15 Delicious Kale Recipes (2024)

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15 Delicious Kale Recipes (1)

I hope you are soaking up the sunshine today. Since St. Patrick’s Day has come and gone, I thought I’d offer some redeeming green recipes. Kale is a more hardy green that is awesome in make-ahead salads (read my tips here), soups, burritos, stir-fries and so much more.

This is just a selection of my kale recipes. You can always peruse my full kale recipe offerings on the site here, too. Lastly, some of my all-time favorite kale recipes are in my cookbook, which will be here in less than two months (!!!). Pre-order so you can get the book the day it’s released, May 16th!

1)


“Loved this! This is a regular in my house. The flavors are amazing and I wouldn’t change a thing (except I opted out of the hazelnuts because I just don’t ever have them).” – Sarah

2) Kale Pesto Pizza


“This was delicious! I had a bunch of baby Tuscan Kale from my CSA to use up. I love that the pesto didn’t have a bunch of added Parmesan. Can’t wait to tell my friends about it and make it again! Thank you.” – Angela

3) Anything-Goes Kale Salad with Green Tahini Dressing


“Thank you so much for this lovely salad, beautiful and delicious! The dressing is such a nice combination. Just the thing after a weekend of not-so-healthful eating.” – Wendy

4) Kale Guacamole


I need you to try this guac and leave a comment to let me know how you like it! :)

5) Thai Red Curry with Vegetables


“Made this for dinner tonight and we LOVED it, everyone from age 2 to age 26! It’s so fresh, flavourful, and pure feeling, if that makes sense. :) This one will definitely be one we revisit often! Thanks Kate!” – Erin

6)


“I am just making this again for the second time in less than 2 weeks. It is sooooo good and I look forward to eating it, I may just have it for breakfast tomorrow. This is the first recipe I have ever commented on. I love it!!!!!” – Rachel

7) Quinoa Vegetable Soup with Kale


“Absolutely delicious. Had it at my daughter’s home last night and enjoyed it so much I made it today at my home for dinner tonight. I used about 6 cups of veggies and added a little jalapeno and I used red kale. Will be a “do again” many times recipe.” – Michael

8)


“I made the Mexican(ish) Kale and Quinoa Salad the other night for “Meatless Monday”. Even my meat-loving husband had to admit that it was “actually pretty good” (high praise for him) even asking for seconds. He especially liked the cumin-lime salad dressing. As usual, another grrrrrrreat recipe Kate! Very tasty and leftovers hold up well!!” – Mo

9) The Best Lentil Soup


“Always my “go to” soup! Great for vegans and meat-eaters, they all seem to love it! Even better it’s easy and quick to make.” – Barb

10) Spicy Kale and Coconut Stir Fry


“Omg. This is now my boyfriend’ so FAVORITE thing to eat for dinner. I had to double the portions so that we both had enough leftovers for lunch. If he had a tail, it would knock things off shelves when he eats this. Going to suggest it to my clients as a good 3rd or 4th date recipe to make for their sweeties!” – Diana

11) Super Kale Pesto


“I just made this kale pesto and it is amazing! The flavors are so fresh. I was a bit afraid of using 3/4 cup of hemp seed because it visually seemed like a lot of hemp seed, but it’s not overpowering at all. I actually prefer hemp seeds over the traditional pine nuts! This is probably going to be my go-to recipe for pesto from now on. Thanks so much for sharing! And thanks for giving me a way to secretly feed kale to my husband.” – Susie

12) Greek Kale Salad with Creamy Tahini Dressing


“Substantial salad with a powerful flavor punch. This salad, plus a slice of crusty French bread and good olive oil for dipping, made for an incredible meal! Bonus: it held up well overnight in fridge and made for a great dish the next day, too.” – Raquel

13) Redeeming Green Soup with Lemon and Cayenne


“Really easy to make and unbelievably delicious. I was surprised by the earthiness of the flavor, which you can also play with using the lemon and paprika. Shared it with friends and they also loved it. Thank you!” – Kristen

14) Kale, Black Bean and Avocado Burrito Bowl


“I am an old vegetarian and a new vegan, and have really been enjoying expanding my repertoire with yummy new recipes, but *this* is one of my top two. I made it Sunday and we had it Monday for dinner, and it is so, so good. My omnivore partner said he was “prepared to choke it down,” but he actually loved it, and raved about it all night. This was also my first foray into a raw kale dish (other than smoothies, of course), and I am officially hooked. Thank you so much for this absolutely glorious recipe!” – Julie

15) Simple Kale and Black Bean Burritos


“Just made and ate this yummy recipe. It took about 15 minutes, pretty easy and super tasty. I love all the flavor! Keep ’em coming. I can’t wait until I’m hungry again to have another one.” – Deb

More resources you might appreciate: 13 healthy make-ahead breakfast recipes, 16 recipes that pack well for lunch and 20 simple weeknight dinners. You might also like my monthly seasonal produce guides and healthy kitchen essentials. View all roundups and resource posts here.

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15 Delicious Kale Recipes (2024)

FAQs

What is the most delicious way to eat kale? ›

  1. 01 of 10. Add It to Homemade Hummus. Jennifer Causey. ...
  2. 02 of 10. Stir It Into Soups. ...
  3. 03 of 10. Sneak It Into Pesto. ...
  4. 04 of 10. Blend It Into a Smoothie. ...
  5. 05 of 10. Bake Some Crispy Kale Chips. ...
  6. 06 of 10. Fold It Into Eggs, Quiches, and Frittatas. ...
  7. 07 of 10. Sprinkle It on Pizza. ...
  8. 08 of 10. Wilt It Down for a Steak-House-Worthy Side.
Jul 20, 2023

How do you make kale taste better? ›

Massaging Kale – massaging kale with a little oil and/or lemon juice for just a few minutes makes it more tender and easier to chew. Plus, it adds an extra boost of flavor.

How do you cook kale so it is tender? ›

Heat olive oil in a skillet. Stir in garlic and cook until sizzling. Add kale to the skillet, toss, cover, and cook (tossing occasionally with tongs) until the kale is tender and vibrant green.

Why do I feel so good after eating kale? ›

Kale is a nutritious food rich in antioxidants, vitamin C, vitamin K, and beta-carotene. It also contains nutrients that can support eye health, weight management, heart health, and more. Loaded with important micronutrients and antioxidants, kale is one of the most nutritious leafy greens available.

Why do I feel better after eating kale? ›

Kale can be good for adding fiber and antioxidants to the diet in many savory dishes, salads, and smoothies. Various health benefits include managing blood pressure and boosting digestive health. Kale is a leafy green cruciferous vegetable that is rich in nutrients.

How do you sweeten bitter kale? ›

Add Sweet to Kale: Sweet foods go well with kale because they counter its rather bitter taste. Serve curly kale up as a salad with simple ingredients like a blood orange, mango and slivered almonds or apple, feta and toasted walnuts or cook kale up with caramelized onion.

How do you cook kale so it is not chewy? ›

Instead, after you've washed the leaves, leave them damp. The water that clings to the leaves will create steam when you toss them in the hot skillet. As the kale cooks, you'll cover the skillet for a few minutes; that steam will help wilt and break down the kale perfectly.

What is the best way to eat kale raw or cooked? ›

Generally, a moderate amount of raw kale is safe to eat. But, eating a ton of raw kale day after day may be harmful to thyroid function. This is because raw kale is high in a potentially harmful compound called goitrin. So, introduce kale to a nice hot pan or oven every so often.

What are 3 ways you can eat kale? ›

Here are 10 ways to use it.
  • As a Substitute for Spinach. Kale works nicely in recipes that call for spinach, like those for egg dishes, salads or lasagna. ...
  • In a Dip. Cooked kale can be chopped or pureed to make a variety of dips. ...
  • Juiced. ...
  • Sauteed with Veggies. ...
  • In a Salad. ...
  • As Pesto. ...
  • In a Soup.

Is kale OK to eat every day? ›

RELATED: Believe It Or Not, Kale Actually Lives Up To All Of Its Hype—Here's Why. Manganiello says you can eat kale every day, just don't overdo it. She recommends one to two servings maximum of kale per day, leaving room for other healthy foods that provide an assortment of nutrients.

What happens if you cook kale too long? ›

Additionally, overcooking kale can cause it to become mushy and lose its texture, making it less enjoyable to eat. Another reason why kale can taste bad when cooked is that it contains sulfur compounds that are released when it is cooked. These compounds can create a bitter taste that some people find unpleasant.

How long does kale last in fridge? ›

To avoid excess moisture, wrap the whole bunch of kale in a layer of paper towels, and store in a supermarket plastic bag or a zip-top plastic bag in the refrigerator crisper drawer. The kale should keep for 1 week.

How do you prepare kale to eat? ›

All it takes is a quick dunk in boiling salted water and a rinse in ice-cold water after draining. It is worth noting that blanching kale removes some of its vitamins. However, if the gentler flavor and easier texture help you eat more of it, you're still getting more vitamins than if you were to eat no kale at all.

Should kale be soaked before cooking? ›

Not only does soaking kale tenderize it, it also pulls double duty by cleaning it and improving the flavor at the same time.

Is it better to eat kale cooked or raw? ›

“Cancer studies seem to show that raw kale is more beneficial than cooked, while cholesterol studies seem to show that steamed kale is more beneficial than raw,” says Harris, who recommends a bit of both in your diet. But whatever you do, don't boil, saute or stir-fry the veggie too long or with too much added liquid.

What can I add to kale to make it less bitter? ›

Adding salt and squeezing lemon make a big difference by removing bitterness. Adding some spicy or sweet flavors may help tame the strong flavor of bitter kale.

Does kale taste better cooked or raw? ›

Additionally, overcooking kale can cause it to become mushy and lose its texture, making it less enjoyable to eat. Another reason why kale can taste bad when cooked is that it contains sulfur compounds that are released when it is cooked. These compounds can create a bitter taste that some people find unpleasant.

How do you prepare kale for eating? ›

A simple way to prepare kale is to sauté it. Kale leaves can be chopped and sautéed in a large skillet with olive oil and salt, just like spinach. Add aromatics like garlic and shallots and incorporate herbs and spices like chili flakes to add more flavor.

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