Kale, Five Ways

Did you know kale is one of the most nutrient-dense vegetables you can eat? I actually did not, and started reading up more on this cool vegetable once we started growing it. It's packed with vitamins A, C, and K, along with fibre, antioxidants, calcium, and potassium.

Some of the benefits of kale include:

• Supports a healthy immune system
• Rich in antioxidants that help protect cells
• High in fibre to support digestive health
• Contains nutrients that support bone and eye health
• Low in calories and full of flavour

But what do you do with it? As someone who now has a fridge full of kale, all the time, I thought I'd share some of the ways we are putting this super veggie to good use.

Kale Five Ways!

1. Baby Kale Salads

   
   We grow a few different varieties and harvest them as baby kale at about 3 weeks old. It's still tender, mild flavoured and makes awesome salads.
   
   

2. Greens smoothie!

   I tossed some Toscano kale in with my chocolate protein powder, a banana and oat milk and dang, it was tasty! I could not taste the kale actually. Bonus, you can freeze kale for smoothies and enjoy the benefits over winter. We're harvesting some of our Red Russian kale when it's a bit larger than baby kale, making it perfect for smoothies (still tender and mild).
   
   

3. Soup!

   I make this crazy good curried lentil, kale and sausage soup (or sans sausage for vegetarians). It's hearty, full of fibre and good things, and so tasty I eat it for breakfast. Mine is a variation of this recipe for Best Lentil Soup, from Cookie + Kate. And if you remember the Olive Garden and the best soup ever made, Zuppa Toscana, you need to grab some kale and do it up. Here is a dupe recipe that is sooooo darn good:

   Zuppa Toscana, from Creme de la Crumb

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   Best Lentil Soup, Cookie + Kate
   
   

4. Boerenkool

   This dish reminds me of travelling in the Netherlands. At the time, I had no idea it was kale in my mashed potatoes, but I loved it! Boerenkool is a traditional Dutch comfort food dish, made with mashed potatoes and cooked kale, served with a side of smoky sausages. It's typically all made in one pot! I like to fry my onions rather than cook them with the potatoes, and then serve with whatever you like. So easy and good. Here is a recipe from Kitchen Frau.
   
   

5. Kale Caesar Salad

   You can go all out and make your own dressing, or use store bought. Either way, Kale really ups the nutrition factor on your Caesar salad (romaine just doesn't compare). Check out this recipe from Love and Lemons!