15 Delicious Kale Recipes (2024)

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I hope you are soaking up the sunshine today. Since St. Patrick’s Day has come and gone, I thought I’d offer some redeeming green recipes. Kale is a more hardy green that is awesome in make-ahead salads (read my tips here), soups, burritos, stir-fries and so much more.

This is just a selection of my kale recipes. You can always peruse my full kale recipe offerings on the site here, too. Lastly, some of my all-time favorite kale recipes are in my cookbook, which will be here in less than two months (!!!). Pre-order so you can get the book the day it’s released, May 16th!

1)

“Loved this! This is a regular in my house. The flavors are amazing and I wouldn’t change a thing (except I opted out of the hazelnuts because I just don’t ever have them).” – Sarah

2) Kale Pesto Pizza

“This was delicious! I had a bunch of baby Tuscan Kale from my CSA to use up. I love that the pesto didn’t have a bunch of added Parmesan. Can’t wait to tell my friends about it and make it again! Thank you.” – Angela

3) Anything-Goes Kale Salad with Green Tahini Dressing

“Thank you so much for this lovely salad, beautiful and delicious! The dressing is such a nice combination. Just the thing after a weekend of not-so-healthful eating.” – Wendy

4) Kale Guacamole

I need you to try this guac and leave a comment to let me know how you like it! :)

5) Thai Red Curry with Vegetables

“Made this for dinner tonight and we LOVED it, everyone from age 2 to age 26! It’s so fresh, flavourful, and pure feeling, if that makes sense. :) This one will definitely be one we revisit often! Thanks Kate!” – Erin

6)

“I am just making this again for the second time in less than 2 weeks. It is sooooo good and I look forward to eating it, I may just have it for breakfast tomorrow. This is the first recipe I have ever commented on. I love it!!!!!” – Rachel

7) Quinoa Vegetable Soup with Kale

“Absolutely delicious. Had it at my daughter’s home last night and enjoyed it so much I made it today at my home for dinner tonight. I used about 6 cups of veggies and added a little jalapeno and I used red kale. Will be a “do again” many times recipe.” – Michael

8)

“I made the Mexican(ish) Kale and Quinoa Salad the other night for “Meatless Monday”. Even my meat-loving husband had to admit that it was “actually pretty good” (high praise for him) even asking for seconds. He especially liked the cumin-lime salad dressing. As usual, another grrrrrrreat recipe Kate! Very tasty and leftovers hold up well!!” – Mo

9) The Best Lentil Soup

“Always my “go to” soup! Great for vegans and meat-eaters, they all seem to love it! Even better it’s easy and quick to make.” – Barb

10) Spicy Kale and Coconut Stir Fry

“Omg. This is now my boyfriend’ so FAVORITE thing to eat for dinner. I had to double the portions so that we both had enough leftovers for lunch. If he had a tail, it would knock things off shelves when he eats this. Going to suggest it to my clients as a good 3rd or 4th date recipe to make for their sweeties!” – Diana

11) Super Kale Pesto

“I just made this kale pesto and it is amazing! The flavors are so fresh. I was a bit afraid of using 3/4 cup of hemp seed because it visually seemed like a lot of hemp seed, but it’s not overpowering at all. I actually prefer hemp seeds over the traditional pine nuts! This is probably going to be my go-to recipe for pesto from now on. Thanks so much for sharing! And thanks for giving me a way to secretly feed kale to my husband.” – Susie

12) Greek Kale Salad with Creamy Tahini Dressing

“Substantial salad with a powerful flavor punch. This salad, plus a slice of crusty French bread and good olive oil for dipping, made for an incredible meal! Bonus: it held up well overnight in fridge and made for a great dish the next day, too.” – Raquel

13) Redeeming Green Soup with Lemon and Cayenne

“Really easy to make and unbelievably delicious. I was surprised by the earthiness of the flavor, which you can also play with using the lemon and paprika. Shared it with friends and they also loved it. Thank you!” – Kristen

14) Kale, Black Bean and Avocado Burrito Bowl

“I am an old vegetarian and a new vegan, and have really been enjoying expanding my repertoire with yummy new recipes, but *this* is one of my top two. I made it Sunday and we had it Monday for dinner, and it is so, so good. My omnivore partner said he was “prepared to choke it down,” but he actually loved it, and raved about it all night. This was also my first foray into a raw kale dish (other than smoothies, of course), and I am officially hooked. Thank you so much for this absolutely glorious recipe!” – Julie

15) Simple Kale and Black Bean Burritos

“Just made and ate this yummy recipe. It took about 15 minutes, pretty easy and super tasty. I love all the flavor! Keep ’em coming. I can’t wait until I’m hungry again to have another one.” – Deb

More resources you might appreciate: 13 healthy make-ahead breakfast recipes, 16 recipes that pack well for lunch and 20 simple weeknight dinners. You might also like my monthly seasonal produce guides and healthy kitchen essentials. View all roundups and resource posts here.

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FAQs

What is the most delicious way to eat kale? ›

01 of 10. Add It to Homemade Hummus. Jennifer Causey. ...
02 of 10. Stir It Into Soups. ...
03 of 10. Sneak It Into Pesto. ...
04 of 10. Blend It Into a Smoothie. ...
05 of 10. Bake Some Crispy Kale Chips. ...
06 of 10. Fold It Into Eggs, Quiches, and Frittatas. ...
07 of 10. Sprinkle It on Pizza. ...
08 of 10. Wilt It Down for a Steak-House-Worthy Side.

More items...

Jul 20, 2023

Keep Reading ›

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.

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Is kale better for you than spinach? ›

Both are packed with nutrients like fiber, vitamins, and minerals. Still, there are subtle nutritional differences between them. Kale provides more calcium and vitamin C per serving than spinach, whereas you will find more folate, vitamin A, and vitamin K in spinach than kale.

Get More Info Here ›

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.

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What takes bitterness out of cooked kale? ›

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. Let it marinate in the fridge for at least 24 hours for better tenderness and less bitterness.

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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.

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How do you cook kale to eat? ›

For whole leaves, rinse, then put them in a pan without shaking the water off, cover, then cook for up to 2 minutes, until wilted. Drain thoroughly. For chopped or shredded leaves, put in a pan of water 1cm deep with a pinch of salt, then bring to the boil and simmer for up to 5 minutes, until wilted.

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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.

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Why does my kale taste bad? ›

Much like in onions and garlic, kale's bitterness is only formed when the vegetable is sliced, chopped, massaged, or chewed. When cells in a leaf of kale are intact, an enzyme called myrosinase and sulfur-containing compound glucosinolate are separated from one another.

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How long does kale last in fridge? ›

Typical shelf life: Generally, kale can last in the fridge for about five to seven days. The key is to store it correctly to maintain its crispness and nutrients. Impact of temperature and humidity: Kale prefers a cool and slightly humid environment, so the crisper drawer in your fridge is ideal.

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Is it better to eat kale cooked or raw? ›

Raw kale can be hard to digest. Kale's fibrous cell walls may prevent your body from absorbing nutrients, but cooking kale can reduce its antioxidant content. Nutrition experts say steaming kale is a good way to make it easier to digest while preserving most of the nutrients.

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.

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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.

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