How to cook kale?

Kale cabbage has been all the rage in the kitchen for some years now. This very old variety of green cabbage was already eaten by the Romans. It is also known as kale, feather cabbage or semi-dwarf kale. Its leaves are firm to the touch, without blemishes, with firm veins and a brittle stem. It's a vegetable rich in calcium, minerals and trace elements, vitamins and antioxidants, as well as being low in calories. There's nothing to stop you planting it in your vegetable garden, as a change from broccoli, and enjoying it in the kitchen from the first frosts until spring. It's very easy to use in the kitchen and remains productive in the garden even in winter.

The many ways to cook kale?

High in vitamins, calcium and protein yet low in calories, it has many qualities. This easy-to-cook slimming ally can be eaten raw, steamed, in crisps, in salads, braised or in soup...

It can be pan-fried, steamed, braised or simply eaten raw in a salad. It's a great ingredient for smoothies, pies or quiches.

It's a great ingredient for smoothies, pies or quiches.

For quick cooking, plunge the cut leaves into a pan of boiling salted water for two minutes. It can then be pan-fried in butter.

For steaming, allow 15 minutes. Then you have a choice of pies, quiches, sautéed cabbage...

Prepare crisps by passing cut leaves coated with olive oil 20 to 25 minutes in the oven at 180° C.

How to prepare kale

In all cases, the leaves are rinsed and dried. Using a knife, remove the veins and threads from each leaf. Then simply chop or mince them, depending on how you intend to cook them. If the leaves are a little tough, rub them together after moistening them with olive oil.

How to store kale

It's a vegetable that can easily be stored for one to two weeks. To do this, clean it, dry the leaves and place it in the coldest part of the fridge. Once cleaned and cut, it can also be frozen.

What combinations for kale?

Kale goes perfectly with potatoes, leeks, turnips but also mushrooms, beetroot, carrots... It can be combined with fruit such as apples or kiwi. It is an excellent accompaniment to meat or cheese.

Planting kale in the vegetable garden

It is quite possible to plant kale in the vegetable garden. The seeds are planted in July. This is a very cold-hardy vegetable that can withstand temperatures down to -15°C. They are harvested leaf by leaf in autumn, winter and into early spring.