Quick and Easy Kale

My love for kale is one that has slowly developed over time. As I was growing up, my Mom was better than most with offering my sisters and I a variety of fruits and vegetables throughout the day. By the time I was a teenager I genuinely loved most of them.

On the other hand, cooked greens like chard, collards, and kale were one thing she didn’t cook. I’m pretty sure she liked them, so I’m guessing it had something to do with my Dad and us kids putting up too much of a fuss. I mean, lets face it, a vegetable like kale can be a bit bitter.

I first started cooking with kale after graduating from nursing school and as a newlywed. I wanted to incorporate kale into our diets because it’s so nutritious.

My husband was a good sport about my early experiments with the leafy green and I think he liked my early kale recipes better than I did. There is just something about that bitter background flavor that I can’t get into…

Then I discovered the idea of cooking kale with vegetable or chicken broth, which tones down the bitterness of the vegetable to the point that it’s barely detectable.

I’ve played with this recipe for Quick and Easy Kale over the last few years and eventually added onion and garlic to the dish giving it a sweetness (yes, sweetness and kale in the same sentence)…  I can actually eat this stuff by the bowlful and I like it!

For all of the kale skeptics out there (and lovers too), I hope you enjoy this recipe as much as I do! It’s quick and easy, goes well with just about every culinary tradition, and it’s sooo good for you! Enjoy!

Quick and Easy Kale

Serves: 4

Prep Time: 10 minutes                     Cook Time: 20 minutes

Ingredients

• 1 bunch of kale of any variety (approximately 5-6 C coarsely chopped)
• 1 C diced sweet vidalia onion
• 1 C low-sodium vegetable or chicken broth
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 2 tsp olive oil or butter

Directions

1. Wash your kale and coarsely chop. Also, dice your onions and add both to a large pan.

2. Add the garlic powder and the vegetable broth to the pan and simmer your kale until all of the liquid is steamed off. This will take about 20 minutes.

3. Before serving mix in 2 teaspoons of olive oil or butter.

4. And ta-da! Tasty kale that’s not in the least bit bitter, and is every bit sweet and delicious!

Try these other kale recipes…

Fiesta Chopped Chipotle Kale Salad

Hungarian Mushroom, Leek, and Kale Pilaf

Chicken Livers with Leeks and Kale