Question about Kale?

stephchadz
stephchadz Posts: 143 Member
edited November 20 in Recipes
So I want to try eating more kale because there is so much hype about it but I find it to be really bitter unless cooked. I remember hearing that if you massage it, it makes it taste better. Is there any truth to this?
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Replies

  • Queenmunchy
    Queenmunchy Posts: 3,380 Member
    Definitely massage it in oil or use baby kale - it's much more mild.
  • Alluminati
    Alluminati Posts: 6,208 Member
    edited July 2015
    My kale doesn't get bitter but it does get sassy. I slap it in the mouth then throw it in the garbage and make a sandwich.
  • stephchadz
    stephchadz Posts: 143 Member
    Queenmunchy wrote: »
    Definitely massage it in oil or use baby kale - it's much more mild.

    Awesome thank you!
  • isulo_kura
    isulo_kura Posts: 818 Member
    Just eat some Broccoli similar nutritional content but 100% less pretentious than Kale
  • Sabine_Stroehm
    Sabine_Stroehm Posts: 19,263 Member
    isulo_kura wrote: »
    Just eat some Broccoli similar nutritional content but 100% less pretentious than Kale

    Vegetables can be pretentious?
  • kami3006
    kami3006 Posts: 4,979 Member
    vu9swvdvz6il.jpg
  • kami3006
    kami3006 Posts: 4,979 Member
    stephchadz wrote: »
    Queenmunchy wrote: »
    Definitely massage it in oil or use baby kale - it's much more mild.

    Awesome thank you!

    This absolutely. I love kale but I have to say, I get the same benefit from broccoli and it's easier for me to keep on hand.
  • ILiftHeavyAcrylics
    ILiftHeavyAcrylics Posts: 27,732 Member
    edited July 2015
    kami3006 wrote: »
    vu9swvdvz6il.jpg

    My earliest memory of kale was my mom telling me not to eat the kale that had been put on my plate at a restaurant as a garnish, because "it's not edible." :laugh:
  • kami3006
    kami3006 Posts: 4,979 Member
    ILiftHeavyAcrylics wrote: »
    kami3006 wrote: »
    vu9swvdvz6il.jpg

    My earliest memory of kale was my mom telling me not to eat the kale that had been put on my plate at a restaurant as a garnish, because "it's not edible." :laugh:

    that's awesome :)
  • Alluminati
    Alluminati Posts: 6,208 Member
    Sabine_Stroehm wrote: »
    isulo_kura wrote: »
    Just eat some Broccoli similar nutritional content but 100% less pretentious than Kale

    Vegetables can be pretentious?


    Yes. Ones that need to be "massaged in oil".
  • sdraper2014
    sdraper2014 Posts: 81 Member
    I just scrunch it up with my hands, I don't massage it in oil. The purpose of scrunching it up is to help break it down because it is a pretty tough leafy vegetable otherwise, makes it easier to chew, but I don't think alters the taste much, oil might make it taste better. If you don't like it then it doesn't make sense to force yourself to eat it. I like it with apple cider vinegar, avocado, pecans, feta and red onion for a salad. Personally I don't care for it cooked one bit and won't eat it that way.
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    edited July 2015
    This content has been removed.
  • senecarr
    senecarr Posts: 5,377 Member
    Sabine_Stroehm wrote: »
    isulo_kura wrote: »
    Just eat some Broccoli similar nutritional content but 100% less pretentious than Kale

    Vegetables can be pretentious?
    When you have an adjective like cruciferous just for describing your family? Yeah it is a little pretentious. Broccoli is just the least pretentious in the family.
  • Orphia
    Orphia Posts: 7,097 Member
    vegans%20crossfit%20kale_zpsrisrmqal.jpg
  • senecarr
    senecarr Posts: 5,377 Member
    Orphia wrote: »
    vegans%20crossfit%20kale_zpsrisrmqal.jpg

    Kalians.
  • snickerscharlie
    snickerscharlie Posts: 8,578 Member
    ILiftHeavyAcrylics wrote: »
    kami3006 wrote: »
    vu9swvdvz6il.jpg

    My earliest memory of kale was my mom telling me not to eat the kale that had been put on my plate at a restaurant as a garnish, because "it's not edible." :laugh:

    Moms know. ;)
  • snickerscharlie
    snickerscharlie Posts: 8,578 Member
    edited July 2015
    OdesAngel wrote: »
    Sabine_Stroehm wrote: »
    isulo_kura wrote: »
    Just eat some Broccoli similar nutritional content but 100% less pretentious than Kale

    Vegetables can be pretentious?


    Yes. Ones that need to be "massaged in oil".

    If it's coconut oil, it's okay, though. Because one pretention cancels out the other. :)
  • Jorjaapeech
    Jorjaapeech Posts: 1 Member
    I try to add kale as a side dish because it's to tart for smoothies. I had success with adding chicken broth while cooking stove top and this helps to break it down. Also, I made it last week in a large wok with spinach, pink Himalayan salt and olive oil and it came out great. Hopethis s helps
  • Queenmunchy
    Queenmunchy Posts: 3,380 Member
    It's so weird that it's a "new" health craze to some people. My mom ate kale growing up (one of the few vegetatables my grandfather loved) and I've had it for years - particularly at the end of every Portuguese party I've ever attended.
  • blondx7
    blondx7 Posts: 1,683 Member
    I put kale & spinach in peanut butter and banana smoothies. Tastes great!
  • stephchadz
    stephchadz Posts: 143 Member
    blondx7 wrote: »
    I put kale & spinach in peanut butter and banana smoothies. Tastes great!

    That sounds delicious.
  • blondx7
    blondx7 Posts: 1,683 Member
    also, if you use a food processor to finely mince the kale, here's a nice recipe:

    finely minced/processed kale
    whisked olive oil and lemon juice
    grated parmesan cheese
    raisins or currants
    slivered almonds

    I eyeball all ingredients/make to taste.

    You won't taste bitterness at all!
  • blondx7
    blondx7 Posts: 1,683 Member
    stephchadz wrote: »
    blondx7 wrote: »
    I put kale & spinach in peanut butter and banana smoothies. Tastes great!

    That sounds delicious.

    Recipe stolen from The Wild Cow in Nashville.

    The kale salad recipe is stolen from Tavern in Nashville.

    LOL at kale being pretentious...it grows wildly in my kitchen garden in the country.
  • ThatMouse
    ThatMouse Posts: 229 Member
    I really like a certain brand (I can't remember the name - the packaging is black and purple) of pre-made kale salad that has kale, brussel sprouts and cranberries. Most of the time, I don't bother with the dressing - the veggies and cranberries make it awesome!

    I'm not great with raw kale - I really dislike it if it isn't in some sort of pre-prepped salad like at a restaurant or in a mix - but I love it cooked.

    My dad sautes it with some oil and lemon juice and it's awesome. Top it with a bit of parmesean and it's even better!

    I love it as kale chips. I have a dehydrator and it's my favourite way to prep kale chips, but it works well in the oven as well. I love just the kale flavour when it's cooked, so I just toss the leaves in olive oil and salt and dehydrate for chips. I've also made batches where I season with chili powder, paprika and a bit of cayenne. If they were easier to sneak in without pulverizing them, I'd bring them as snacks to the movies, ha ha!
  • snowflake930
    snowflake930 Posts: 2,188 Member
    Tried it once..........hate it. IMHO, not worth adding the calories from oil, nothing will help the taste as far as I'm concerned.
    Spinach is very close in nutrition value and much more palatable to me.
  • shrinkingletters
    shrinkingletters Posts: 1,008 Member
    I actually don't mind kale. I sautee it and add it to scrambles or throw it into smoothies.
  • jgnatca
    jgnatca Posts: 14,464 Member
    A few years ago I had kale exploding out of my community garden so I tried a lot of recipes. It's like spinach, only tougher. You can use any spinach recipe and Kale, IMO, is much better when it is blanched/cooked.
  • esmesqualor
    esmesqualor Posts: 85 Member
    I use kitchen scissors, cut out the spine and cut it in to thin strips, then I cut the spines in to little pieces. This can be sautéed or "massaged" for a minute w olive oil and lemon juice for a delicious salad. I really like it and I think it's nice to have a variety of vegetables. I would get tired of broccoli being the only cruciferous veggie I ate.
  • beedeezer
    beedeezer Posts: 7 Member
    Hi - i googled about kale a couple of weeks ago for the same teason - personally ive replaced it with watercress as my green superfood. If you believe some of the latest online jnfo atm ... there are around 10 greens healthier than kale? And the real shock is if you eat lots and lots of it it may cause hypothyroidism in some ppl ... but id say youd have to be a real hard core kale junky to od ;) what to believe!?
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    I saute most of my greens. If I'm having them raw in a salad I prefer baby greens...otherwise they get sauteed.
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