babbling sister primitive buys a big bag of fresh kale

[franksolich]

http://www.democraticunderground.com/115738547

Oh my.

babylonsister (146,256 posts)    Sat Feb 1, 2014, 05:58 PM

Hi! I just bought a big bag of fresh kale and have no idea what to do with it, or even if I like it. I usually sautee' fresh spinach and add it to lots of things but the bags at the store were small, so thought I'd give this a go.

Can you share some hot/cooked ideas for kale, or should I just pretend it's spinach and sally forth as I have been? Thanks!

Oh my again.

Do primitives really do this?--buy things they don't know what it is, they don't know what to use it for, they don't know if they'll like it or not?

Politicub (6,333 posts)    Sat Feb 1, 2014, 06:20 PM

1. Love it in soup

You put it in the soup right before it finishes cooking so it wilts. I like to cook it for above five minutes after I add the kale.
 
And you can add several handfuls to a small pot of soup - wilts down significantly.
 
This is my sausage kale soup recipe. It's easy to make and customize with whatever veggies you have on hand - zuchini, tomatoes, etc. - but this is the most basic version.
 
Ingredients
Box of chicken broth
2 Italian sausage links
Bag of Frozen miropoix (if you have it... Kroger carries it and its perfect for soup)
Cup of water
Thyme, oregano, salt and pepper
Kale

Remove casings from Italian sausage and break into chunks. Brown in bottom of pot with a little olive oil.
 
After it's cooked, add the mirapoix and let it defrost in the browned sausage.

Add the broth, water, a little thyme and oregano. Bring to boil and simmer for 15 mins or so. Season wth salt and pepper.
 
Add a few handfuls of kale and allow it to wilt.

You can make this with chicken or whatever you have on hand. The sausage tastes especially good with kale, though.

pinto (101,690 posts)   Sat Feb 1, 2014, 06:30 PM

4. I love it with sausage or pork. They just fit together for some reason.

elleng (44,932 posts)   Sat Feb 1, 2014, 06:21 PM

2. 'Bake' it so it becomes like kale chips

is all I've heard, other than using it in a melange like spinach etc. Have fun, and let us know!

OffWithTheirHeads (9,407 posts)    Sat Feb 1, 2014, 06:21 PM

3. Just kook it like spinach. Love Kale

Little chopped bacon fried up, a little water and some viniger of your choice, red wine or Balsamic work well. Bring to a boil add the chopped Kale, cook two min, drain and enjoy!
 
Cook it, don't kook it. I hate typing on an ipad!

pinto (101,690 posts)    Sat Feb 1, 2014, 06:35 PM

5. A little coarser than spinach, takes a bit longer to cook.

I like it boiled / simmered till just tender with onions, chopped and pan fried with bacon, drizzled with olive oil and baked with sliced yellow onion, in soups of all kinds, tossed into a pot of beans.

valerief (38,131 posts)    Sat Feb 1, 2014, 06:40 PM

6. I steam it. When done, I put butter and garlic on it. Y*m!

Warpy (74,082 posts)    Sat Feb 1, 2014, 06:48 PM

7. Kale is pretty strong stuff

and about the only way I can stand it cooked as a green is stemmed, chopped and steamed for at least 10 minutes. Then add olive oil, chopped garlic and a little crushed red pepper and cook on low heat for another 5 minutes.
 
Kale soups were a standard in my hippie days because the stuff was so easy to grow.
 
The main way I eat it now is dried in a low oven. Just stem, coarsely chop, and put onto a dry cookie sheet into a low (<200F) oven. Stir every 10 minutes and check for dryness. You don't want to toast it, just dry it out. Then it's good out of hand, sprinkled on salads, on mashed potatoes (the best use, IMO) and I've even used it as a side with Chinese food.

northoftheborder (4,077 posts)    Sat Feb 1, 2014, 07:59 PM

8. It takes a big bag of raw kale to result in 5-6 servings of cooked kale. (same as with other greens)

I like to sautee chopped bacon and some onion if have it, in a large pot. Remove & reserve, add some water or broth to pot, add all of kale, with large stems removed. I usually cook it about ten minutes, stirring to let all greens wilt and cook, because it is a big tougher than spinach. Then drain liquid and add bacon & sauteed onions, and some balsamic vinegar. Just eat! or add to soup or other dish you might have that needs some greens.
 
I never used to like greens, except spinach - scorned it all - even though my mother loved it. But I've taken to Swiss chard and kale. Collards are a little strong to me. Very healthy!

Texasgal (13,769 posts)    Sat Feb 1, 2014, 09:45 PM

9. I love kale garlic bread!

Buy a large loaf of bread in the d**i.

Slice long ways.

Butter and garlic the sliced bread and whatever else you may like. I've used a dash of smoked paprika in the past.
 
Cut you kale into manageable pieces, add to bread.

Add cheddar or goat cheese or feta and some sliced tomato. I've also tried mushrooms.
 
Put bread together and cover in foil. Stick it in the oven and brown it up. maybe 20 minutes or so?
 
Slice and experience the Y***Y.

Makes a great side dish or with some soup!

Granny M (627 posts)    Sun Feb 2, 2014, 08:08 AM

10. I've had some lovely massaged kale salads.

You rub the kale in the bowl with the dressing until it softens. Google massaged kale salads to get some ideas. Granny says, eat your kale - it's good for you!

hermetic (1,915 posts)    Sun Feb 2, 2014, 09:56 AM

11. Stir fried is best, imo

but here is a page that will tell you way more than you ever wanted to know about kale and mid-page there are links to recipes.
 
http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=38

A Few Quick Serving Ideas
Braise chopped kale and apples. Before serving, sprinkle with balsamic vinegar and chopped walnuts.
Combine chopped kale, pine nuts, and feta cheese with whole grain pasta drizzled with olive oil.

I was hoping to find the cbayer primitive, the resident expert on kale, at this campfire, but then remembered she's away--again--for a few days.

[I_B_Perky]

I love spinach.  Nothing better than fresh spinach. I don't like Kale for some reason. Never have.

[Chris_]

I didn't realize kale was edible.  I always thought it was a garnish.

[Celtic Rose]

Not a huge kale fan here.  It is fine in soups, but other than that, meh. 

[Delmar]

I didn't know what kale is so I googled it.  One cup of it amounts to 33 calories so I guess it qualifies as food, just barely.

[Chris_]

I heard you can fry it, but who has that kind of time.

[GOBUCKS]

I guess anyone who'd eat brussels sprouts would eat kale.

[franksolich]

I guess anyone who'd eat brussels sprouts would eat kale.

<<<not aware has ever dined on kale in life; the first I ever heard of it was about a year ago, from the cbayer primitive.

However, I might've had it at one time or another, without knowing the name of it.

<<<being deaf, while sees a lot of things, doesn't know their names, never having heard them.

It's dried seaweed, right?

[Chris_]

It's dried seaweed, right?

No, it's a small cabbage or something like that.

Honestly, it's garnish.  It isn't meant to be food unless you've got eight stomachs.

[GOBUCKS]

<<<not aware has ever dined on kale in life; the first I ever heard of it was about a year ago, from the cbayer primitive.

However, I might've had it at one time or another, without knowing the name of it.

<<<being deaf, while sees a lot of things, doesn't know their names, never having heard them.

It's dried seaweed, right?

It's that crinkly green stuff they put on the edge of a steak platter as a decoration. I'm sure you can eat it, but why?

[franksolich]

It's that crinkly green stuff they put on the edge of a steak platter as a decoration. I'm sure you can eat it, but why?

Oh.

Swede, the cook of Norwegian derivation whose specialty is Italianate cuisine, always puts a piece of green stuff on my plate, with the hamburger well done, pressed down hard on the grill so as to squeeze out every drop of grease.

Most places use a sprig of parsley, but this looks like a leaf, or part of a leaf.

I'll have to ask.

And sure, I eat it.  It's on the plate.  It's meant to be eaten.

[Chris_]

If it's green and purple, it's probably kale.

[I_B_Perky]

I didn't realize kale was edible.  I always thought it was a garnish.

 

Me either Chris! H5 for making me laugh!

[Gina]

Do primitives really do this?--buy things they don't know what it is, they don't know what to use it for, they don't know if they'll like it or no

Um yes.  We have to pass it before we can know what's in it.

[fatboy]

I guess anyone who'd eat brussels sprouts would eat kale.

Or seaweed!

[Chris_]

Or seaweed!

Not a chance.

Brussel sprouts are good.  The rest of that stuff is rabbit food.

[Chris_]

Nobody buys Brussels sprouts by accident.  Those things cost more per pound than a gallon of gas.

[franksolich]

Or seaweed!

Well now, if it's on the plate and looks harmless, I'll eat it.

But it has to look harmless.

[Chris_]

Well now, if it's on the plate and looks harmless, I'll eat it.

But it has to look harmless.

They're a little strong.  Drown them in brown gravy and you'll never notice them.

[IassaFTots]

I guess anyone who'd eat brussels sprouts would eat kale.

Ate brussels sprouts tonight, love kale.  I cook it the same as spinach.  

[Purple Sage]

I guess anyone who'd eat brussels sprouts would eat kale.

    I love me some Brussels sprouts.  I most definitely not do kale.

 

[JohnnyReb]

Um yes.  We have to pass it before we can know what's in it.

If you eat it, it will pass.

[Big Dog]

No, it's a small cabbage or something like that.

Honestly, it's garnish.  It isn't meant to be food unless you've got eight stomachs.

That tells us everything we need to know about the babbling on sister.