Kale And Potato Purée Food

KALE AND POTATO PURéE

Steps:

• Cook the kale in a pot of boiling salted water (1 1/2 tablespoons salt for 4 quarts water), uncovered, until tender, about 7 minutes. Drain, then immediately transfer the kale to an ice bath to stop the cooking. When kale is cool, drain but do not squeeze.
• While kale cooks, peel the potatoes and cut into 1/2-inch pieces. Simmer in the cream, salt, and pepper in a heavy medium saucepan, covered, stirring occasionally, until tender, 15 to 20 minutes.
• Purée the potato mixture with the kale in 2 batches in a food processor until just smooth (use caution when blending hot liquids). Transfer to a 4- to 5-quart heavy saucepan and cook over low heat, stirring frequently, until heated through. Season with salt and pepper.
• DO AHEAD
• The PURÉE can be made 1 day ahead and chilled. Reheat over low heat, stirring frequently.

MASHED POTATOES WITH KALE

Steps:

• For the potatoes: Combine the potatoes, garlic, salt and butter in a 5-quart saucepan with enough cold water to cover. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce the heat to a simmer and cook until the potatoes are tender, 15 to 20 minutes. Drain in a colander and remove the garlic cloves. Return the potatoes to the pan and mash the potatoes until smooth using a potato masher.
• For the kale: Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the onion, salt and pepper. Cook until translucent, about 6 minutes. Add the garlic and cook until aromatic, about 30 seconds. Add the kale and chicken broth. Cook, stirring occasionally, until wilted, 10 to 12 minutes.
• To assemble: Add the kale mixture, mascarpone cheese, chicken broth, butter, Parmesan, salt and pepper to the potatoes. Stir over low heat until smooth and warmed through. Season with salt and pepper. Transfer to a bowl and serve.

KALE, ZUCCHINI AND POTATO SOUP

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add the onion and cook, stirring, until tender, 3 to 5 minutes. Add the potato, thyme, garlic, rosemary, 1/2 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of black pepper and cook, stirring, until the potatoes are well coated, 2 to 3 minutes more. Pour in the broth and bring to a simmer.
• Add the zucchini and simmer until the potatoes are tender, about 15 minutes, adjusting the heat as needed to maintain a simmer. Stir in the kale and cook 5 minutes more. Remove from the heat, discard the thyme and rosemary and let cool at least 5 minutes. Carefully puree until smooth with a handheld immersion blender or in 2 to 3 batches in a blender (do not fill the blender more than halfway full per batch).
• Stir in the heavy cream and reheat the soup if necessary, adjusting the consistency and seasoning with additional water, salt and pepper.
• Serve hot sprinkled with cayenne or paprika and topped with sliced kale.

KALE AND POTATO GRATIN

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°. Butter a 2-quart shallow baking dish.
• Wash, derib and coarsely chop the kale.
• Place in a pot with a little bit of water and steam until almost tender, 5 minutes or so. Check to make sure it's not burning.
• Peel and cut potatoes and onions into 1/8-inch thick rounds.
• If desired, saute onions until lightly browned. It gives more flavor, I think.
• Drain kale and let stand until cool enough to handle. Press out excess water.
• Build up alternating layers of potatoes, onions and kale (two layers each) in baking dish, beginning and ending with potatoes and dotting each onion layer with butter, minced tarragon, salt, pepper and garlic powder.
• Pour half-and-half over top, cover and bake in oven until potatoes are tender and almost all liquid is absorbed, 30-45 minutes.
• Place under broiler, if desired, to brown the top.

MASHED POTATOES WITH KALE (COLCANNON)

Steps:

• Cover the potatoes with water in a saucepan, add about 1/2 teaspoon of salt and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium, cover partially and cook until tender all the way through when pierced with a knife, about 30 to 45 minutes. Drain off the water, return the potatoes to the pan, cover tightly and let steam over very low heat for another 2 to 3 minutes. Remove from the heat and mash with a potato masher or a fork, through a food mill or in a standing mixer fitted with the paddle, while still hot.
• While the potatoes are cooking bring a large pot of generously salted water to a boil and add the kale. Fill a bowl with ice and water. Cook the kale for 4 to 6 minutes (after the water returns to the boil), until the leaves are tender but still bright green. Transfer to the ice water, allow to cool for a couple of minutes, then drain and squeeze out excess water. Chop fine (you can use a food processor).
• Towards the end of the potato cooking time, combine the milk and the scallions in a saucepan and bring to a simmer. Remove from the heat and let steep for a few minutes. Stir the chopped kale into the hot mashed potatoes and beat in the milk and butter or olive oil. The mixture should be fluffy (you can do this in an electric mixer fitted with the paddle). Add salt to taste and freshly ground pepper. Serve hot, right away, or keep warm in a double boiler: set the bowl in a saucepan filled one third of the way with water. Make sure the water doesn't touch the bottom of the bowl. Bring the water to a simmer. Stir the potato and kale mixture from time to time.

POTATO, KALE AND OYSTER SOUP

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a large pot, and sauté the onions until soft but not browned. Add the potatoes, chicken stock and salt. Bring to a boil. Turn the heat down to a simmer and cook until the potatoes are very tender, about 1 hour.
• Puree the soup in a food processor, and return to the pot. Bring to a simmer.
• Thinly shred the kale (you want it to be very thin). Add to the soup and simmer for 20 minutes.
• Just before serving add the oysters to the simmering soup and stir for a few minutes. Season with black pepper.

SAUTEED POTATOES WITH KALE

Steps:

• Place potatoes into a large pot and cover with salted water; bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer until tender but still holding their shape, about 15 minutes. Drain.
• Meanwhile, heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large frying pan over medium-high heat until quite hot. Toss in pieces of kale; reduce heat to medium. Cover and cook, stirring often, until kale begins to soften and crisp slightly, about 5 minutes. Add onion; cook until softened and translucent, 2 to 3 minutes. Stir in garlic.
• Add remaining olive oil when onions are beginning to brown. Stir in potatoes and season with salt and pepper. Cover and cook until potatoes are completely softened, about 5 minutes. Remove lid; cook and stir until potatoes just begin to brown, about 10 minutes more.

KALE PURéE

Steps:

• Place garlic in a large pot of water and bring to a boil; generously season with kosher salt. Add kale and cook until very tender, 10 to 12 minutes. Reserve 1 cup cooking water, then drain kale and garlic. When cool enough to handle, squeeze as much water from kale as possible.
• Transfer kale and garlic to a food processor with 1 teaspoon flaky salt; pulse into a paste. With motor running, slowly add oil. Add reserved water, a little at a time, until purée is thinned to desired consistency. Serve warm or room temperature.