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Home Vegetarian Cooking 101 Ingredient Guides

Kale 101

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By: Sarah BondUpdated: Nov 03, 2019 4 Comments

This post contains affiliate links.

Kale photo pinterest

We’re going kale crazy over here. Everything you need to know about this powerhouse leafy green, including varieties, nutrition, storage, and cooking!

Closeup photo of kale leaf with water droplets

Let’s hop in a time machine and go back to 2014, folks, because for the next two weeks we’re going kale crazy. But first, as always, today we’re running through the “learns” of this KALE-r veggie.

Variations of kale

  • Curly Kale: Bright green and frilly, this variation has a hearty texture that makes it better for cooked dishes than eating raw. Sauces and flavors cling to the tiny ridges in the leaves, making this variation great for kale chips or in cooked pasta dishes.
  • Red Kale: Identical to curly kale in most ways, but with the addition of a red-ish hue.
  • Dinosaur Kale: Also known as Tuscan or Lacinato kale, this variety is more tender and less curly, so it’s tasty eaten raw.
Closeup photo of kale leaves

How to buy kale

Pick dark colored kale free from brown or yellow spots. Kale is in season through the cold fall and winter months, though you’ll find it available year round in many places.

How to store kale

The key to storing kale well is to keep it away from moisture. Wrap unwashed kale leaves in paper towels and place in a plactic grocery or ziploc bag. Store in your vegetable crisper drawer for 5 to 7 days. (Only wash kale right before you intent to use it, as the moisture will cause it to go bad quicker!)

To freeze kale (for longer term storage), wash and dry kale, then remove thick ribs and chop the leaves. Freeze in a single layer on a baking sheet or plate, then transfer to an airtight container of baggie. You can throw frozen kale right into smoothies or soups without thawing!

Photo of chipped kale on white background

How to prepare kale

Cut the kale leaves form the thick stem. The stem is bitter and not good eaten raw. Either discard it or throw it into a soup! Then simply cut the kale leaves to the desired size (larger for kale chips, smaller for kale salad).

Wash the kale leaves in a colander, drying well. Then comes the final step…massage the kale! Massaging kale is basically just squeezing and rubbing the kale leaves for a few minutes to break the hard-to-eat fibers, making the kale much easier to chew and digest.

how to cut kale on a white background

Our favorite kale recipes

Kale Chips
TropiKale Smoothie
Roasted Veggie Buddha Bowls
Beet Pesto and Kale Pizza
Chickpea Gyro Kale Salad

Everyday Kale Salad

Close up of kale leaf on white background

Kale nutrition information

per 1 cup of raw kale leaves (67 g)

  • Calories: 33
  • Carbohydrates: 7 g
  • Fiber: 1 g, 5% of DV (Daily Value)
  • Protein: 2 g
  • Fat: 0 g
  • 684% DV of Vitamin K: A fat-soluble vitamin that allows for activation of enzymes in the clotting cascade, which is responsible for blood clotting. Also builds bone by modifying osteocalcin so that it may bind calcium, thus building the bone matrix.
  • 206% DV of Vitamin A: Provides the provitamin version of this fat-soluble vitamin, meaning it comes from a plant source and your body converts the plant pigment into active Vitamin A. It is essential in many components of healthy vision, as well as immunity and cell growth/differentiation.
  • 134% DV of Vitamin C: A water-soluble vitamin that acts as an antioxidant to fight against potentially damaging free radicals (molecules with unshared electrons that float around wreaking havoc) and an important cofactor in collagen synthesis.
  • 10% DV of Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine): A water-soluble vitamin that works behind the scenes as a coenzyme in many important reactions within your body, including protein metabolism and red blood cell formation, among countless other functions.
  • 10% DV of Calcium: 1% of the calcium in your body plays a vital role in vascular contraction/dilation and nerve transmission and signalling. The other 99% supports teeth and bone structure and function.

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  1. GW says

    Posted on 2/1 at 11:13 pm

    Great topic. Can’t wait to read your ideas. Like spinach, kale has an almost unbelievable utrition profile and as you suggest goes right not a smoothie with no negative taste effects.

    Reply
    • Sarah says

      Posted on 2/6 at 8:22 pm

      Absolutely! And unlike spinach, kale is sturdy and can be worked into quite a few recipes that spinach can’t!

  2. GW says

    Posted on 10/21 at 2:44 pm

    Wow. Im still following you after posting to this three years ago. I love your rotating veggie ideas. How else would I know what to do with Pumpkin other than get it out of a can.

    Reply
    • Sarah says

      Posted on 10/21 at 4:14 pm

      Haha! Time flies but kale and pumpkin are just keep coming back 😀

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