Sunday, June 13, 2010

Baked Kale


I won't go so far as to say that this was an out & out disaster, rather a failed experiment. I've seen a lot of bloggers lately making kale chips, kale leaves that have been tossed in oil and then baked until crispy. I've never tried kale but ever other leafy green that I've tried hasn't been to my liking. They taste too green for me, too bitter and just plain yucky. Even some lettuces don't jive to me. I'm strange, what can I say.

So baked kale. I see it, people are raving about it, things like "I don't like kale but these are amazing! Like healthy potato chips!" Well, hell, thinks the Witch, healthy potato chips, sign me up! So I buy the kale. Thankfully it was in season & only cost $1.29 a bunch, if it blows I won't be out a lot of cash at least! There's fewer frustrating things than dropping a shit load of money on ingredients to have the end result suck. Piss me off!



Anyway this is about baked kale, not my own bitching! The kale! It did get nice and crispy, this is true. It was chip like in texture as well. I liked that. So far its doing good, easy to prepare and crispy. Then I tasted it. First bite was shockingly bitter. Ok, take another bite, nope not getting much tastier. What if I eat it with other food, that might help...yeah not so much. The taste is like burnt grass, green and smokey, not exactly what I'd consider a chip replacement.

So in review I'd have to give it a thumbs down for taste but thumbs up for ease and creativity. If you actually like kale this might be good. But if you don't, well don't be fooled into thinking that somehow an oven and some salt will change a yucky veggie into a snackers paradise. It isn't gonna happen. Sorry kale lovers, I tried to like it.

Baked Kale

makes: too much
1 bunch kale
drizzle olive oil
sprinkle of kosher salt

Preheat oven to 350

Wash kale well and spin dry.

Stem kale by breaking leafy portion off the woody stem. Discard stem in a manor you see fit. (compost is preferable)



Spread stemmed kale leaves out on a sheet pan. You'll probably have to work in 2 batches, I did. Drizzle leaves with oil and toss to coat well.

Bake for 10-15 minutes or until kale is crispy.

Sprinkle with salt immediately after removing from oven.



Nutrition Facts provided by SparkPeople recipe calculator
4 Servings
Amount Per Serving
Calories 57.3
Total Fat 3.9 g
Saturated Fat 0.6 g
Polyunsaturated Fat 0.7 g
Monounsaturated Fat 2.5 g
Cholesterol 0.0 mg
Sodium 167.8 mg
Potassium 222.3 mg
Total Carbohydrate 5.5 g
Dietary Fiber 2.0 g
Sugars 1.2 g
Protein 1.9 g

5 comments:

  1. mmmmm..burnt grass.. yummy! :) LOL Well, thanks for trying this out, now I know for sure it's something I don't need to attempt! I've seen the same about kale chips around the blog world...I trust your take on it much more!!
    p.s...love that you made black magick it's on site!!

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  2. Hey Andrea, you know I felt like my kale chips were tasteless. I used fresh, organic kale too. Weird! Maybe your palate is extra sensitive to whatever chemicals cause for greens to sometimes be bitter??? Maybe...
    Anyway, I think kale chips are overrated either way. I just make a wilted kale salad-healthier and pretty delicious-for a green (smile).

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  3. We actually like kale chips, but usually go the "flavored chips" route - using garlic salt or cayenne pepper. I have never noticed a strong kale flavor.

    LOVE the black magick site. What a great idea, Brian!

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  4. Those kale chips were nasty. Bitter, burnt grass flavored, indeed. Yuck.

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  5. I had a recipe once from my CSA for making kale chips with honey to take away some of the bitterness. It made them more bearable, but I still didn't think they were worth the trouble.

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