Every now and then, someone finds this site while google searching for “how to cook kale.”
How to cook kale?
It’s incredibly easy! I make the following recipe at least every other week (sometimes substituting other greens for the kale), and it’s probably one of the simplest things you’ll ever try.
Yet at the same time, the recipe tastes like something you’d find at a fancy, expensive restaurants. Others will be impressed with your cooking skills, never knowing all you used to make the dish were a few simple ingredients and a sauté pan.
And although it’s true some people say kale is over-hyped, you’ll never hear this from me. Kale’s nutritional profile reads like a who’s-who of vitamins (Beta carotene! Vitamin C! Vitamin K! Lutein! Fiber!), and you can turn the versatile veggie into chips, sneak it in smoothies, or even make Kale Brownies or the chocolate chip kale cookies that were featured on The Huffington Post.
Remember the Chocolate Chip Kale Cookies? 😉
Or you can go for the traditional option…
How To Cook Kale
How To Cook Kale
Print This Recipe
Ingredients
- 10 oz raw kale leaves (or two 5-oz packages), or raw greens of choice
- 1 cup raw onion, diced
- 1 tsp garlic powder, or minced garlic to taste
- salt to taste (I use about 1/4 tsp)
- oil or oil spray of choice
Instructions
How to cook kale: In a large sauté pan over medium heat, cook the onion and minced garlic (if using) in the oil (or oil spray, but keep in mind that kale’s vitamins are more optimally absorbed when fat is added) until the onion begins to turn brown. Stir. Add the kale, or as much of it as will fit in the pan. Let cook until it wilts enough to stir, then add the rest of the kale as soon as you can. Stir occasionally to prevent sticking. When the kale looks wilted and onions are nicely browned, turn off the heat. Season with garlic powder and salt to taste. Feel free to add any other spices if desired, such as chili powder or ground ginger. You can also stir in a little sesame oil and a sprinkle of sesame seeds at this time. Yields about 2 cups (440g).
Do you like kale? What’s your favorite way to eat it?
I know a lot of people are really big into the green smoothies (especially on instagram… wow there are a lot of green smoothies posted to instagram!). My favorite way to eat kale, however, is definitely when it’s sautéed with onions and garlic. P.S. all of the photos in this “how to make kale” post were taken with an iphone!
Recipe Of The Day:
Clyda says
Recently diagnosed type two diabetic here. Moved to more plant-based diet– losing weight getting the blood sugar down.
Going to try this recipe tonight and thanks for the tip on added fat necessary to help absorb the nutrients.
Leila Larson says
I am 100% Danish and I grew up eating a kale dish that my mother made passed down many generations. It was really delicious and this was during the sixties and 1970s when other Americans didn’t typically eat kale but sought as of food for cows! My mother would steam the kale and then add a creamy white sauce to it it was very delicious, but heavy as Old Fashioned foods can tend to be please give it a try it’s very delicious with a great white sauce
Derek Cridland says
Hi Katie,
I am new to your site and am interested in ‘How to cook kale’, but am a little confused! You write to sauté the kale with oil, but then you write ‘but keep in mind that kale’s vitamins are more optimally absorbed when fat is added’. I am a bit of a novice when it comes to matters culinary and am not sure if oil constitutes ‘fat’. If oil is indeed NOT fat, would it not be better to sauté in butter from the get go?
Jason Sanford says
Oil is fat 🙂