Kale Recipes

KaleFrom kale chips to massaged kale salad, kale can be used in so many dishes. Here on the farm, we grow green, red Russian, lacinato, and Nash’s own red kale. Try them all in soups, salads, casseroles, sautees, or any other delicious concoctions.

In the cold months, kales get sweeter. For this hardy brassica, sugar acts as an anti-freeze. Historically, kale has been particularly important in the cuisines of the colder regions of Europe due to its resistance to frost.

Kale has been cultivated for over 2,000 years. In Europe. It was the most popular green vegetable until the Middle Ages when cabbages took the lead. In nineteenth century Scotland, kail was used as a generic term for ‘dinner’ and all kitchens featured a kail-pot for cooking.

Today, kale is enjoying a tremendous resurgence, and small wonder. At just 33 calories, one cup of raw kale has nearly 3 grams of protein; 2.5 grams of fiber; vitamins A, C, and K; folate, a B vitamin that’s key for brain development; alpha-linolenic acid, an omega-3 fatty acid; plus phyto-chemicals that give kale its dark green coloring and protect against diseases of the eyes like macular degeneration. Minerals include phosphorus, potassium, calcium, and zinc. It’s a SUPER FOOD!

Kale is very simple to sauté. Pull the green, leafy parts off the stems and break into bite-sized pieces. Lightly sauté in olive oil, with minced garlic, and salt and pepper. You can also coat with oil and bake in a very low oven for kale chips. Add kale to your juice for a real nutrient hit.

Thanksgiving Kale

Red Russian Kale2 Tablespoons olive oil
1 small onion diced
2 cloves garlic minced
1 Tablespoon Dijon mustard
4 teaspoons sugar
1 Tablespoon cider vinegar
1 1/2 cups chicken broth or vegetable broth
8-9 cups stemmed, torn, and rinsed kale
1/4 cup dried cranberries
Salt and pepper to taste
1/4 cup sliced toasted almonds

Heat olive oil in a large pot or saute pan (that has a lid) over medium heat.

Stir in the onion and garlic and cook until onions are translucent, stirring occasionally, about 5 minutes.

Stir in the mustard, sugar, vinegar, and chicken stock and bring to a boil over high heat. Taste the sauce at this stage. If you like it sweeter, add more sugar. If you like it more sour, add more vinegar and or mustard.

Stir in the kale, cover and cook 5 minutes until wilted.

Stir in the dried cranberries, and continue boiling, uncovered, until the liquid has reduced by half, about 15 minutes.

Season to taste with salt and pepper.

Sprinkle with sliced almonds before serving.

Note: If you like your kale less wilted, reduce the sauce by half before you add the kale. Then add the kale and cover, stirring occasionally until kale has cooked to desired doneness.

We thank TheMerchantBaker for this recipe.

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Kale, Cabbage, and Brussels Sprout Chopped Salad

A superfood salad you can eat with a spoon — and a reason to get back on the chopped salad bandwagon.

Brussels Sprouts close-up

For the greens
1/2 pound lacinato kale (about one small bunch, or half of a larger bunch)
1/2 pound curly kale (about one small bunch, or half of a larger bunch)
1 pound Brussels sprouts
1 pound green cabbage (about half a medium head or a quarter of a large one)
1 tablespoon sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt

For the dressing
2 tablespoons plus 2 teaspoons red wine vinegar
2 teaspoons whole grain mustard
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup dark brown sugar
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1 cup olive oil
1 tablespoon hazelnut oil, optional
1 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds, for assembly
2 tablespoons toasted pistachios, for assembly

Wash and spin dry the kale, and then cut it, plus the Brussels sprouts and the cabbage, in small squares, about 1/4-inch by 1/4 inch. For the kale, it works best to rib the leaves, roll them into fat cigars a few leaves at a time, then chiffonade them. Keeping the slices together and uniform, turn them 90° counter clockwise and make even slices lengthwise, about a 1/4-inch apart. (The same method works for the cabbage.)

Halve the Brussels sprouts lengthwise, cut each halve in half, and, with them lying cut-side down on the cutting board, slice them like you would an onion. Don’t stress about technique too much here — the important part is that everything is roughly the same size — if it’s easier for you to just chop and mince like you would a pile of herbs, go ahead and do that.

Place all chopped vegetables in a large bowl, add sugar and salt, and massage the greens slightly until they no longer feel raw. This salad will only improve if you do this a few hours ahead of time, but it’s not necessary. (At this point, the salad can sit for up to 2 or 3 days. It will lose water, so be sure to drain before continuing on.)

To make the dressing, combine the vinegar, mustard, salt, sugar, and Worcestershire sauce in a blender, and blend until the color lightens and everything is combined. (You can also use a whisk and a strong arm for this.) Slowly stream in the olive oil, and then the hazelnut oil, if using — you’re looking for everything to be thick and emulsified. (This dressing will last for 2 weeks in the fridge.)

Add dressing to greens, a few spoonfuls at a time — you want a well-dressed salad but not a soggy one. (Keep in mind you will have leftover dressing, so no need to use it all.) Fold in the sesame seeds and pistachios, and serve.

Credit to Bounty from the Box.

Recipe from Food52.

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Eating with Kids: Summertime

Healthy Summertime Foods

By Kia Armstrong and Patty McManus (Nash’s Organic Produce), Sarah Salazar-Tipton (Olympic Nature Experience), and Julia Buggy, Holistic Nutrition Educator

Originally published in Peninsula Families Today, an advertising supplement produced by Peninsula Daily News and Sequim Gazette.

Children naturally have more energy during the long days of summer. Because they spend more time outside in the sun and wind, it is important to keep their fluids and vitamin intake high. Sarah Salazar-Tipton, local mom and director of Olympic Nature Experience (a nonprofit dedicated to deepening children’s connection with nature) has a great solution: the fruit/veggie popsicle! “After hours at the beach or a walk through our neighborhood, it’s easy to entice kids home with a popsicle,” says Sarah. “It makes a great snack for any time of day, and they are getting fluids, proteins and veggies all at once.”

Fruit/Veggie Popsicle

  • 1-to-2 cups water, herbal tea or juice
  • 1 cup leafy greens
  • 1-to-2 carrots
  • Large handful of seeds or nuts
  • 1-to-2 cups fresh or frozen fruit

Blend on high until smooth and creamy. Pour into popsicle molds or ice cube trays and freeze. If your child is particular about color, add red pepper or tomatoes instead of leafy greens. A banana or two adds sweetness to counter a “too-veggie” taste. If you are adding leafy greens, leave out milk products, but add some citrus for extra iron absorption.

Colors helps kids eat veggies

Kids are more likely to warm up to veggies if they have something to do with choosing them, either at the store or in the garden. If your children help you to plant the seeds, water the plants, and harvest the crops, chances are they will want to taste the “fruits of their labors.”

If you plant a garden with your kids, try to plant veggies in a variety of colors—green lettuces or zucchini, bright orange carrots, red tomatoes or peppers, and purple berries. Each of these colors indicates the presence of different healthy nutrients that benefits the health of children and adults alike.

If you can’t grow a garden, play a color game in the produce department of your favorite store. “Which green should we pick today? Which orange?” Give the child credit at the table for tonight’s delicious choice, and if they want, allow them to help prepare what they have chosen. You can even turn mealtime into a game to see who can “eat all their colors,” even if it is only a bite or two.

Make juice time fun and healthy

Julia Buggy, local mom and Holistic Nutrition Educator specializing in organic plant-based nutrition, knows that using a juicer is always a hit with kids. “If you combine naturally sweet items like carrots and apples, it’s easy to slip in a little spinach or beets and the whole drink is loaded with vitamins, minerals and immune-boosting goodness!” says Julia.

Another trick she has learned for kids who may have an aversion to the color is to serve the juice in a fun colored cup with lid and straw. “If they have fun helping to make the juice, chances are they will be excited to drink it.” Here’s one of her daughter’s favorites.

Pirate Punch “Vitamin C prevents scurvy after all. . .Arrrgh!”

  • 5 organic carrots
  • 4 organic apples, seeds removed
  • 3 handfuls organic local spinach
  • 2 leaves organic kale
  • 1 small lemon, zest peeled off

Freeze any leftover juice in ice cube trays for use in smoothies. “Sometimes we are too busy to bring out the juicer on these warm summer days, so my blender becomes my back-up support,” says Julia. “Smoothies are my favorite way to add veggies into my daughters’ diet. Plus they get all the fiber, too.”

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Nash’s Pork Chops

Pork Chop and FriendsAbove are the ingredients for Nash and Patty’s dinner yesterday evening. It took only 1/2 hour to prepare, was almost entirely local, and tasted delicious. First we preheated the oven to 350°F. In went the small potatoes to start baking. The pork chops were seasoned with garlic salt and pepper, and browned in a skillet in Nash’s camelina oil for 3 minutes per side. Then they were transferred to an oven-proof pan and put in the oven for exactly 10 minutes. Meanwhile, we splashed a little Olympic Cellars Working Girl white wine in the skillet, and put in some chopped leeks to soften and flavor the wine. Then we added the kale and covered it to simmer. The purple sprouting broccoli went into a steamer.

After 10 minutes in the oven, the pork chops came out to sit for 10 minutes. By the end of that, the broccoli and kale were done, as were the small potatoes. We put the white wine bottle on the table, along with a little Alpenfire vinegar to sprinkle on the veggies, and voila! A tasty, local meal, that’s healthy and easy to prepare. Everything but the potatoes, salt and pepper came from the Olympic Peninsula. We are so lucky to live in a place where that is possible.

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Killer Kale Pasta

rainbow lacinato kale2 red bell peppers
2 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for drizzling
2 medium shallots, diced
2 cloves garlic, minced
Salt and freshly ground pepper
1 to 2 tsp. red pepper flakes, plus more for topping
1/2 cup dry white wine
1 28-ounce can diced fire-roasted tomatoes
1 14-ounce can diced fire-roasted tomatoes
2 large bunches kale (2 1/4 to 3 lbs.)
4 cups coarsely shredded chicken (skin removed)
1 cup chicken stock (optional)
1 pound rigatoni
1 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Place bell peppers over flame of a gas burner to char, turning, 3 to 4 minutes per side, or char under broiler, turning, 5 minutes. Place in bowl, cover with plastic wrap and allow to steam about 10 minutes. Once cool to touch, pull off charred skin and remove stems and seeds. Slice and set aside.

Set large Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add olive oil, shallots and garlic; season with salt and pepper and cook until garlic is fragrant and shallots are translucent, 3 to 4 minutes. Add red pepper flakes and wine and cook until most of wine has evaporated, 3 to 5 minutes. Add both cans of tomatoes and sliced peppers. Mix well and bring to steady boil, then reduce heat to simmer.

Remove and discard kale stems; tear leaves into bite-size pieces. Fold kale into tomato sauce along with chicken and toss to combine. Cover and cook until the kale has wilted, about 5 minutes. If sauce seems dry, add chicken stock 1/2 cup at a time. Continue cooking, covered, until kale is tender, all the flavors have come together and the sauce is thick, 15 to 20 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.

Bring large pot of salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook according to package directions. Reserve about 1 cup cooking water, then drain pasta and add it directly to Dutch oven with finished sauce. Drizzle in some olive oil. Cook over low heat, tossing to coat everything, 2 to 3 minutes. Serve in large bowls and top with spoonfuls of Parmesan, more red pepper flakes and another drizzle of olive oil.

We thank foodnetwork.com for this recipe.

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Summer Grain Salad

This recipe calls for Nash’s triticale berries (above), but actually any of our organic whole grain berries, i.e., soft white or hard red wheat, rye, or hard white, would work. The cooking instructions are the same. The grains add a delightful chewy texture and protein to a salad that is already teeming with good stuff for your health.

All ingredients are optional, and quantities are suggestions, not rules. Feel free to add other ingredients, like cauliflower or spinach. For even more flavor, add herbs like parsley, basil or dill. The quantities can easily be increased for summertime parties.

Veggies
1/2 pound triticale berries or other wheat berries
1/2 pint cherry tomatoes or regular-sized heirloom tomatoes, chopped
1 cucumber, chopped
1/2 bunch of your favorite kale, coarsely chopped
1 head broccoli, chopped
1/2 Walla Walla sweet onion (or sweet red onion)
2 carrots, shredded
1 beet (any variety), shredded

Dressing
1/3 cup olive oil
1/3 cup white wine vinegar
Juice of 1 lemon
2 clovers garlic, chopped

Soak the triticale berries overnight. The next day, drain the triticale berries, then add enough fresh water to cover them with about 1″ of water. Boil about 1 hour until berries are plump and chewy. Drain and cool.

In the meantime, chop your veggies. Once the triticale berries cool, mix the dressing ingredients together and pour over the berries, then add your veggies and mix everything together.

Let the flavors mingle for a few hours in the fridge before serving.

Thanks, Rachel Covault, packing shed manager, for this great recipe idea!

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Polenta Bowl with Garlicky Summer Squash & Kale

Stone-Ground Cornmeal1 cup Nash’s corn meal
3 cups water
1/2 tsp. salt
1 1/2 Tbsp. butter or oil

In a 3-quart saucepan, bring water to a boil. Add salt and gradually stir in corn meal. Reduce heat, stirring continually until mixture is thick and smooth. Blend in butter or oil, stirring with a metal spatula to scrape the bottom of the pan to prevent sticking. Continue cooking for 30 minutes, stirring frequently.

2-1/2 Tbsp. olive oil, divided
1/8 tsp. crushed red pepper flakes
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 medium summer squash, cut into thin rounds
1 (14.5 ounce) can chickpeas, drained
1 bunch Nash’s Red Kale, stems removed, torn into bite-sized pieces
Fried eggs for serving
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
Crushed red pepper flakes
Freshly grated Parmesan cheese for serving

Heat 1-1/2 tablespoons of the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the crushed red pepper flakes and cook, stirring often, for about 1 minute. Add the garlic, summer squash and chickpeas. Cook, occasionally stirring, until the summer squash and chickpeas are golden brown and the mixture is fragrant, about 6-8 minutes. Remove the veggies from the pan to a large bowl. Return the pan to medium-high heat and add the remaining oil. Toss in the kale and cook, stirring often, until the kale is bright green and beginning to brown up a bit, about 3 minutes. Turn the heat down to low, add the squash and chickpea mixture back to the pan and keep on very low heat.

While the veggies cook, fry a few eggs in some olive oil until the whites are set and the yokes are still slightly runny.

Divide the cooked polenta between bowls. Top each bowl with with the veggie mixture, fried eggs, salt and pepper, pinch of crushed red pepper flakes, and extra Parmesan cheese.

Recipe from dishingupthedirt.com.

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Kale Chips with Lemon and Cumin

Chips have rarely been this good. These are great as a snack on their own, but also as a textural garnish for broths or baked eggs.

Green kale in a basket

Which is your favorite kale? Curly green…

1 tsp. cumin seeds
1 tsp. sea salt
2 large handfuls bulk kale, washed and dried thoroughly
Organic vegetable oil, for drizzling
Zest of 1 lemon

Bulk lacinato kale

…lacinato, a.k.a. dinosaur or Tuscan kale…

Preheat the oven to 325 F. Toast the cumin seeds in a dry frying pan, giving the pan a shake as you go, until the seeds start to darken, and the aroma deepens and gets nuttier. Remove from the pan and blend with the sea salt in a spice grinder or a pestle and mortar.

Bulk red kale

…or curly Nash’s red?

Separate your bulk kale leaves. If they seem too big, coarsely chop into bite-sized pieces. Toss gently, but thoroughly, in a large bowl with a good drizzle of oil, making sure every leaf is just coated with the slightest sheen of oil. Place in a single layer on a flat baking tray and cook for 6 minutes (do this in batches if you need to). You will find that they crisp up as they cool, so don’t be alarmed if they still seem a little soft when they’re first removed from the oven. Season with the cumin salt and a grating of fresh lemon zest, and serve.

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Kori’s Lacinato Kale & Fennel

lacinato kale1 cup bow-tie pasta, cooked according to package
Olive oil
2 cups lacinato kale, rinsed and chopped into bite-size pieces
1 can (14 ounces) diced Italian-style tomatoes
2 teaspoons garlic, minced
1 fennel bulb, thinly-sliced
1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
1 cup fresh shiitake mushrooms, diced
1 cup (8 ounces) thick bacon or pork belly, cubed
Grated Parmesan, for garnish

In small saucepot, boil water and cook the bow tie pasta according to package directions. Drain after cooking and set aside.

In separate saucepan, cook the bacon. Once cooked, set aside over paper towel to absorb grease until ready to add to dish.

In large saucepot, drizzle olive oil over med-high heat. Add minced garlic; sauté for about 2 minutes. Add lacinato kale and fennel; sauté about 5 minutes until softened.

Add Italian tomatoes, fresh tomatoes and shiitake mushrooms. Let simmer for about 5-10 minutes, or until everything is softened and cooked.

Add the pasta to the large saucepot to create a 50/50 mix of pasta and veggies. Drizzle olive oil.

Lastly, add the bacon. Let warm over stove for about 5-10 minutes before serving. Served with fresh Parmesan.

We thank Ocean Mist Farms for this recipe.

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Lemony Braised Lacinato Kale

lacinato kale1 large bunch (about 10 ounces) lacinato kale, leaves rinsed and thick center ribs cut out
Scant 1/2 tablespoon extra-virgin fruity olive oil
2–4 cloves garlic, or to taste
1/8 cup dry white wine (could use vermouth)
1/4–1/2 cup chicken stock
1 teaspoon coarse salt or sea salt
1–2 teaspoons freshly-squeezed lemon juice, to taste

Cut kale into 1-inch pieces and steam until slightly wilted. Remove from heat and drain well.

In a large fry pan over low heat, heat olive oil. Add garlic and sauté, stirring often, until soft. Add kale and wine; cover and cook until almost all liquid has evaporated. Add 1/4 cup chicken stock and cook until stock is almost evaporated and kale is very tender, approximately 30 minutes. Check for tenderness. If needed, add the remainder of the chicken stock and cook until done.

Season to taste with salt and lemon juice; toss with tongs and serve. Serves 2.

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