{"id":18530,"date":"2020-03-04T15:21:30","date_gmt":"2020-03-04T21:21:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bowlofdelicious.com\/?p=18530"},"modified":"2020-03-04T19:30:39","modified_gmt":"2020-03-05T01:30:39","slug":"how-to-prep-kale","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.bowlofdelicious.com\/how-to-prep-kale\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Prep Kale"},"content":{"rendered":"

Ever wondered how to prep kale<\/strong>? How to remove it from the stems, how to wash it, and how to store it? Look no further, my friend. Here’s your complete guide to prepping this super healthy leafy green, including tips for how to make it taste less bitter<\/strong>!<\/p>\n

\"Photo<\/p>\n

Kale is a ridiculously healthy green vegetable- in fact, it’s one of the most nutrient-dense foods on the planet<\/a>. But it can be a bit intimidating to cook with, especially if you don’t know how to prep it!<\/p>\n

A lot of people think kale is bitter and doesn’t taste good. I humbly beg to differ. And if you follow some tricks and tips for preparing it the right way, you can remove lots of the bitterness and use it in all kinds of different recipes!<\/p>\n

In this post, I’ll explain:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. How to remove kale from the stems<\/a> (including: with a knife, with a leaf stripper tool, and how to do it for curly vs. Tuscan kale)<\/em><\/li>\n
  2. How to chop kale<\/a><\/li>\n
  3. Tricks for how to remove the bitterness from kale<\/a><\/li>\n
  4. How to wash kale<\/a> (and get it REALLY clean)<\/em><\/li>\n
  5. How to store kale<\/a> (it stays good for a week or more in the fridge!)<\/em><\/li>\n
  6. Recipe ideas that use kale<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    So go ahead and grab that bunch of kale from the store and let’s get to it!<\/p>\n

    How to remove the stems from kale<\/h2>\n

    There are two ways you can remove the stems. My favorite way is with a chef’s knife. But if you’re a beginner cook and not as comfortable using a knife, a leaf stripper is a nifty tool that makes removing the stems so easy! And you’ll need to treat curly kale differently than Tuscan kale.<\/p>\n

    How to cut stems off curly kale with a knife<\/h3>\n
      \n
    1. Fold the kale leaf in half and hold the leaves down with your non-dominant hand, leaving the stem exposed on the edge.<\/li>\n
    2. Use your chef’s knife to slice the stem off where it meets the leaves.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      \"Cutting<\/p>\n

      \"Stem<\/p>\n

      How to remove kale stems with a leaf stripper<\/h3>\n

      Not only is this nifty leaf stripper tool<\/a> great to remove stems from kale (and chard, and other greens)<\/em>, but it also works with herbs like rosemary and thyme!<\/p>\n

        \n
      1. Find the hold in the leaf stripper that will fit the stem (you may need to trip a particularly thick part off the end first)<\/em>.<\/li>\n
      2. Insert the stem and pull through the other end. Ta-da!<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

        \"Removing<\/p>\n

        \"Stem<\/p>\n

        How to remove the stems from Tuscan kale<\/h3>\n

        Tuscan kale, otherwise known as Dinosaur Kale and Lacinato Kale, has a flat leaf rather than curly, and is a bit more delicate. It probably won’t work as well with a leaf stripper unless you have very large, sturdy leaves.<\/p>\n

          \n
        1. Place the leaf flat on a cutting board and use a paring knife to slice along one side of the stem where it meets the leaf.<\/li>\n
        2. Repeat on the other side and remove the stem.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

          \"How<\/p>\n

          \"Stem<\/p>\n

          How to chop kale<\/h2>\n

          I usually like to cut kale into small pieces, about 1\/2″-1″ big. This is perfect for salad, to add to soups, etc. If you want to steam kale or sauté it, you may want bigger pieces, around 2″-4″.<\/p>\n

          Just fold it in half or stack a few leaves on top of each other and run your chef’s knife over it in both directions, until you get smaller pieces.<\/p>\n

          \"Chopping<\/p>\n

          \"Hands<\/p>\n

          How to make kale less bitter<\/h2>\n

          If you think kale is a bitter pill to swallow, you’re partially right. Kale IS known for its bitterness, as are many other healthy leafy greens such as chard.<\/p>\n

          BUT. There is hope! When kale is at its best, it actually tastes DELICIOUS, almost sweet, rather than bitter.<\/strong> Here are tips to bring out its best flavor.<\/p>\n