Best Crispy Kale Recipes

CRISPY ROASTED KALE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Arrange 3 oven racks evenly spaced in the oven.
• Lay each kale leaf on a board and, with a small sharp knife, cut out the hard stem. Tear large leaves in half. Place the kale in a large bowl of water and wash it well. Drain the kale and dry it in a salad spinner. Dry the bowl, and put the kale back in the bowl.
• Toss the kale with the olive oil, 1 teaspoon kosher salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Divide the kale among 3 sheet pans or roast them in batches. If you put too much kale on one pan, it will steam rather than roast and will never become crisp. Roast for 15 minutes, until crisp. Sprinkle with fleur de sel and serve hot.

CRISPY KALE "CHIPS"

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 275 degrees F.
• Remove the ribs from the kale and cut into 1 1/2-inch pieces. Lay on a baking sheet and toss with the olive oil and salt. Bake until crisp, turning the leaves halfway through, about 20 minutes. Serve as finger food.

CRISPY RICE SALAD WITH KALE

Steps:

• Fill a cast-iron pan with 1 1/2 inches oil and heat to 350 degrees F. Line a sheet tray with paper towels and set aside.
• Meanwhile, make your dressing. Combine the garlic and ginger in a large bowl. Add the Thai bird chile. Add 2 tablespoons hot oil from your cast iron into the mixture. Add the lime juice, fish sauce and sugar and whisk together. Let the mixture sit while you prepare your other ingredients.
• Add the peanuts to the hot oil and fry until they are golden brown, about 2 minutes. Remove and add to the dressing. Mix to coat the peanuts.
• In the same cast-iron pan, scatter the rice in the hot oil and fry until crispy and golden brown, about 5 minutes. Transfer the fried rice to the lined sheet tray to drain.
• Add the kale, shallot, cilantro leaves and crispy rice to a large bowl and toss with the peanuts and dressing to taste. Serve immediately.

CRISPY KALE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 500 degrees. Meanwhile, flatten kale leaves and use the point of a knife to remove tough center ribs. Stack leaves and roll them together, then slice crosswise into chiffonade strips 1/4 inch to 1/2 inch wide.
• Place kale in a medium bowl. Toss with olive oil, garlic and salt, making sure leaves are well coated with oil. Spread evenly across a large baking sheet.
• Bake, tossing once or twice, until leaves are crispy but not burned, about 5 minutes. Serve as is as a finger food or snack, or top with poached eggs as a breakfast or lunch dish.

CRISPY OVEN-ROASTED KALE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 250 degrees F.
• In a large bowl, toss the kale with the olive oil and a few pinches of salt. Spread out the kale on a large baking sheet; the kale can be piled up a bit. Bake until a little crispy on the edges but still tender, about 20 minutes.
• Remove the kale from the oven. Squeeze lime juice over the top, grate some Parmesan and serve warm.

CRISPY LEMON GARLIC KALE CHIPS

Steps:

• For the chips: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F and place a rack in the center of the oven.
• Place the kale on a sheet pan in an even layer. Sprinkle the lemon zest and granulated garlic over the kale. Drizzle the oil over the top and sprinkle salt and pepper to taste. Bake until crisp, about 20 minutes.
• For the dipping sauce: In a medium bowl, whisk the sour cream, buttermilk, lemon juice, cumin, paprika and some salt and pepper until combined. Serve with the kale chips.

CRISPY TUSCAN KALE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 250 degrees F.
• Remove the tough lower stems of the kale. Toss the kale generously with olive oil, salt and crushed red pepper.
• Lay the dressed leaves in a single layer on a sheet tray (use more than one if you need to!) and place in the oven. Roast the kale or until the leaves are crispy, 30 to 35 minutes.
• Serve as a snack or side dish.

CRISPY KALE CHIPS WITH LEMON

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Place the kale in a large bowl and dress very lightly with olive oil so the leaves are barely coated. Season with salt. Spread the leaves out across 2 roasting sheet trays so they aren't stacked up on each other too much. Roast in the oven until crispy but still green, 12 to 15 minutes. Remove from the oven and dress with a squeeze of fresh lemon juice and a touch of crushed red pepper flakes.

CRISPY EVERYTHING KALE CHIPS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 and place rack on lower level in oven.
• Mix the optional dry ingredients together. Mix and match to your likings or use all of them.
• Toss the kale, garlic with oil to coat then sprinkle dry ingredients over to coat evenly.
• Spread onto a baking sheet, and bake for approximately 15 minutes or until crispy and brown around the edges. Stirring 1/2 way through. If not crispy cook 5 more minutes till edges are lightly browned.

CHICKEN CAESAR SALAD WITH CRISPY KALE

Steps:

• To make the dressing, place the egg yolks, garlic and mustard in a bowl and whisk until thick and creamy. Gradually add half the oil, whisking continuously until combined. Gradually add the vinegar and the remaining oil, whisking to combine. Set aside.
• To make the crispy kale, preheat oven to 300°F (150°C). Place the kale, oil, parmesan, salt and pepper in a bowl and toss to coat. Place in a single layer on baking trays lined with non-stick baking paper. Bake for 15-20 minutes or until crisp, and set aside.
• Brush the chicken with oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Heat a grill pan or barbecue over high heat. Cook the chicken for 2-3 minutes each side or until cooked through. Slice the chicken and place in a large bowl. Add the Brussels sprouts, lettuce, spinach, and pine nuts and toss to combine. Divide between serving plates and top with crispy kale and the dressing to serve.

SHEET-PAN CHICKEN SALTIMBOCCA WITH ROASTED POTATOES AND CRISPY KALE

Steps:

• Position racks in upper and lower thirds of oven and preheat to 425°F. Arrange chicken cutlets in a single layer on rimmed baking sheet and season with 1/2 tsp. pepper. Place 1 sage leaf on top of each cutlet, then wrap each in 1 slice of prosciutto, starting from the top and wrapping in a single layer, making sure cutlet stays flat.
• Finely chop remaining 4 sage leaves and toss with potatoes, garlic, 1 Tbsp. oil, 1/2 tsp. salt, and 1/2 tsp. pepper on second rimmed baking sheet.
• Cook chicken in upper third of oven and potatoes in lower third until prosciutto is crisp and an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of chicken registers 165°F, 12-14 minutes.
• Meanwhile, whisk anchovies, vinegar, honey, and remaining 2 Tbsp. oil, 1/4 tsp. salt, and 1/4 tsp. pepper in a large bowl; add kale and toss to coat.
• Remove both baking sheets from oven; let chicken rest. Spread kale evenly over potatoes and return to upper third of oven. Roast until potatoes are tender and kale is browned at edges, about 5 minutes more.
• Divide chicken among 4 plates. Serve potatoes and kale alongside.

LEEK & BUTTER BEAN SOUP WITH CRISPY KALE & BACON

Steps:

• Heat 1 tbsp oil in a large saucepan over a low heat. Add the leeks, thyme and seasoning. Cover and cook for 15 mins until softened, adding a splash of water if the leeks start to stick. Add the butter beans with the water from the cans, the stock and mustard. Bring to the boil and simmer for 3-4 mins until hot. Blend the soup in a food processor or with a stick blender, stir through the parsley and check the seasoning.
• Put the bacon in a large, non-stick frying pan over a medium heat. Cook for 3-4 mins until crispy, then set side to cool. Add the remaining 1 tsp oil to the pan, and tip in the kale and hazelnuts. Cook for 2 mins, stirring until the kale is wilted and crisping at the edges and the hazelnuts are toasted. Cut the bacon into small pieces, then stir into the kale mixture.
• Reheat the soup, adding a splash of water if it is too thick. Serve in bowls sprinkled with the bacon & kale mixture.

ROASTED CHICKEN DINNER WITH POTATOES AND ARTICHOKES ON A BED OF CRISPY KALE

Steps:

• Drizzle the chicken with EVOO and liberally sprinkle with sea salt and pepper.
• In a roasting pan or baking dish, combine the potatoes, rosemary, onions, bay leaves, artichokes, garlic and lemons. Drizzle with about 1/4 cup EVOO, season with salt and pepper and toss to coat. Arrange the chicken on top of the vegetables.
• Position the rack on the center of the oven and preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Roast the chicken and vegetables for 45 minutes. Turn on the broiler and douse the pan with the wine. Broil until crispy and brown, 12 to 15 minutes. Remove from the oven.
• Dress the kale very lightly with about 1 tablespoon EVOO and season with salt, pepper and a few gratings of nutmeg. Spread the kale on a wire rack set over a baking sheet. Broil until very crispy, about 10 minutes.
• Divide the kale among plates and top with the chicken and vegetables.

CREAMED KALE WITH CRISPY SHALLOTS

Steps:

• 1. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Butter a 10-inch square baking dish.
• 2. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the kale and cook until tender, about 5 minutes. Drain in a colander, rinse with cold water, and drain well again. Place the kale in clean kitchen towels or paper towels and squeeze out the excess liquid. Put the kale in a large bowl.
• 3. Pour the milk into a medium saucepan and bring to a simmer over low heat.
• 4. Melt the butter in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Add the onion and cook until soft, about 4 minutes. Add the garlic and cook for 30 seconds. Whisk in the flour and cook until smooth and light blonde in color, about 1 minute. Slowly whisk in the warm milk, raise the heat to high, and cook, whisking constantly, until thickened and the flour taste has cooked out, about 5 minutes. If the mixture becomes too thick, add a little more milk.
• 5. Strain the sauce over the kale. Add the nutmeg, season with salt and pepper, and mix gently to combine. Scrape the mixture into the baking dish and bake in the oven until light golden brown on top and just warmed through, about 15 minutes.
• 6. Remove from the oven and top with the crispy shallots . Let rest for 10 minutes before serving.

CRISPY CHICKEN THIGHS WITH KALE, APRICOTS, AND OLIVES

Steps:

• Place a rack in top of oven; preheat to 400°F. Season chicken on both sides with 1 tsp. salt and 1/2 tsp. pepper. Pour oil into a large braising pan or deep-sided skillet. Arrange chicken skin side down in an even layer in cold pan, then place over medium heat and cook until skin is golden brown, 12-15 minutes. Transfer to a plate skin side up. Remove pan from heat, reserving fat.
• Meanwhile, combine apricots, vinegar, and 2 Tbsp. water in a small saucepan and cook over high heat, stirring occasionally, until liquid is boiling. Remove from heat.
• Stir garlic into hot fat remaining in pan. Working in batches, add kale and toss with tongs until all kale is coated and just beginning to wilt, about 3 minutes. (Make sure your kale is dry; otherwise, the fat will spatter.)
• Add apricot mixture, olives, red pepper, if using, and remaining 1/2 tsp. salt to kale mixture and toss to combine. Nestle chicken skin side up into kale mixture, fluffing kale up between chicken pieces so it has a chance to crisp in the oven. Pour wine around chicken. Roast until chicken is cooked through, about 15 minutes.

LAMB CHOPS SCOTTADITO WITH CRISPY KALE

Steps:

• Using a mallet, pound each rib chop to 1/4-inch thickness. Season the chops with salt and pepper.
• In the bowl of a food processor, combine the anchovy fillets, capers, lemon zest, garlic, sage and 1/2 cup olive oil, and pulse the mixture to form a marinade. Using a rubber spatula, transfer mixture to a large plastic food storage bag or shallow dish. Add the lamb and coat evenly in marinade. Seal the bag or cover the dish with plastic wrap, and refrigerate for 4 hours or overnight.
• Heat oven to 500 degrees and place a rack just above the center. Place the kale leaves in a large mixing bowl and add 2 tablespoons olive oil. With clean hands, toss the leaves, making sure both sides of each piece are lightly coated, adding more oil, about a teaspoon at a time, as necessary. (Alternatively, an oil mister can be used to lightly spray the kale on each side.) Place a large wire rack inside a rimmed baking sheet and arrange half the leaves on the rack in a single layer, not touching one another, and season with salt and pepper. Roast kale to brown and crispy, about 4 to 5 minutes, then repeat with remaining leaves. Loosely arrange a bed of crispy kale on a serving platter.
• Heat an outdoor grill to high and brush or spray with grapeseed oil. Add the lamb and cook over the high heat for about 4 minutes until charred, then flip and cook until chops are crisp at the edges, another 2 to 3 minutes. (The fire will flare as the fat cooks, so stay close to the grill and shuffle the chops as necessary.) After flipping the lamb to cook on the second side, place the lemon halves on the grill and char until caramelized and browned, about 2 to 4 minutes. (Chops can also be broiled in the oven, on high, about 5 minutes on each side. Lemons can be charred in a grill pan on the stove.)
• Allow the meat to rest on a plate for a few minutes. Arrange the chops on the bed of kale and douse them with the juice of the charred lemons.

CRISPY KALE

Steps:

• In a large heavy pot (like a Dutch oven), heat 2 to 3 inches of oil to 350 degrees F.
• Thoroughly wash the kale and remove the stems. Tear the leaves up into large bite-size pieces and dry them, either in a salad spinner or on paper towels.
• Drop 5 to7 leaves in the hot oil at a time and fry until the kale is crisp and almost transparent, 60 to 90 seconds. Drain on a wire rack set over paper towels and season with kosher salt while hot.
• Fry the cilantro leaves for a couple of seconds and drain on the same wire rack. Season with a bit more salt. Serve it as a snack or side dish.

SLOW-ROASTED LAMB SHOULDER WITH BRUSSELS SPROUTS AND CRISPY KALE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F. Place the fennel and cumin seeds in a mortar and pound with a pestle until fine. Add the garlic, oregano, brown sugar, salt, vinegar and 2 tablespoons of the oil and mix to combine. Rub the lamb with the spice mixture and place in a large roasting pan. Add the water and cover with aluminum foil.
• Roast for 2 hours, remove the foil and spoon over the cooking liquid. Roast for 40 more minutes or until golden brown. Place the Brussels sprouts, salt, pepper and the remaining oil in a large bowl and toss to combine. Transfer to a lightly greased rimmed baking sheet lined with non-stick parchment paper and roast for 15-20 minutes or until golden. Add the almonds and kale and roast for 5 more minutes or until the kale is crisp. Serve the lamb with the greens.

BAREFOOT CONTESSA'S "FOOLPROOF" CRISPY ROASTED KALE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
• Arrange 3 oven racks evenly spaced on the oven.
• Lay each kale leaf on a board and, with a small sharp knife, cut out the hard stem. Tear leaves in half.
• Place the kale in a large bowl of water and wash it well. Drain the kale and dry it in a salad spinner. Dry the bowl and put the kale back in the bowl.
• Toss the kale with the olive oil, 1 t kosher salt and 1/2 t black pepper.
• Divide the kale among 3 sheet pans or roast them in batches.
• If you put too much kale on one pan, it will steam rather than roast and will never become crisp.
• Roast for 15 minutes, until crisp. Sprinkle with fleur de sel and serve hot.

CRISPY SPICED KALE

Steps:

• In a large bowl combine kale, scallions, spices and salt.
• In another bowl whisk together chickpea flour, cornstarch, salt and baking powder. Whisk in the sparkling water. Mixture should have consistency of thick cream. Scrape into bowl with kale mixture and combine thoroughly.
• Pour oil into a wok or wide saucepan to a depth of 3 inches and heat over medium-high heat to 360 to 375 degrees. Set up a sheet pan with a rack on it next to the pan. Cover the rack with a few layers of paper towels. Have a spider or deep fry skimmer handy for removing the kale from the oil.
• Take up the kale mixture by the heaped tablespoon and carefully slide into the hot oil. The mixture should break apart into small pieces. Fry until golden, which shouldn't take much more than a minute, using the spider to flip the pieces over or press them down into the oil once so that all of the batter gets crisped. Using the spider, remove from the oil, allowing excess oil to drip back into the pan, and drain on the towel-covered rack. Sprinkle with salt if desired. Allow to cool slightly and serve.