Kale is the crunchy taste of winter and it’s a perfect ingredient to help us stay healthy in the colder months.
This versatile vegetable is in season right now and it’s such a useful ingredient in so many comforting dishes.
Did you know…?
- It’s is from the cabbage family and is rich in vitamins A, B6, C, K, folate, fibre, carotenoids and manganese.
- There are 50 varieties worldwide including cavolo nero and frilly, purple kale.
- More unusual varieties include True Siberian, lacinato, Red Russian, Redbor, Gulag Stars, White Russian, Dwarf Blue Vates, Red Nagoya, Chinese Kale, Sea Kale, and Walking Stick Kale (which can grow to six feet tall).
- It’s is eaten across the globe and is a staple food in Denmark, Scotland, Kenya, Italy, and Portugal.
- It’s a useful ingredient in salads, stir fries, and stews, adding flavour and crunch.
- It pairs well with winter squashes like pumpkin.
What can we do with it?
Polenta with kale and hazelnuts – A wonderful vegetarian main course or a comforting side dish for roast chicken. Flavour with thyme, nutmeg, garlic, chilli flakes, and lemon juice, and add butternut squash, shallots, and stock.
Butter beans with kale – Flavour this fabulous vegan side dish with garlic, chilli, and lemon. Perfect for Veganuary.
Chinese-style kale – Fry in a wok and add garlic, soy sauce, and oyster sauce. Serve with aromatic rice and stir fried pork or chicken.
Pesto and kale pasta – Add kale to pasta, soft cheese, onion, and pesto for a warming winter lunch or light supper.
Salmon burgers with kale salsa – Make your salsa with olive oil, chilli, and coriander. This gives a fresh burst of flavour to your salmon burgers and it’s the perfect dish for anyone wanting to increase their consumption of oily fish.
Clam and kale linguine – Clams, linguine, kale, and a delicious white wine sauce…the ideal combination for a light lunch! Flavour with nduja, garlic, lemon, and Parmesan.
Kale crisps – Massage the leaves with olive oil and sprinkle with ras el hanout before baking until crisp. A vitamin packed alternative to potato crisps.
Take a look at the seasonal dishes we create in our sample menus.
