A large delivery of kale can feel like a burden, whether it came from a CSA box or an overly-ambitious moment at the grocery store. Kale, though, is actually the perfect food for our times. It’s hardy and lasts for days in the refrigerator without wilting. It’s also versatile, and will pair well with just about any odds and ends you have on hand. It can be eaten raw, but also stands up to baking, boiling, and pureeing. Get improvisational—kale can take it. If you’re looking for a little inspiration, the following are some of our favorite ways to use this leafy green.
1 /7Erin Kunkel
Kasha with Kale and Pancetta
Rustic and satisfying, this one-dish meal gets a lot of its flavor and nutrition from Lacinato kale.
2 /7Thomas J. Story
Lemony Kale Avocado Sandwiches
Limp lettuce be gone. Kale works well as a sandwich green because it holds its integrity much better than more delicate vegetables. It’ll be as good coming out of the bag at lunchtime as it was going in before work.
3 /7Erin Kunkel
Cilantro and Kale Pesto Toast with a Fried Egg
This open-faced sandwich uses pesto with a twist. The addition of kale and the use of hemp seeds rather than the traditional pine nuts give the mixture a less unctuous texture and more savory vegetal notes, making this one of the most flavorful breakfast sandwiches around.
4 /7Hugh Garvey
I Can’t Stop Cooking (and Eating) These Spicy Salty Kale Crisps
Maybe you’ve had kale chips—kale crisps are their slightly more substantial and indulgent sister snacks. This preparation works well with trimmings from any fibrous or cruciferous vegetable—great for times like these when we’d like to minimize the number of trips we’re making to the grocery store.
5 /7Iain Bagwell
Kale Ribbons
Get improvisational with this flavorful, nutritious kale preparation. Once these ribbons have been cooked, you can serve them as a side dish alongside protein, add them to soups, or just eat them on their own.
6 /7Jeffery Cross
Kale Salad with Red Quinoa, Fennel, and Carrots
When you were trying to come up with things to do with kale, salad was probably something you thought of. But you might not have dreamed up this particular salad, full of hearty kale, almonds, and quinoa.
7 /7Iain Bagwell
26 Favorite Kale Recipes
There’s more where this came from. Here are more than two dozen of our classic kale recipes.