Start loving kale or "the queen of greens" or "the new beef" as you might have heard out there with this quick, easy and delicious snack recipe. Once you start snacking this crunchy version of Kale (Col Rizada, in Spanish) it would be much easier to introduce it in soups or salads.
Prep time: 5 mins/ Cooking Time: 20 mins
- 1 large bundle curly green or purple kale
- sea salt to taste
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- Seasonings of choice (1 tsp cumin powder, 1 tsp chili powder or 1 tsp curry powder )
INSTRUCTIONS
- Preheat oven to 300 degrees F (150 C).
- Rinse and thoroughly dry kale, then tear into small pieces and discard any large stems.
- Add to a large mixing bowl and drizzle with oil and seasonings of choice. Toss thoroughly to combine, massage using hands to distribute the oil and seasonings evenly.
- Spread the kale over 1 or 2 large baking sheets, ensuring the kale touches as little as possible to help them crisp while baking.
- Bake for 10-15 minutes, then turn the pans around and lightly toss/stir kale to ensure even baking. Bake for 5-10 minutes more, or until kale is crispy and very slightly golden brown. Watch closely as it can burn easily.
- Enjoy immediately! Best when fresh. Store leftovers covered at room temperature for 2-3 days.
Kale is a hardy leafy vegetable, one the healthiest veggies around. It appears in many varieties; two popular types are the classic curly-leafed kale and the flat-leafed Lacinato (or Tuscan) kale. It can be eaten raw or cooked. Kale is low in calories, high in fiber and has zero fat. It's high in Iron, Vit A, Vit C, and Vit K, it's filled with powerful antioxidants (carotenoids and flavonoids) it's great for cardiovascular support and per calorie it has more calcium than milk! Still not convinced? It's super affordable!
Tip for eating raw kale in a salad: Remove the coarse center stems, sprinkle with salt, and massage the leaves, this wilts and tenderizes them. Adding lemon juice or vinegar will further promote the softening of the leaves. Kale can be steamed, boiled, sautéed, or mixed into soups or stews. It is also a popular ingredient in juices and smoothies.