Power Up With These 23 Kale Recipes (2024)

  • Kale
  • The Latest

Tossed in salads and pastas, simmered in soups, and blended into vibrant drinks, there are plenty of ways to power up with this hearty green.

By

Mimi Young

Power Up With These 23 Kale Recipes (1)

Mimi Young

Editor

Mimi Young is an editor and chef.

Learn about Serious Eats'Editorial Process

Published March 08, 2024

Trending Videos

Power Up With These 23 Kale Recipes (2)

Kale is as ubiquitous in the produce aisle as carrots, spinach, and broccoli. In fact, I would say it's the superstar of leafy greens. Available in so many varieties these days, you can have your pick of everything from big, hearty stalks to tender baby leaves. If you're like me and can't resist buying more than one type, you're gonna need a lot of kale recipes.

No worries there! We've got you covered with ideas to take you from breakfast to dinner and beyond. For salad lovers, there's a hearty spin on the classic Caesar that will make you rethink romaine. We've also got wholesome soups like the Portuguese favorite Caldo Verde and easy pasta dishes like carbonara with kale. And, while we're all familiar with kale in smoothies and green juices, how about kale in a co*cktail? Yep, there's one with your name on it!

Safe to say, we've provided a ton of options to make the most of all that kale in your fridge, so make sure to check out these kale recipes below.

  • Tofu and Kale Salad With Avocado, Grapefruit, and Miso-Tahini Dressing

    Power Up With These 23 Kale Recipes (3)

    Crispy tofu seasoned with a hit of za'atar provides both texture and vegan protein, while creamy avocado and bright grapefruit segments complete the trifecta of hero components that make this colorful kale salad an absolute winner.

    Tofu and Kale Salad With Avocado, Grapefruit, and Miso-Tahini Dressing

  • Warm Kale and Caramelized Mushroom Salad

    Power Up With These 23 Kale Recipes (4)

    Here, browning the mushrooms first amplifies its earthiness, gently wilts the kale, and contrasts nicely with the zippy dressing. This makes for a simple yet flavorful vegetarian lunch or starter.

    Warm Kale and Caramelized Mushroom Salad

  • Kale Caesar Salad

    Power Up With These 23 Kale Recipes (5)

    All hail the kale in this hearty iteration of the tried-and-true Caesar! A quick treatment in olive oil transforms the tough leaves into tender greens. Throw in some ultra-crispy croutons and you'll be wondering why you haven't tried a kale Caesar sooner.

    Kale Caesar Salad

  • Kale Salad with Oven-Dried Grapes, Toasted Walnuts, and Blue Cheese

    Power Up With These 23 Kale Recipes (6)

    What really takes the classic combo of blue cheese, walnuts, and dried fruit over the top in this salad are the juicy oven-dried grapes—plump little jewels with way more personality than your run-of-the-mill raisins.

    Kale Salad with Oven-Dried Grapes, Toasted Walnuts, and Blue Cheese

    Continue to 5 of 23 below.

  • Crispy Kale, Brussels Sprouts, and Potato Hash

    Power Up With These 23 Kale Recipes (7)

    Want a satisfying vegetarian hash? Start with par-cooked potatoes that are pan-fried until golden, add a healthy dose of crispy kale and Brussels sprouts, then top the hash with a couple of poached or fried eggs—maybe some hot sauce. Brunch is served!

    Crispy Kale, Brussels Sprouts, and Potato Hash

  • Bacon, Cheese, and Kale Strata

    Power Up With These 23 Kale Recipes (8)

    Kale not only breaks up the cheesy layering of bacon, egg, and bread in this recipe, but also adds a fiber-rich green vegetable to balance out the dish. The beauty of this savory bread pudding is that you can assemble it ahead and pop it in the oven in the morning, making it ideal brunch fare.

    Bacon, Cheese, and Kale Strata

  • Pasta With Beans and Greens

    Power Up With These 23 Kale Recipes (9)

    Pairing a pantry staple like white beans with kale is a simple and easy way to pack nutrition into a pasta dish. Garlic, anchovies, and dried chiles form the flavor base while the bean liquid helps to create a creamy sauce that beautifully coats the noodles.

    Pasta With Beans and Greens

  • Hearty Vegan Polenta and Kale Soup With Miso and Toasted Sesame Oil

    Power Up With These 23 Kale Recipes (10)

    Leave it to Kenji to take a classic Italian hearty polenta and kale soup and give it a Japanese twist. Here, he replaces the Parmesan with toasted sesame oil, light miso, soy sauce, and sliced scallion for a complex, rich umami flavor—making it completely vegan and totally satisfying.

    Hearty Vegan Polenta and Kale Soup With Miso and Toasted Sesame Oil

    Continue to 9 of 23 below.

  • Spanakopita (Greek Savory Greens Pie)

    Power Up With These 23 Kale Recipes (11)

    An oldie-but-goodie gets a reboot with Sohla's new-and-improved version of spanakopita, which includes a variety of greens and herbs. While this recipe is designed to utilize tender greens like arugula and spinach—as opposed to heartier ones like kale and collards—you can always use baby kale if you'd like.

    Spanakopita (Greek Savory Greens Pie)

  • Stir-Fried Farro With Garlicky Kale and Poached Egg

    Power Up With These 23 Kale Recipes (12)

    Cooking the farro ahead of time in this recipes turns what could be considered a "slow food" meal into a doable and well-rounded weekday breakfast alternative to oatmeal or cereal. All you have to do is add some shredded kale sautéed with shallots and garlic, perk things up with a little red wine vinegar, and finish with poached eggs.

    Stir-Fried Farro With Garlicky Kale and Poached Egg

  • Easy Kale Quiche

    Power Up With These 23 Kale Recipes (13)

    What better way to use up a big bunch of kale than to pack it into a cheesy quiche. A coating of butter and bread crumbs keeps the quiche from sticking to the pan and adds a nice bit of crispy browning around the edges.

    Easy Kale Quiche

  • Spanish-Style Migas With Chorizo, Peppers, and Kale

    Power Up With These 23 Kale Recipes (14)

    Wilted kale balances out all the porky richness of the chorizo and crispy pork belly in this Spanish-style migas. Ideal for weeknight dinner or weekend brunch, it's also a great way to use up stale bread and whatever veg you've got knocking about in the produce bin.

    Spanish-Style Migas With Chorizo, Peppers, and Kale

    Continue to 13 of 23 below.

  • Stir-Fried Beef With Kale and Frisée in Black Bean Sauce

    Power Up With These 23 Kale Recipes (15)

    The key to stir-frying greens with tougher stems like kale is to separate the stems from the leaves and give the former a head start in hot oil. Then, it's just a matter of adding the stir-fried stems and leaves back into the wok once the beef and sauce are almost done for a final toss.

    Stir-Fried Beef With Kale and Frisée in Black Bean Sauce

  • Bok Choy and Kale Fried Rice With Fried Garlic

    Power Up With These 23 Kale Recipes (16)

    Fried garlic, kale, and bok choy are a match made in heaven—especially in a vegetarian fried rice. Using the garlic frying oil to stir-fry the rice and greens intensifies the overall garlic aroma.

    Bok Choy and Kale Fried Rice With Fried Garlic

  • Caldo Verde (Portuguese Potato and Kale Soup With Sausage)

    Power Up With These 23 Kale Recipes (17)

    Hailing from from northern Portugal, this potato, sausage, and kale soup is tailor-made for lazy chilly days when you want something comforting and easy to prep. It's another one-pot wonder that's ready in about 40 minutes. We recommend using both starchy and waxy potatoes for textural contrast.

    Caldo Verde (Portuguese Potato and Kale Soup With Sausage)

  • Skillet Spaghetti alla Carbonara with Kale

    Power Up With These 23 Kale Recipes (18)

    Okay, carbonara purists may scoff at the idea of adding kale to this Italian classic—but hey, don't knock it until you've tried it! Crisping the kale up in rendered bacon fat means it absorbs all that rich flavor, a bonus in my book. Plus, it rounds out the dish so you've got a complete meal.

    Spaghetti alla Carbonara with Kale

    Continue to 17 of 23 below.

  • Skillet Kale and Pumpkin Pasta

    Power Up With These 23 Kale Recipes (19)

    You can whip up this one-skillet marvel in about 20 minutes—just grab a bag of pre-cut orange-flesh squash. Bat wing-like farfalle pasta, pumpkin, and Tuscan kale (a.k.a. cavolo nero) totally give off Halloween vibes and are ideal for a quick fall dinner.

    Skillet Kale and Pumpkin Pasta

  • Easy Sausage, Kale, and Black-Eyed Pea Soup With Lemon and Rosemary

    Power Up With These 23 Kale Recipes (20)

    A flavorful sausage and aromatics like garlic, rosemary, and lemon zest are the secret to transforming dried beans and kale into a ridiculously easy to make soup. A good soak in salted water improves the texture of the beans.

    Easy Sausage, Kale, and Black-Eyed Pea Soup With Lemon and Rosemary

  • Cheesy Mashed White Beans With Kale, Parmesan, and a Fried Egg

    Power Up With These 23 Kale Recipes (21)

    Mashed canned white beans are a clever hack for those times when you're just too lazy to make proper grits. Top it with sautéed kale and a fried egg and you've got yourself a savory breakfast of champions.

    Cheesy Mashed White Beans With Kale, Parmesan, and a Fried Egg

  • Charred Kale Pizza With Garlic

    Power Up With These 23 Kale Recipes (22)

    There's no denying that kale on pizza is more than just a fad—when done well, it's freaking amazing! Take this version with a crispy base of garlic and nutty Alpine cheese, which is baked part way before the kale is added to avoid burning.

    Charred Kale Pizza With Garlic

    Continue to 21 of 23 below.

  • Vegan Braised Kale and Chickpea Sandwich With Sumac Onions

    Power Up With These 23 Kale Recipes (23)

    Inspired by a braised kale sandwich he had at Cutty's in Brookline, MA, Kenji created this deliciously messy vegan version with a juicy filling of kale, chickpeas, and sumac onions. Any bread will do here, but we're partial to pizza bianco or focaccia.

    Vegan Braised Kale and Chickpea Sandwich With Sumac Onions

  • Kale Pineapple Basil Smash

    Power Up With These 23 Kale Recipes (24)

    Kale in smoothies is a thing—but kale in a co*cktail? When it's juiced and blended with rye whiskey, fresh pineapple juice, and muddled fresh basil into a delightfully sweet-tart and herbaceous drink...uh, yes, please!

    Kale Pineapple Basil Smash

  • Spicy-Tart Kale Limeade

    Power Up With These 23 Kale Recipes (25)

    If non-alcoholic is more your style, this kale drink is a cross between a refreshing mocktail and a green juice—with a spicy kick—blended with ginger, apple, and coconut water.

    Spicy-Tart Kale Limeade

Power Up With These 23 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

What can I do with too much fresh kale? ›

Fresh Salads, frozen for smoothies, dehydration into kale chips! I make lasagna with layers of hot Italian sausage in red sauce and sautéed kale in Parmesan cream. You can cook down a lot of kale, and it works well with the spicy sausage. Caldo Verde soup!

How do you cook kale so it is tender? ›

Add kale to the pan, turn the heat to high and add the stock. Use a spoon to toss the greens in the oil and stock, then cover and cook for approximately 5 to 7 minutes, until it is soft and wilted, but still quite green.

How do you make kale taste better? ›

“Minced garlic, olive oil, and salt are also simple ingredients that can transform the flavor of a bitter kale dish. ' “Cutting the stem of kale and marinating it with olive oil and salt can help reduce bitterness.”

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.

Is kale better for you than spinach? ›

"However, if you are looking for a food that is particularly high in fiber, vitamins K and C, kale is a better choice," she said. "If you are looking for a food that is particularly high in folate and a source of iron, and vitamins A and E, then spinach is a better choice."

What to avoid with kale? ›

People who may need to avoid or limit kale intake are those who form oxalate-containing kidney stones or take the blood thinners Coumadin or warfarin. Be sure to check with your health care professional or dietitian if you have questions.

Why can't you reheat kale? ›

If you want to save your celery, kale or spinach to eat later as leftovers, plan to reheat them in a conventional oven rather than a microwave. When blasted in the microwave, naturally occurring nitrates (which are very good for you on their own) may convert to nitrosamines, which can be carcinogenic, studies show.

How many times a week is it safe to eat kale? ›

Manganiello says you can eat kale every day, just don't overdo it.

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.

What goes well with kale? ›

Kale is a great green veggie that mixes with many things: Cranberry, sunflower, pumpkin seeds, Bluberries, strawberries, raspberries, almonds, cashews, Spring mix lettuce. Steak, salmon, Chicken.

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.

Do you eat kale stems? ›

Cutting the stems crossways shortens the fibres, much as with a tough steak, making them perfectly edible and preventing waste. Cut this way, the stems can be cooked in the same way as the rest of the leaf: sauteed, boiled or steamed.

Why does my kale taste weird? ›

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.

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? ›

Also known as dinosaur or Tuscan kale, these slender, dark green leaves have bumpy or bubble-like texture, Glass says. You can enjoy them raw or cooked because the leaves are a little more tender and they have a slightly sweeter flavor, says Lawrence Tse, farm manager at Dig Inn.

Is it better to steam or boil kale? ›

Kale is great as a side dish or in a smoothie, and you can't go wrong with steaming it. Steamed kale retains important nutrients, such as calcium, that are important for you to have. Luckily, steaming kale can be as easy as chopping it and putting it in a steamer or microwave.

Why does massaging kale make it taste better? ›

Massaging kale for salad makes the vegetable more palatable by releasing its bitter compounds and—as a result—making the kale less bitter. This simple process breaks down the vegetable's fibrous texture, making it more tender, easier to chew, and more digestible.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Moshe Kshlerin

Last Updated:

Views: 6370

Rating: 4.7 / 5 (57 voted)

Reviews: 80% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Moshe Kshlerin

Birthday: 1994-01-25

Address: Suite 609 315 Lupita Unions, Ronnieburgh, MI 62697

Phone: +2424755286529

Job: District Education Designer

Hobby: Yoga, Gunsmithing, Singing, 3D printing, Nordic skating, Soapmaking, Juggling

Introduction: My name is Moshe Kshlerin, I am a gleaming, attractive, outstanding, pleasant, delightful, outstanding, famous person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.