The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Growing => Vegetables => Topic started by: Rosemary on October 21, 2007, 04:07:21 pm

Title: Cooking kale
Post by: Rosemary on October 21, 2007, 04:07:21 pm
Anyone get any good recipes for cooking kale as a vegetable? I know it's good for you but I'm not really sure what to do with it...
Title: Re: Cooking kale
Post by: Townie on October 21, 2007, 04:13:27 pm
My Mother-in-Law makes Kale Soup... it tastes quite nice, been a while since I;ve had some and cant remember what was in it.. must ask her for the recipe tomorrow and see how she makes it.
Title: Re: Cooking kale
Post by: Wanda L. Wood on October 21, 2007, 06:39:32 pm
I, too would like to have a variety of ways to cook kale. My Mother just flash cooks it and then adds a little butter, salt and pepper. The only way I have ever changed that, is to add melted cheese. What variety do you have in Scotland?
Title: Re: Cooking kale
Post by: paddy on November 16, 2007, 06:52:04 pm
Have you tried colcannon? - it's a traditional Irish dish using kale and very easy.  Boil and mash potatoes and boil and chop kale and mix them together with some raw chopped onion. Add lots of butter and season with salt and pepper.  Very good with roast pork or sausages.
paddy
Title: Re: Cooking kale
Post by: Dan on November 18, 2007, 07:26:47 pm
Sounds good Paddy, will have to try that. Adding onions and butter makes just about anything palatable.   :)
Title: Re: Cooking kale
Post by: Hilarysmum on November 21, 2007, 12:27:23 pm
Steam kale until tender, chop mix with butter, pinch salt and pepper,
Make some thin pancakes, fill pancakes with kale mix top with a fried egg.  Its a bit different.
Title: Re: Cooking kale
Post by: Hilarysmum on November 26, 2007, 07:54:38 am
Was watching River Cottage on DVD last night, if you have seen it, do you remember the nettle eating contest.  If Kale was substituted for the nettles the gnocci and "pie" looked really good. 
Title: Re: Cooking kale
Post by: ducky2108 on February 06, 2008, 11:49:52 am
If we ever find ourselves with some kale, I tend to parboil it, and then finish it off by frying it with a bit of bacon, and maybe some onion.

Bacon makes averything taste fab (unless you're a veggie)
Title: Re: Cooking kale
Post by: Wizard on July 06, 2010, 08:40:24 am
Wots the difference twixt colcannon and Bubble and Squeak other than the TV chefs don't lower them selves to good English Food :D :farmer:
Title: Re: Cooking kale
Post by: JulieS on July 06, 2010, 08:45:05 am
George I think the difference is that with colcannon you add the veg to the mashed potatoes and serve.  With the bubble and squeak you mix all together and then put in the frying pan to crisp it up......Love those crispy bits!!
 :) :) :)
Title: Re: Cooking kale
Post by: Wizard on July 06, 2010, 08:52:21 am
I shun't tell you this Julie If "She" int about I bon it on perpus ;D ;D ;D :farmer: :wave:
Title: Re: Cooking kale
Post by: JulieS on July 06, 2010, 08:53:39 am
 :) :) :) :)
Title: Re: Cooking kale
Post by: Wizard on July 06, 2010, 08:58:09 am
Don't you like the bottom all brown and turned over and browned again so round the edges burn yum yum Don' work with new tates though does it :farmer:
Title: Re: Cooking kale
Post by: Sandy on July 06, 2010, 09:30:38 am
I just love Kale quickly boiled and nothing else as I am on a diet. Kale has helped me a lot as it has a lot of flavor without adding salt or butter!! boring to most people but I find some meat and a BIG plate of kale a great diet meal..If you have too much, I can help you with it!!
Title: Re: Cooking kale
Post by: Fleecewife on July 06, 2010, 11:07:47 am
Kale is delicious if you only pick small tender leaves - it's the big dark ones which taste too strong.  I love it steamed with a knob of butter added on the plate - plain and simple.  I grow Dwarf Green Curled, Scarlet and Redbor, and the replacements for Winnetu (Westland Winter and Reflex).  Also the Scottish special Pentland Brig which has very tender sprigs like sprouting broccoli without the flower part.  I don't grow the long strappy one (Nero something) which isn't hardy up here.  As you can see, I do love my kale  :yum:.  At the end of the season the left over big leaves go to the sheep.
Title: Re: Cooking kale
Post by: Wizard on July 06, 2010, 01:21:21 pm
Have you tried the black sort The Head Gardener grew some last year very tasty We like the curly sort best :farmer:
Title: Re: Cooking kale
Post by: Fleecewife on July 06, 2010, 02:19:39 pm
Hi Wizard  :wave: No the black kind is what I meant by the strappy one, which I tried one year but it all died by the time the temp got down to about -6C, whereas the proper good old British types are hardy as far down as we get here - about -18C.   I don't grow the Russian type either which doesn't have much body to it, although it has pretty pink bits amongst the green  :)
Title: Re: Cooking kale
Post by: Daisys Mum on July 06, 2010, 04:41:04 pm

It is delicious shredded and deep fried, tastes like crispy seaweed, really nice with fish pie.
Title: Re: Cooking kale
Post by: Wizard on July 06, 2010, 04:51:14 pm
I HATE FISH Dais; ;D ;D ;D :farmer: :wave:
Title: Re: Cooking kale
Post by: Sandy on July 06, 2010, 04:51:52 pm
The bit's that spill from the pan and crisp up on the hot plate are yummmy!!!! Must get some!!!
Title: Re: Cooking kale
Post by: northfifeduckling on July 23, 2010, 06:14:50 pm
The deep fried version sounds lovely, must try that! I just always shredded it very finely, then fried in some duck fat or olive oil, added some wine or water or stock + salt and pepper, cook gently until dark and soft. That's the way my gran did it and we always had it with sausages!  :&>