Stuff I Swear By - Kale
Thursday, August 6, 2009 at 09:03AM | 6 Comments 
Mmmmm, leeeeaaafffy greeeeeens.....
Okay, I know not everyone shares my passion for a head-sized bowl of plain ol' steamed kale, and I'm okay with that. But if you find yourself running in the other direction at the thought of this amazing and much-maligned vegetable, please slow down a sec, Sam-I-Am, and hear what I have to say about it.
It's good for you. Yes, I know I sound like your mother. But here are some specifics:
Kale, like other dark leafy greens, contains chlorophyll. You know that, um, BO problem you're having? Anything more offensive than natural sweat is usually a sign of toxicity in the digestive tract. Same with bad breath. Chlorophyll neutralizes the odor. (Wonder why that sprig of parsley is sitting on your plate at a restaurant dinner? Cleanses the palate after eating... more conducive to after-dinner smooching!)
Kale contains:
- blood-enhancing iron
- cancer-preventing phytonutrients
- pro-vitamin A (which I just learned can actually help prevent the adverse effects of smoking or being around smokers)
- vitamin C for immunity and protection against rheumatoid arthritis
- lots o' calcium (great for vegans or lactose-intolerant folks!)
- vitamin E which can help to slow loss of mental function.
- Oh, and fiber! Gotta have the fiber...
The iron and calcium content, by the way? Great for relieving some PMS and menstrual symptoms...just saying....
Kale is a hardy vegetable, meaning it loves a little frost. This gives it a bit of a sweet flavor (when grown in the north). I learned this little tidbit while watching my Florida-dwelling mom cook the crap out of a pot of kale, and she told me it would taste bitter otherwise. Ahh, the stuff grown down south would, because it's not kissed by that bit of frost. (And surprisingly, her overcooked kale with a ton of garlic was quite tasty, but that's the magic of my mom..)
How I eat it: Like I said, lightly steamed, and with a splash of olive or flax seed oil, and gomashio (a condiment made of crushed toasted sesame seeds and sea salt). I also chop it up and add it to soup, stir-fries, my kids' beloved ramen, on boat with a goat, in the rain on a train...
You're a raw foodie? It can prepared thusly as well...the exact recipe escapes me, but I remember some marinating in olive oil, lemon juice and a little cayenne being involved. I'll have to search for that recipe. It's a bit tough to break down otherwise without the marinating or steaming. (I have thrown it in my juicer too, with carrots and apples...)
Already a fan? Join the club! And if you're not, (yet) read more. Or better yet, just taste some! Go on, it's good for you!
Other stuff I swear by:
PMS, body odor, calcium, chlorophyll, iron, kale, nutrition in Food, Well-being, Womens' Health
Reader Comments (6)
Oh my, I adore the stuff too!
The leaves can also be splashed in olive oil (I put in a bag and drizzle OO in and then shake) and sprinkled with salt and baked (4 minutes per side) on a cookie sheet in a 425 degree oven. They get crispy.
Also raw salad, yes, with olive oil and lemon juice and salt and whatever spices you like. I also like adding goat cheese and dried cranberries. Yum. If you let it sit for a few hours in the lemon juice and olive oil it will soften up the kale and make it easier to digest, though my digestion has always rather welcomed this intensely great green fiber. (Not that you wanted to know, but Just sayin: if you're slow digestively, kale is awesome.)
xo!
Heidi! Yes, baked kale! Forgot I even have this on my site.. will add that link. Your other recipe also sounds wonderful.. give me goat cheese on anything. And the digestion tip? Absatively. When I'm feeling blah, my first impulse is to eat a bunch of kale. Always seems to help.
This sounds like something I'd love to put in my salad! Thanks for the info!
By the way, I absolutely love your writing style. Keep it up. :)
Christina: Thank you! Come on back now, ya hear?
I love kale too. I can eat a whole bunch of it when it's stir-fried with a little brown sugar. Heaven. Also good in smoothies with a banana and fresh berries.
Elizabeth: Stir-fried with brown sugar???Wow... will HAVE to try that. And in a smoothie.. yum yum! Thanks!