DharmaGirl ....Kale Question

[Leslie_L]

Hi DharmaGirl,

I saw in a recent post that you eat kale daily.....

Can you tell me how you prepare it? Would you mind sharing some of your recipies? I would like to encorporate more of it into my diet but am not sure what to do with it..... besides use it in juice and smoothies.

Thanks so much,

Leslie

[wyjoz]

One way to take Kale is in Green Smoothies. then we enjoy this delicious
Marinated Kale Salad http://www.rawsacramento.net/recipes.htm
(From Elaina's Pure Joy Kitchen Recipe Book)

A tender and delicious mix of kale and avocado with a kickin' marinade. If you've wondered about raw kale, go for it, it's better than you can imagine! It's a big hit with kids and is loaded with calcium.

Salad:
- 1 bunch fresh dinosaur or red Russian kale, stems removed and ripped into bite sized pieces
- 1/4 large red onion, very thinly sliced
- 1 medium green or yellow zucchini, julienned or 5 shitake mushrooms, thinly sliced.
- 2 medium avocados, chunked (add after you massage the salad)

Marinade:
- 3/4 cup olive or flax oil
- 1/2 cup lemon juice
- 1 tsp. Celtic sea salt
- 1/8 tsp. cayenne pepper (add after massaging the salad)
- 1 clove garlic, crushed (optional)

Pour the first 3 ingredients of the marinade right onto the torn kale leaves. Use your hands to massage and squeeze the kale. This will work the salt and lemon in and help to make the kale tender. Continue to knead the salad until it begins to soften.

Add the avocado and cayenne pepper and garlic if you like. Mix well and serve.
This salad gets better as it sits. It will last for 3 or 4 days in the refrigerator.
*** I only add 1/2 c oil and do not use the avocado as I like avocado in other recipes and found that this salad did not need it. I use 1 whole red onion 1 yellow squash and 1 zuchini!

[DharmaGirl]

Yes, I just love kale and have discovered you can tenderize it simply by tearing up the leaves to the size you like, then sprinkle with some olive oil and celtic sea salt. Toss around to coat it well with the oil and let it set for about 5-10 minutes. It becomes really tender and easier to digest. Now you can make whatever neat salad you'd like. Wyjoz' looks yummy. I like it with avocados, tomatoes, red onion, too. I make a dressing with ume plum vinegar, garlic, olive oil and sea veggies.... Delicious and nutritious!! Be creative and good luck! :p

GREEN FOODS ROCK!!

[rawcanadagirl]

Hi Leslie_L

I also eat kale EVERY day!
I really really love it.... I don't put it into smoothies (use greens I don't like as much for that) - I usually eat it marinated on it's own. The first time I had it non-blended was from a recipe in Alissas book - the marinated greens - and I have been addicted ever since (normally I would get tired of it after so many months - but no :D ) I have tweaked the "marinade", and make mine quite spicy, but it is essentially the same thing.

mmmmmmmmmmm

[RowanC]

My grandmother taught me a really nice way to slice Kale for salads.

You separate the leaves and wash & dry them.
Then you stack them in bundles of 4 or 5 close to the same size.
Then, you ROLL tightly lengthwise ....when you have a tight little roll, you just shave very thin slices off the ends... it's really nice and easy. You can do it with curly kale too, with a little practice.

If you eat a LOT of kale, you can buy a kale slicer from portuguese cooking stores. They're usually stainless and very nice to have.

My favorite Kale salad (I'm not sure if it's the same one, I didn't check the link):

1 bunch kale, sliced
2 carrots, shredded
1 cup cherry tomatoes, cut in half
1/2 cup soaked pinenuts
1 small red onion cut in rings
1 juiced lemon
1/4 cup olive oil
1 or 2 cloves minced garlic
sea salt to taste

Mix it all up and stick in the fridge, if you can wait.
It's a GREAT salad!

[Raw Jewelrylady]

Love all these ideas & recipes....Thanks for the great slicing tip ...Rowan...-It will make kale prep a lot easier. isn't it great the tips we learn from our relatives. :o
Lana