kale
Kale has finally had its (well-deserved) moment. These are some exceptional kale recipes to match. This dark, leafy green is wonderful to cook with, and there are endless ways to incorporate it into your life and cooking repertoire.
Chopped kale is a nice addition to a host of soups or stir-fries. Baked kale is a flat-out phenomenon. Shredded kale tossed with a strong dressing makes a fantastic salad. And you can even make a kale version of pesto. Buy kale with vibrant, structured leaves. Rinse and wash leaves well before using, as dirt and grit love to nestle into the textured surfaces.
Shichimi Mushroom Rice Bowl
I made this mushroom topped brown rice bowl the other night when I returned from Yosemite - chanterelles, garlic, kale, tofu, and lots of Shichimi Togarashi, the Japanese spice blend.
Asparagus Stir-Fry
A favorite stir-fry recipe. Asparagus and tofu form the base, but it has quite a lot going on beyond that. You get a bite of tang from the lime, heat from the red chiles and fresh ginger, mint and basil cool things down, and a touch hoisin sauce gives you just enough sweetness to balance it all out.
Almost Cheeseless Pasta Casserole
Trying to keep this pasta casserole recipe on the lighter side, I tossed a rustic farro pasta in yogurt that had been beaten with a bit of egg along with garlic, toasted almonds, chard, butternut squash, and olives. Baked until golden.
Matchstick Pasta
A great pasta dish using just six ingredients. Whole grain linguine matchsticks and barely cooked red kale are tossed with golden pistachio dressing. Pomegranate seeds provide ruby-colored accents and little pops of sweetness.
Borlotti Bean Mole with Roast Winter Squash
A rich, hearty vegetarian mole recipe from Denis Cotter's new book. Seasonal beans, squash, and kale are baked in a rich, hearty chocolate and paprika-spiked mole.
Lemony Chickpea Stir-fry
A tasty, quick, and easy stir-fry recipe featuring golden crusted, pan-fried chickpeas, chopped kale, summer squash, tofu, and a bit of lemon zest.
Garlic Soba Noodles
Delicious garlic soba noodle recipe made with soba noodles, Parmesan, greens, and garlic powder topped with golden Parmesan-crusted tofu.
Chickpea Hot Pot
Not a traditional hotpot recipe, instead...a fast-cooking bulgur cooks in a light orange-juice accented broth. Plenty of chickpeas, tiny cauliflower pieces, onions, and greens add texture and substance to the hearty pot.
Poached Eggs Over Rice
An unassuming yet satisfying little rice bowl recipe - simply a reasonable serving of chard-flecked whole grain rice topped with a poached egg.
Kale and Olive Oil Mashed Potatoes
My favorite mashed potato recipe - creamy mashed potatoes flecked with finely chopped greens and garlic. Adding a green like kale, and golden threads of drizzled olive oil is a great way to add color and nutritional umph to America's favorite starch-packed side dish.
