I'm in love with Kale

stephdray · 10-10-2011, 03:24 PM

I'm not sure why I never tried to eat Kale before, but it's becoming an addiction. I love it in soups and stews because it stands up so much nicer than spinach. It's a vegetable with substance and I enjoy it a lot more than many other greens. (Though I'm starting to like Arugula!)

Beeb · 10-10-2011, 04:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stephdray

I'm not sure why I never tried to eat Kale before, but it's becoming an addiction. I love it in soups and stews because it stands up so much nicer than spinach. It's a vegetable with substance and I enjoy it a lot more than many other greens. (Though I'm starting to like Arugula!)

I fell in love with it, too!!

and here is a great recipe that I make all the time!!

Raw Kale Salad with Cheese, Lemon Juice and Garlic

1 bunch of kale (lacinto, green, whatever)
1 to 2 cloves garlic, finely chopped or minced
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1 lemon or 3 tbl lemon juice
1/8 teaspoon crushed red pepper
Salt and pepper

1. Trim bottom 2 inches off kale and save for your vegetable juice (or compost).
2. Slice the remaining kale into strips about 3/4 inch wide and place in a salad bowl.
3. Smash the garlic with your knife and place in a bowl. Squeeze the lemon or add lemon juice into the bowl as well. Combine it with the olive oil, cheese, crushed red pepper. Salt and pepper to taste.
4. Toss kale with dressing and make sure all the leaves are wet.

Serves 4

SoHappy · 10-10-2011, 04:11 PM

I'll have to try the salad, Linda. Mostly I make baked kale crisps with the olive oil spray and salt.

lewlew48 · 10-10-2011, 07:09 PM

I am addicted to Lydia's raw kale chips! Unfortunatley they are expensive and I can't replicate them

ravenrose · 10-10-2011, 07:58 PM

I just find kale so FRUSTRATING.

100 grams (about a 3.5 ounce serving) of raw swiss chard has only 2 grams net carbs, but kale has 8 grams of net carbs for that same little serving.

it just doesn't seem fair that a green should be that starchy, but it is.

if you eat it raw or a few chips, I think you could limit it to a very small serving, but as a cooked vegetable it is easy to go overboard without meaning to.

Janknitz · 10-10-2011, 08:23 PM

My DH cooks kale in chicken broth and it's yummy. It's not something I tend to overrated at all. 1/4 cup serving cooked or 1 or two leaves made into kale chips comes nowhere near a 3.5 ounce serving.

okapi · 10-10-2011, 08:24 PM

I love making kale chips! They are a favorite and I've never had an issue with them. Every person is different, and some might have to be more careful, but I have been able to eat a whole cookie sheet worth of kale chips without any issues. I need to remember to pick some up the next time I'm at the store!

Liz1959 · 10-10-2011, 09:02 PM

It's so much easier to grow than spinach too. I like it in scrambled eggs. Have to go look up those chips now!

LunaAshling · 10-10-2011, 10:27 PM

I love kale and chard too!

Fav is in soup.

I have just in the last year been able to enjoy it raw in salads. The key for me is to have it cut/shredded thinly and for it to be mixed with other lettuces.

Charski · 10-11-2011, 08:08 AM

I grew it last year - this year I got lazy and didn't plant any, although I still could.

We LOVE it dehydrated into chips. DH and I can eat a BUNCH of them without a problem.

I grew two kinds - lacinato and Russian red - we preferred the red. The leaves were more tender.

moonmirror · 10-11-2011, 09:25 AM

THANK YOU for reminding me, I was just heading to the nursery to buy my mom a birthday present and now I remember how badly I want to grow kale!

I've always wanted to try the kale chips.

rosethorns · 10-11-2011, 10:27 AM

I love kale and chard too. Awesome.

buttoni · 10-11-2011, 12:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Charski

We LOVE it dehydrated into chips. DH and I can eat a BUNCH of them without a problem.

I grew two kinds - lacinato and Russian red - we preferred the red. The leaves were more tender.

Char, you mean in a dehydrator? Just washed off with nothing on it? Man another use for my new dehydrator. Love kale and kale chips, too. And I'm really looking forward to dehydrating my own cranberries this year.

Charski · 10-11-2011, 12:54 PM

I wash it, pat it dry, toss with the SMALLEST amount of EVOO possible - you just want a sheen on the leaves, not dripping oil - sprinkle LIGHTLY with salt (cuz the dehydrator concentrates the saltiness) and dehydrator til crispy dry.

buttoni · 10-11-2011, 07:17 PM

OMG I can't wait to try them done in the dehydrator!! Thanks for posting back your process, Char.

stephdray · 10-11-2011, 07:22 PM

OMG I had no idea Kale was high in carbs. I've been eating it by the truckload. On the other hand, I have a hard time believing anybody ever got fat from eating too much kale...

Charski · 10-12-2011, 08:32 AM

100 grams - 10.01 carbs, 2 fiber, so 8 net - that's almost 4 ounces of kale, which by weight is a fair amount!

Spinach - 100 grams - 3.63, 2.2 fiber - so a lot less, but I agree with Steph - I doubt anyone got fat eating too much kale!

Still, good to be mindful when counting your carbs for the day. I'd rather overeat veggie carbs than most other carbs though.

Beeb · 10-12-2011, 07:48 PM

Here is another one of my new favs using Kale:

Saute Kale in a pan using cooking spray or a bit of olive oil and some salt/pepper until it is almost limp. Add a bit of lemon juice and saute 1 minute more. Before you take it off the stove sprinkle grated Parmesan cheese over the top and then transfer to plate!

buttoni · 10-13-2011, 07:47 AM

That does sound good, Linda. And I like the fact you don't add garlic to it. I don't know what it is, but the minute I put garlic and kale together, I just can't eat it. Way to heavy. In fact, that combination is what turned me off kale for years and years. My first two recipes had garlic. Once I tried it plainer, I just LOVE the stuff!

catkin · 11-02-2011, 02:58 PM

Bumping for more kale ideas!

Wine2 · 11-03-2011, 08:58 AM

10-10-2011, 03:24 PM	#1
stephdray Major LCF Poster! Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Baltimore Posts: 1,124 Gallery: stephdray Stats: 290/247/250 WOE: Moderate Carb JUDDD (Lost first 4 lbs on WW) Start Date: 7/4/2012 -- 43 lbs lost total	I'm in love with Kale I'm not sure why I never tried to eat Kale before, but it's becoming an addiction. I love it in soups and stews because it stands up so much nicer than spinach. It's a vegetable with substance and I enjoy it a lot more than many other greens. (Though I'm starting to like Arugula!)

11-03-2011, 08:58 AM	#21
Wine2 Senior LCF Member Join Date: May 2003 Posts: 915 Gallery: Wine2 Stats: 5'7 53 y.o.189/175/165 (size:14,12,10) WOE: JUDDD Start Date: 12/26/11	bump

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10-10-2011, 04:11 PM	#3
SoHappy Way too much time on my hands! Join Date: Feb 2003 Posts: 17,934 Gallery: SoHappy Stats: obese/slimmer WOE: JUDDD!!!	I'll have to try the salad, Linda. Mostly I make baked kale crisps with the olive oil spray and salt.

10-10-2011, 07:09 PM	#4
lewlew48 Senior LCF Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Posts: 84 Gallery: lewlew48	I am addicted to Lydia's raw kale chips! Unfortunatley they are expensive and I can't replicate them

10-10-2011, 07:58 PM	#5
ravenrose . Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: California Posts: 9,080 Gallery: ravenrose Stats: lost 130 lb so far, and miles to go before I sleep WOE: low carb controlled calorie Start Date: June, 2009	I just find kale so FRUSTRATING. 100 grams (about a 3.5 ounce serving) of raw swiss chard has only 2 grams net carbs, but kale has 8 grams of net carbs for that same little serving. it just doesn't seem fair that a green should be that starchy, but it is. if you eat it raw or a few chips, I think you could limit it to a very small serving, but as a cooked vegetable it is easy to go overboard without meaning to.

10-10-2011, 08:23 PM	#6
Janknitz Major LCF Poster! Join Date: Jun 2011 Posts: 1,753 Gallery: Janknitz Stats: 254/195/150 WOE: Low Carb High Fat, No Grains Start Date: June 16, 2011	My DH cooks kale in chicken broth and it's yummy. It's not something I tend to overrated at all. 1/4 cup serving cooked or 1 or two leaves made into kale chips comes nowhere near a 3.5 ounce serving.

10-10-2011, 08:24 PM	#7
okapi Major LCF Poster! Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Chicago Posts: 1,708 Gallery: okapi WOE: Atkins-OWL Start Date: April 9, 2008	I love making kale chips! They are a favorite and I've never had an issue with them. Every person is different, and some might have to be more careful, but I have been able to eat a whole cookie sheet worth of kale chips without any issues. I need to remember to pick some up the next time I'm at the store!

10-10-2011, 09:02 PM	#8
Liz1959 Senior LCF Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Posts: 256 Gallery: Liz1959	It's so much easier to grow than spinach too. I like it in scrambled eggs. Have to go look up those chips now!

10-10-2011, 10:27 PM	#9
LunaAshling Queen of the Planet of Redheads Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: On a big rock made of dirt Posts: 4,791 Gallery: LunaAshling Stats: 248/___ /Strong WOE: Lowcarb Start Date: Today :)	I love kale and chard too! Fav is in soup. I have just in the last year been able to enjoy it raw in salads. The key for me is to have it cut/shredded thinly and for it to be mixed with other lettuces.

10-11-2011, 08:08 AM	#10
Charski Way too much time on my hands! Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Mostly in the kitchen! Posts: 33,869 Gallery: Charski Stats: 174 (WW)/139/150 goal 5'5" 59 years YOUNG! WOE: ATKINS always Start Date: May 2003	I grew it last year - this year I got lazy and didn't plant any, although I still could. We LOVE it dehydrated into chips. DH and I can eat a BUNCH of them without a problem. I grew two kinds - lacinato and Russian red - we preferred the red. The leaves were more tender.

10-11-2011, 09:25 AM	#11
moonmirror Major LCF Poster! Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Northern California Posts: 2,223 Gallery: moonmirror Stats: 197/184/135 WOE: Basic low-carbohydrate; whole foods, no grains	THANK YOU for reminding me, I was just heading to the nursery to buy my mom a birthday present and now I remember how badly I want to grow kale! I've always wanted to try the kale chips.

10-11-2011, 10:27 AM	#12
rosethorns Very Gabby LCF Member!!! Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Puyallup. WA Posts: 4,534 Gallery: rosethorns Stats: 252/140/150 WOE: atkins I eat non allergic food Start Date: restarted 1-07	I love kale and chard too. Awesome.

10-11-2011, 12:54 PM	#14
Charski Way too much time on my hands! Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Mostly in the kitchen! Posts: 33,869 Gallery: Charski Stats: 174 (WW)/139/150 goal 5'5" 59 years YOUNG! WOE: ATKINS always Start Date: May 2003	I wash it, pat it dry, toss with the SMALLEST amount of EVOO possible - you just want a sheen on the leaves, not dripping oil - sprinkle LIGHTLY with salt (cuz the dehydrator concentrates the saltiness) and dehydrator til crispy dry.

10-11-2011, 07:17 PM	#15
buttoni Very Gabby LCF Member!!! Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Temple, TX Posts: 3,321 Gallery: buttoni Stats: 196/170/150 WOE: Primal 8/12 Start Date: 4/21/09 Height 5'5", Age 64	OMG I can't wait to try them done in the dehydrator!! Thanks for posting back your process, Char.

10-11-2011, 07:22 PM	#16
stephdray Major LCF Poster! Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Baltimore Posts: 1,124 Gallery: stephdray Stats: 290/247/250 WOE: Moderate Carb JUDDD (Lost first 4 lbs on WW) Start Date: 7/4/2012 -- 43 lbs lost total	OMG I had no idea Kale was high in carbs. I've been eating it by the truckload. On the other hand, I have a hard time believing anybody ever got fat from eating too much kale...

10-12-2011, 08:32 AM	#17
Charski Way too much time on my hands! Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Mostly in the kitchen! Posts: 33,869 Gallery: Charski Stats: 174 (WW)/139/150 goal 5'5" 59 years YOUNG! WOE: ATKINS always Start Date: May 2003	100 grams - 10.01 carbs, 2 fiber, so 8 net - that's almost 4 ounces of kale, which by weight is a fair amount! Spinach - 100 grams - 3.63, 2.2 fiber - so a lot less, but I agree with Steph - I doubt anyone got fat eating too much kale! Still, good to be mindful when counting your carbs for the day. I'd rather overeat veggie carbs than most other carbs though.

10-12-2011, 07:48 PM	#18
Beeb Why wait, just do it NOW! Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Where Super Storm Sandy Wiped Out All My Childhood Memories!! Posts: 11,759 Gallery: Beeb Stats: 152 WOE: Thintuition - Intuitive Eating	Here is another one of my new favs using Kale: Saute Kale in a pan using cooking spray or a bit of olive oil and some salt/pepper until it is almost limp. Add a bit of lemon juice and saute 1 minute more. Before you take it off the stove sprinkle grated Parmesan cheese over the top and then transfer to plate!

10-13-2011, 07:47 AM	#19
buttoni Very Gabby LCF Member!!! Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Temple, TX Posts: 3,321 Gallery: buttoni Stats: 196/170/150 WOE: Primal 8/12 Start Date: 4/21/09 Height 5'5", Age 64	That does sound good, Linda. And I like the fact you don't add garlic to it. I don't know what it is, but the minute I put garlic and kale together, I just can't eat it. Way to heavy. In fact, that combination is what turned me off kale for years and years. My first two recipes had garlic. Once I tried it plainer, I just LOVE the stuff!

11-02-2011, 02:58 PM	#20
catkin Way too much time on my hands! Join Date: Nov 2001 Posts: 16,132 Gallery: catkin Stats: Made Goal! 132 lbs. WOE: hhcg	Bumping for more kale ideas!