Best Winter Kale Recipes

KALE AND WILD RICE-STUFFED WINTER SQUASH

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400ºF.
• Rub a bit of oil inside the squash and season with salt and pepper. Place the acorn squash cut sides down on a baking sheet. Bake until tender, 35 to 40 minutes.
• In a medium saucepan, combine the rice, 1 3/4 cups of water, and 1/2 teaspoon of salt. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, then cover, reduce the heat to low, and cook until the liquid is absorbed, about 40 minutes.
• Swirl a bit of oil in a medium skillet and heat it over medium heat until shimmering. Add the shallot and sauté until softened, 1 to 2 minutes. Add the kale and sauté just until the leaves begin to wilt, 2 to 3 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Add the cooked rice, Dijon, and lemon zest and stir to mix well. Cook for 2 minutes more, adding some oil if the rice seems too dry. Stir in the parsley, walnuts, and Pecorino Romano.
• Remove the squash from the oven. Spoon the rice filling into each half and serve hot.

WINTER KALE SALAD

Steps:

• Toss kale, pecans, green onion, and pear together in a medium bowl. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Drizzle vinegar then oil over the top. Toss and serve with a sprinkling of cheese.

WILTED KALE AND ROASTED-POTATO WINTER SALAD

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 450°F with rack in upper third.
• Toss potatoes with oil and 1/2 teaspoon each of salt and pepper in a large 4-sided sheet pan, then spread evenly. Roast, stirring once, 10 minutes. Stir in sliced garlic and roast 10 minutes more. Sprinkle with cheese and roast until cheese is melted and golden in spots, about 5 minutes.
• Meanwhile, purée tahini, water, lemon juice, minced garlic, and 1/2 teaspoon salt in a blender until smooth, about 1 minute. (Add a bit of water if sauce is too thick.)
• Toss kale with hot potatoes and any garlic and oil remaining in pan, then toss with tahini sauce and salt and pepper to taste.

WINTER SLAW OF KALE AND CABBAGE

Steps:

• In an extra-large bowl combine the kale, salt, and olive oil. Using your hands, rub the kale to help soften it and brighten its color (personally, I.
• prefer to steam it for a few mins). Rinse the kale in a colander under cool running water; drain well and return to the bowl. Add the savoy cabbage, purple cabbage, and carrots; toss to combine. Set slaw aside.
• For the dressing, in a food processor or blender combine the parsley, mayonnaise, sour cream, green onion, vinegar, tarragon, sugar, and garlic. Cover and process or blend to combine.
• Add the dressing to the vegetable mixture; toss to coat. Sprinkle pepitas over the salad.

WINTER SLAW OF KALE AND CABBAGE

Steps:

• In an extra-large bowl combine the kale, salt, and olive oil. Using your hands, rub the kale to help soften it and brighten its color
• Rinse the kale in a colander under cool running water; drain well and return to the bowl. Add the savoy cabbage, purple cabbage, and carrots; toss to combine. Set slaw aside.
• For the dressing, in a food processor or blender combine the parsley, mayonnaise, sour cream, green onion, vinegar, tarragon, sugar, and garlic. Cover and process or blend to combine.
• Add the dressing to the vegetable mixture; toss to coat. Sprinkle pepitas over the salad.

WINTER SLAW WITH KALE & CABBAGE RECIPE - (4.2/5)

Steps:

• In an extra-large bowl combine the kale, salt, and olive oil. Using your hands, rub the kale to help soften it and brighten its color. Rinse the kale in a colander under cool running water; drain well and return to the bowl. Add the savoy cabbage, purple cabbage, and carrots; toss to combine. Set slaw aside. For the dressing, in a food processor or blender combine the parsley, mayonnaise, sour cream, green onion, vinegar, tarragon, sugar, and garlic. Cover and process or blend to combine. Add the dressing to the vegetable mixture; toss to coat. Sprinkle pepitas over the salad.

ROASTED WINTER SQUASH WITH KALE PIPIAN

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F. Toast pumpkin seeds on a rimmed baking sheet until lightly browned, 6-8 minutes. Let cool.
• Increase oven temperature to 425°F. Toss squash pieces and oil on another rimmed baking sheet to coat; season with kosher salt. Roast, tossing occasionally, until browned and tender, 30-40 minutes.
• Bring onion, garlic, tomatillos, and 2 cups water to a simmer in a large saucepan over medium-high. Cook until tomatillos are almost tender, about 5 minutes. Add kale and cook just until wilted and bright green, about 1 minute. Let onion mixture cool in pan until warm.
• Char chiles over the flame of a gas burner, turning occasionally, until blackened and slightly softened, about 1 minute (or, arrange chiles on a rimmed baking sheet and use broiler).
• Transfer onion mixture to a blender with a slotted spoon; reserve liquid. Add charred chiles and 3/4 cup pumpkin seeds to blender and purée, adding reserved liquid as needed to get things moving, until a smooth, pourable sauce forms. Season pipian with kosher salt.
• Divide squash among plates. Drizzle with pipian and sprinkle with sea salt. Top with remaining 1/4 cup pumpkin seeds and cilantro. Serve with lime wedges.

WINTER KALE

Steps:

• 1. Wash kale well in a sink full of cold water. Keep swishing until all the sand/soil has fallen off. Change water and rinse again. Cut kale into strips about 1/2-inch wide. Shake off water.
• 2. Heat oil in large skillet over medium heat. Saute onion for 2 minutes, then start adding kale in small batches and stir until it all cooks down and you can cover the skillet. Cover, lower heat, and steam until done to your liking. We like ours tender-crisp so this takes less than 10 minutes. Stir in red pepper flakes and salt and pepper to taste. Serve with balsamic vinegar if desired.

WILTED KALE AND ROASTED-POTATO WINTER SALAD

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 450°F, with the rack in the upper third.
• Toss the potatoes with the oil and 1/2 teaspoon of the salt and the pepper in a large 4-sided sheet pan, then spread evenly. Roast, stirring once, 10 minutes. Stir in the sliced garlic and roast 10 minutes more. Sprinkle with the cheese and roast until the cheese is melted and golden in spots, about 5 minutes more.
• Purée the tahini, water, lemon juice, minced garlic, and remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt in a blender until smooth, about 1 minute. (Add a bit more water if sauce is too thick.)
• Toss the kale with the hot potatoes (to wilt the leaves) and any garlic and oil remaining in pan, then toss with tahini sauce and salt and pepper to taste.

WINTER PASTA (KALE PESTO)

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Salt the boiling water generously, and add the garlic and shallots. Boil for 2-3 minutes, stir in the kale and cook for another ten seconds. Don't overcook. Working quickly, use a slotted spoon or strainer to fish the greens, garlic, and shallots from the water. Use a food processor to puree the ingredients along with the olive oil and goat cheese. Add a couple tablespoons of hot pasta water if needed to thin things out if needed. Then season with a touch of salt and plenty of black pepper. Taste. Depending on your goat cheese, you might need a little extra acidic oomph if your sauce is a bit flat. If so, add fresh lemon juice a bit at a time until you're happy with it the sauce. Set aside. Reheat the pot of water and boil the pasta per package instructions. Drain and toss immediately with the green sauce. Serve topped with a few pinches of fresh thyme, and more crumbled goat cheese.

WINTER MUSHROOM BARLEY SOUP WITH KALE

Steps:

• 1. Place the dried porcini mushrooms in a bowl or a Pyrex measuring cup, and pour on two cups boiling water. Let sit for 30 minutes. Set a strainer over a bowl, and line it with cheesecloth. Lift the mushrooms from the water and squeeze over the strainer, then rinse in several changes of water. Squeeze out the water and set aside. Strain the soaking water through the cheesecloth-lined strainer. Add water as necessary to make two cups. Set aside. 2. Heat the oil in a large, heavy soup pot or Dutch oven over medium heat, and add the onion. Cook, stirring often, until just about tender, about five minutes, and add the sliced fresh mushrooms. Cook, stirring, until the mushrooms are beginning to soften, about three minutes, and add the garlic and 1/2 teaspoon of salt. Continue to cook for about five minutes, until the mixture is juicy and fragrant. Add the reconstituted dried mushrooms, the barley, the mushroom soaking liquid, and the stock or water. Salt to taste. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat, cover and simmer 45 minutes. Meanwhile, stack the kale leaves in bunches and cut crosswise into slivers. Simmer the bouquet garni during the 45 minute simmering, then pull it out when the soup is done. 3. Add the kale to the simmering soup, and continue to simmer for another 15 to 20 minutes. The barley should be tender and the broth aromatic. The kale should be very tender. Remove the bouquet garni, taste and adjust salt, add a generous amount of freshly ground pepper and serve. Advance preparation: The soup will keep for about three days in the refrigerator, but the barley will swell and absorb liquid, so you will have to add more to the pot when you reheat.