I was watching Food TV the other day and saw Melissa d’Arabian make kale chips. I had never heard of kale chips before but it sounded good and she made it look so easy. How strange to think that a green leafy vegetable would actually crisp up when baked instead of breaking down and turning to mush. This I had to see for myself!
Kale has always been a very popular vegetable in Europe but has only lately started making headlines in the United States. Now you see it on almost every restaurant menu. It’s a good thing because kale is a powerhouse of vitamins and minerals, and has been touted for its cancer protection and cholesterol lowering capabilities. Its leaves are thick and hearty, and stand up well to most styles of cooking. Kale chips make a wonderful, healthy alternative to potato chips for snacking.
Oh — and baking really did crisp the leaves right up! I must admit to some misgivings as I had never baked kale leaves before but instead of getting soft and wilting like I was afraid they would, they turned light and crispy with a mild earthy flavor. You’ve got to try this recipe. Besides being super easy, it was absolutely delicious! I may never eat potato chips again!
CRISPY KALE CHIPS
- 1 head kale
- 2 tbsps. olive oil
- sea salt, for sprinkling
- Preheat oven to 275ºF.
- Wash and dry kale very well.
- Remove the ribs from the kale and cut leaves into 1½-inch pieces.
- Lay kale pieces on a baking sheet and toss with olive oil.
- Bake until crisp, turning the leaves halfway through, about 20 minutes.
- Sprinkle lightly with salt. Be carerful! It’s very easy to over-salt the kale chips so go lightly on the salt in this step. You can always add more, but you can’t take away.
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