what to do with kale?

[driven_to_win]

Today I bought a head of kale for the first time because it was a pretty purple color and it was something different. I'm not really sure what to do with it. Do I have to cook it like spinach or can I cut it up and put it with lettuce in a salad?

[Anonymous]

Definitely too tough for a salad. It's not a tender green. But it's nice braised with some garlic and olive oil. It takes quite a long time to cook for a leafy green.

[not2late]

I agree with Hayley. Kale isn't a very tender green unless you get a young one.

The two ways to tenderize it is to chop it into shredds, put it in a pot with enough water to cover it, salt and a piece of bacon or ham. Bring it to a boil, then cover and let it simmer until it's tender and mellow. Don't throw away the "liquor", or cooking juices because that's good too. Serve it with a splash of hot pepper sauce. The problem with this method is that it takes a while (taking at the very least an hour) to cook.

The other way to tenderize and cook kale is to chop it into shreds (or you can it whole and chop it later). Bring a pot of water to the boil. Add some salt. Then put the kale into the boiling water. Bring it back to the boil until it turns a brighter color (about 2-5 minutes depending on how much kale you used). Drain the kale. Then you can heat some oil in a frying pan (not much), add some chopped garlic, a pinch of hot pepper flakes, and the blanched kale. Cook about 5 minutes, stirring the vegetable. Serve with a squirt of lemon juice on top if you wish. Or take the blanched kale and serve it with pepper and butter.

You can also add chopped or shredded kale to soup.

[driven_to_win]

Thanks for the help! I'll try it a few different ways tomorrow.

[driven_to_win]

Well, I split the head in half and did the pan-fry thing and the boiling thing last night. Kale is good but not something I would want to eat every day. I liked the way it went from purple and green to purple, green, and blue (part of me will always be a little kid!). I'm glad I tried it!

Don't throw away the "liquor", or cooking juices because that's good too.

I did save the juice; it's sitting in my fridge, but what should I do with it? If that water is full of vitamins I would certainly like to have a good way to consume them.

[not2late]

You can use if for cooking, like if you're making a pan gravy, throw alittle of that in or if you braise or poach chicken or fish, you can use some of the liquid mixed with water.

Or freeze it and when you boil some other vegetable, save that cooking liquid and add it to the kale liquid. Save up enough of the vegetable cooking liquid and you'll have a vegetable broth.

[driven_to_win]

Sounds good. Thanks bunches!

[DreamingTree]

If there is a Whole Foods market in your area, you should definitely go in and ask for a taste of the Sesame Emerald Green Kale! Very tasty with ginger and sesame seeds, I got it as a recommendation, and was very impressed!

[LetsDoItIn2004]

Kale

hi Ya'll

Southerner here........Kale sounds like our collards without the pretty colors. Here in the south we use the pot liquer from turnip greens, collards and polk salad as a cure for colds. I have used it and truly think it helps. If nothing else was a nice warm broth to sip on when nothing much else would stay down.

Just thought i would share.

God Bless ya


Pam

P.S. Was shoppin the other day, they now have Polk Salad in the can.....what will they think of next.