple kale salad with creamy pineapple lime coconut dressing!
- enjoy kale salad with mushrooms and a mustard vinaigrette for a healthy and hearty protein-packed lunch
- Kale avocado salad - simple and delicious
Entrees
- Kale and bison roll ups are perfect for an easy Paleo dinner
- this one requires a little bit of effort, but is great for a weekend supper – oven-braised beef stew with carrot, parsnip and lacinato kale
- a spicy vegan and gluten-free side to serve with your choice of protein - Saag Alu (potatoes with seasonal greens)
- this salad is packed with healthy fats and is substantial enough to be served as a main course - seared salmon salad with kale and garden vegetables
Soup
- Sausage kale soup
- Roasted carrot tomato kale soup - nutritious and perfect for cold winter nights
- Cauliflower-kale soup with dill and roasted chestnuts
And finally…
I can’t forget to mention the ubiquitous baked kale chips. These crispy delights now come in a medley of different flavours, such as – citrus lemon kale chips; how-can-you-not-make-these bacony salt and vinegar kale chips; and for those with a sweet-tooth and a dehydrator there are cinnamon crunch kale chips.
What’s your favourite way to enjoy kale?
[...] Gifts From Nature: Kale (thejuicypineappleblog.com) [...]