Seared Kale Food

EASY TUSCAN KALE

Steps:

• Wash and dry the kale leaves, then destem and roughly chop the kale.
• Smash and peel the garlic cloves.
• Add the olive oil to a large skillet and heat over medium-high heat. Add the smashed garlic and kale and cook for 3 minutes, stirring frequently until wilted and bright green.
• Remove from the heat and add the kosher salt and several grinds of fresh ground pepper. Discard the garlic cloves and serve immediately. (If desired, you can add lemon juice or Parmesan: but neither are necessary with the sweet flavor of Tuscan kale! You may want to consider them if using curly kale.)

PAN-SEARED SALMON WITH KALE AND APPLE SALAD

Steps:

• Bring the salmon to room temperature 10 minutes before cooking.
• Meanwhile, whisk together the lemon juice, 2 tablespoons of the olive oil and 1/4 teaspoon salt in a large bowl. Add the kale, toss to coat and let stand 10 minutes.
• While the kale stands, cut the dates into thin slivers and the apple into matchsticks. Add the dates, apples, cheese and almonds to the kale. Season with pepper, toss well and set aside.
• Sprinkle the salmon all over with 1/2 teaspoon salt and some pepper. Heat the remaining 1 tablespoon oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-low heat. Raise the heat to medium-high. Place the salmon, skin-side up in the pan. Cook until golden brown on one side, about 4 minutes. Turn the fish over with a spatula, and cook until it feels firm to the touch, about 3 minutes more.
• Divide the salmon, salad and rolls evenly among four plates.

SAUTEED KALE

Steps:

• Heat olive oil in a large saucepan over medium-high heat. Add the garlic and cook until soft, but not colored. Raise heat to high, add the stock and kale and toss to combine. Cover and cook for 5 minutes. Remove cover and continue to cook, stirring until all the liquid has evaporated. Season with salt and pepper to taste and add vinegar.

SAUTéED KALE

Steps:

• Heat olive oil in a large sauté pan set over medium-high heat until it shimmers. Add garlic, and cook until soft.
• Add kale to the pan, turn the heat to high and add the stock. Use a spoon to toss the greens in the oil and stock, then cover and cook for approximately 5 to 7 minutes, until it is soft and wilted, but still quite green. Remove cover and continue to cook, stirring occasionally until all the liquid has evaporated, another 1 to 2 minutes. Season to taste with salt and peppers, add vinegar and toss to combine.

QUICK PAN-FRIED KALE

Steps:

• Thoroughly rinse the kale in cold water, soaking it in the water if it seems gritty or sandy. Tear the leaves into chunks and discard the stems.
• Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the garlic and quickly stir it around to avoid burning. Throw in the kale and use tongs to move it around the skillet. Sprinkle in plenty of salt and pepper and the red pepper flakes. Continue cooking until the kale is slightly wilted but still a little crisp, about 2 minutes. Drizzle over some sesame oil and toss.
• Transfer the kale to a plate and serve it to anyone who has a hankering for a huge dose of beta-carotene and vitamin K!

SEARED FISH WITH CREAMED KALE AND LEEKS

Steps:

• Prepare your fish: Pat the fish dry, then salt the skin side to help draw out moisture. Set on a plate and refrigerate, uncovered.
• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high. Prepare your kale: Pull the leaves off the stems and tear leaves into bite-size pieces. Wash vigorously, drain, then set aside.
• In a medium saucepan, melt the butter over medium. Add the leek, thyme and garlic, season with salt and pepper, and cook, stirring frequently, until soft, about 7 minutes.
• Stir in the cream and bring to a boil over high. Continue to cook on high until thickened, about 5 minutes. Using a fine-mesh sieve set over a liquid measuring cup or small bowl, strain the sauce, pressing to extract as much liquid as possible. (You should have about 1/2 cup sauce.) Set aside the solids and return the sauce to the saucepan. Whisk in the mustard and stock concentrate, and season with salt and pepper. Cover and set aside.
• Discard the thyme sprigs and stir the cooked leek mixture into cooked rice, if desired. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
• Once the sauce is done, blanch the kale in the boiling water until just wilted, about 2 minutes. Transfer to a colander to drain and rinse under cold water. Once cool enough to handle, squeeze out the excess liquid. Add to the strained cream, then season with salt and pepper. Cover, and warm over low, stirring occasionally.
• Cook the fish: Heat the oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high. Pat the fish dry a second time, then season the skin with pepper, and the flesh with salt and pepper. Add to the hot oil, skin-side down, and cook until the skin is crispy and golden, about 3 to 4 minutes. Carefully flip the fish and cook until the outside starts to turn golden, but the thickest part of the fish is still slightly translucent, about 3 minutes.
• Divide the rice (if using), creamed kale and fish among plates and serve immediately.

KALE WITH BACON

Steps:

• In a large saucepan, bring 1 in. of water to a boil. Add kale; cook for 10-15 minutes or until tender. Meanwhile, in a large nonstick skillet, cook bacon over medium heat until crisp. Using a slotted spoon, remove to paper towels; drain, reserving 1 teaspoon drippings. In the drippings, saute onions and garlic until onion is tender. , Drain the kale; stir into onion mixture. Add the salt, pepper and reserved bacon; heat through.

SEARED KALE SALAD WITH BROWN BUTTER-TOASTED PINE NUTS AND SMOKED BACON

Steps:

• Roughly chop or tear kale into bite-size pieces.
• In a large skillet, add just enough oil to coat the bottom and heat over a high flame until it smokes. Add just enough kale to make one layer. Cook kale until it is slightly softened and bright green but still crunchy, giving it a toss every couple minutes. Add salt and pepper to taste. Transfer kale to a large bowl, and allow it to cool; it will continue to soften. Cook the rest of the kale in batches, wiping out your skillet after each batch.
• Coat the skillet with oil. Set it over low heat and add shallot. Sauté until translucent, about 5 minutes. Season with a pinch of salt, then pour in the wine and 1/4 cup water. Bring to a boil and then immediately turn the heat down to a slow simmer. Let the liquid reduce until it has almost but not quite evaporated, about 10 minutes. Pour the contents of the skillet over cooked kale and allow it to cool.
• Return the cooled skillet over low heat and add bacon. Slowly render the fat until bacon is crispy. Transfer bacon to a paper-towel-lined dish to drain. Add to kale.
• Top kale with raisins and nuts. Squeeze lemon over the top and add Parmesan to taste. Toss all to combine.

SEARED KALE

Steps:

• In a large saute pan, heat 1 tablespoonoil over medium heat. Add garlicand cook until translucent, about15 seconds. Turn heat to highand add kale in batches. Seasonwith salt. Press down firmly witha spatula to sear leaves. Transferto a plate. Repeat with remainingoil and leaves. Let cool completely.