Fresh Kale storage: store in a plastic bag in your fridge: ideally in your crisper drawer. When you bring your vegetables home put them in the fridge as quickly as possible to help them store longer.

More Cooking Greens Recipes

Kale with Smoked Salt and Goat Cheese
from Vegetable Literacy by Deborah Madison
serves 2, can be doubled

1 large bunch of kale, any variety (about a pound)
Sea salt
2 Tablespoons robust olive oil
1 small onion, finely diced
2 cloves garlic, crushed
Smoked Salt and freshly ground pepper
Goat Cheese
Fresh bread crumbs made from a large slice of country bread, crisped in olive oil
Apple cider vinegar, to finish

Pull or slice the kale leaves from their ropy stems (if they have ropy stems). Bring a large pot of water to boil and add the sea salt and kale. Cook until tender, 2-5 minutes. Be sure to taste frequently so that you don't overcook it. Drain, then chop the leaves coarsely.

Heat the oil in a skillet over medium high heat. Add the onion and cook, stirring frequently, until softened, 7-10 minutes. Add the garlic during the last minute, then add the kale, Toss well and continue cooking until it's heated through. Taste and season with smoked salt and plenty of pepper.

Pile the kale onto 2 plates. Crumble the goat cheese over the top, then drizzle with oil and add a pinch more smoked salt. Finally, cover with a shower of bread crumbs and serve the vinegar on the side.

Kale-and-Cannellini Wrapinis, Cooking Light
julia's note: an unfortunate name for an interesting looking recipe

3 bacon slices
12 cups water
12 cups chopped kale (about 1 1/4 pounds)
1 (19-ounce) can cannellini beans or other white beans
1 teaspoon crushed red pepper
1 garlic clove, minced
1 cup diced carrots
1 teaspoon dried rubbed sage
1/4 teaspoon salt
4 (8-inch) fat-free flour tortillas
1/4 cup (1 ounce) finely grated fresh Romano cheese Preparation Cook bacon in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat until crisp. Remove bacon from pan, reserving 1 tablespoon drippings in pan. Crumble bacon, and set aside. Bring the water to a boil in a large stockpot; add kale. Cook 6 minutes or until tender; drain and set aside. Drain the beans in a colander over a bowl, reserving 1/3 cup liquid.

Heat the drippings in pan over medium-high heat. Add red pepper and garlic, and sauté 3 minutes. Add the crumbled bacon, reserved bean liquid, carrots, sage, and salt; bring to a boil. Cover, reduce heat, and simmer 5 minutes or until carrots are crisp-tender. Uncover and cook 3 minutes or until liquid almost evaporates. Stir in kale; cook 2 minutes.

Warm the tortillas according to the package directions. Spoon 1 cup kale mixture onto each tortilla; top each serving with 1 tablespoon cheese, and roll up.
Yield

4 servings (serving size: 1 wrap)

Italian Pork Chops with Kale

2 lbs kale
1/4 cup olive oil
2 large cloves of garlic, minced
4 thick pork chops
2 teaspoons fennel seeds
1 cup hot water
1 small can tomato paste

1. Soak kale and rinse it thoroughly then simmer for 20 minutes in pot of salted water.

2. While kale is cooking, heat oil in large, deep skillet. Add garlic and cook for 2 minutes over low heat. Add pork chops and saute for 5 minutes on each side, then season with salt, pepper, and fennel seeds.

3. Dissolve tomato paste in hot water and add to pork chops. Cover and cook on low for 30 minutes, adding water if sauce gets too thick.

4. Drain kale and stir into tomato sauce. Cover and cook for another 10 minutes.

SPICY RICE AND KALE

2 1/4 cups canned low-salt chicken broth or vegetable broth
1 1/2 teaspoons Creole or Cajun seasoning
1 cup converted white rice
4 ounces kale (about 1/2 large bunch), stems and ribs removed, leaves coarsely chopped (2 cups
packed)

Bring broth and Creole seasoning to boil in heavy large saucepan. Stir in rice and kale and bring to
boil. Reduce heat to low, cover and cook until rice is tender and liquid is absorbed, about 20 minutes.

Serves 4. || Per serving: calories, 204; total fat, 2 g; saturated fat, 0.5 g; cholesterol, 1 mg. || from Bon Appétit

Kale with cream (Irish) 4-5 servings

1 3/4 lbs Kale
2 Tbsp butter
2 Tbsp double cream (I used heavy whipping cream) a pinch or so of nutmeg, salt, pepper
2 Tbsp stock (I dissolved a vegetable bouillon) Wash kale and strip leaves from stalk, then plunge into heavily boiling water. Cook 'til tender, 20-30 minutes. Drain well and chop finely. In saucepan, combine butter, cream spices, then add kale and stock.Mix well.
Cook until well heated and sauce is slightly reduced.
(The sauce is just enough to offer flavor but not drown the kale.) -Phyllis Mosher

Giant Crusty and Creamy White Beans with Greens
Adapted from Super Natural Cooking by Heidi Swanson

½ pound medium or large dried white beans, cooked
3 tablespoons olive oil or clarified butter
Fine grained sea salt
1 onion, coarsely chopped
4 cloves garlic, chopped
1 bunch kale, cut into wide ribbons or ½ baby chard, washed and roughly chopped, or 1 bunch kale, cut into wide ribbons
Fresh ground black pepper
Extra virgin olive oil for drizzling
Freshly grated parmesan for topping

Drain the beans, then heat the oil or butter over med-high heat in the widest skillet available. Add the beans to the hot pan in a single layer. If you don’t have a big enough skillet, just do the sauté stop in two batches or save the extra beans for another use. Stir to coat the beans with the oil/butter, then let them sit long enough to brown on one side, about 3 or 4 minutes, before turning to brown the other side, also about 3 or 4 minutes. The beans should be golden and a bit crunchy on the outside and soft and creamy on the inside. Salt to taste, then add the onion and garlic and cook for 1 or 2 minutes, until the onion softens. Stir in the greens and cook until just beginning to wilt. Remove from the heat and season to taste with a generous dose of salt and pepper. Drizzle with a bit of top-quality extra virgin olive oil, and sprinkle with freshly grated parmesan. Serves 6-8 as a side dish.

Garden Soup with Lacinato Kale and Cauliflower
adapted from Vegetable Soups from Deborah Madison's Kitchen by: yes! Deborah Madison

2 onions or 2 large leeks, diced
1/2 pound potatoes, diced (a few small or one large)
2 Tablespoons olive oil, plus extra to finish
2 cups stemmed and slivered lacinato kale
2 cups (more or less) small cauliflower florets
1 garlic clove, minced
S & P to taste
6 cups broth: homemade or purchased, vegetable, bean broth, or chicken stock
Asiago cheese for grating at the end

Wash the leeks if using. Chop the potato, leaving the skin on if you like if it's organic. Warm teh olive oil in soup spo over med. heat. Add the leeks and the potato, give them a stir, and while they're warming up, slick the kale off its ropy stems, then slice the leaves into short ribbons. Add the kale to the pot along with the cauliflower, garlic, and salt. Cook for about 5 minutes. Add the stock, bring to a boil, then lower hte heat and simmer until the vegetables are tender, about 20 minutes. Ladle the soup into bowls and drizzle some olive oil into each. Season with pepper and grate a little cheese into the soup.

Kale & Potato Hash from Eating Well
Makes 4 servings, 1/2 cup each

Serve as a side with a steak or pork chops or set a poached egg on top for a hearty breakfast or brunch.

8 cups torn kale leaves (about ½ large bunch; see Tip)
2 tablespoons horseradish
1 medium shallot, minced
½ teaspoon freshly ground pepper
¼ teaspoon salt
2 cups cooked shredded potatoes
3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

1. Place kale in a large cast iron skillet and sauté in butter, until wilted, about 6 minutes. Cool slightly, and finely chop.
2. Meanwhile, mix horseradish, shallot, pepper and salt in a large bowl. Add the chopped kale and potatoes; stir to combine.
3. Heat oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add the kale mixture, spread into an even layer and cook, stirring every 3 to 4 minutes and returning the mixture to an even layer, until the potatoes begin to turn golden brown and crisp, 12 to 15 minutes total.

Tip: A 1- to 1 1/2-pound bunch of kale yields 16 to 24 cups of chopped leaves. When preparing kale for these recipes, remove the tough ribs, chop or tear the kale as directed, then wash it--allowing some water to cling to the leaves. The moisture helps steam the kale during the first stages of cooking.

LENTIL, KALE, AND SAUSAGE SOUP

a 2 1/2-inch piece smoked kielbasa, sliced thin
1 teaspoon vegetable oil if necessary
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 small onion, sliced thin
1/2 cup lentils, picked over
1 1/2 cups water
1 1/2 cups chicken broth
1/2 small bunch kale, stems and center ribs discarded and leaves sliced thin (about 2 cups)
1 tablespoon balsamic or red-wine vinegar

In a 3-quart heavy saucepan brown sausage over moderate heat and transfer with a slotted spoon to
paper towels to drain. If there is more than 1 teaspoon fat in pan pour off excess; if there is less, add
enough oil to measure 1 teaspoon fat. Cook garlic, stirring, until golden. Add onion and cook,
stirring, until softened.

Add lentils, water, broth, and sausage and simmer, covered, 30 minutes. Add kale and simmer,
uncovered, until tender, 5 to 7 minutes. Stir in vinegar and salt and pepper to taste.

Makes about 3 cups. Gourmet

BEAN AND KALE SOUP
Soup: A Way of Life by Barbara Kafka

1 bunch kale, trimmed
1 teaspoon coarse salt, plus additional to taste
2 flat anchovy fillets
1/4 teaspoon fresh rosemary leaves or dried
1/3 cup (80 ml) olive oil
2 medium garlic cloves, smashed and peeled
1 cup (225 g) cooked small white beans or drained and rinsed canned
beans
4 cups (1 liter) chicken stock
freshly ground black pepper, to taste
1/2 cup (60 g) small shell macaroni
freshly grated Parmesan cheese, for serving

In a medium saucepan, cook the kale with 1/2 cup (125 ml) water and the
salt over medium heat until tender. Drain the kale, reserving any liquid
that remains. Coarsely chop the kale.

Very finely chop anchovies together with the rosemary.

In a medium saucepan, stir together the oil and garlic over medium-high
heat. Cook, stirring frequently, until the garlic is pale gold, about 10
minutes. Stir in the anchovies and rosemary. Cook, stirring for 1
minute. Discard the garlic. Stir in the kale and cook for 2 to 3
minutes, stirring to
thoroughly coat it with the oil. Stir in the beans. Cook for 3 minutes.

Stir in the reserved cooking liquid and the stock. Season with salt and
pepper. Bring to a boil and stir in the macaroni. Boil for 6 minutes, or
until the pasta is tender. Adjust the seasoning, if necessary.

Pass Parmesan cheese at the table.

Makes about 5 cups (1.25 liters); 4 first-course servings.

RICE WITH KALE AND TOMATOES

1/2 cup long-grain unconverted rice
1 small garlic clove, minced
1 tablespoon olive oil
a 14-ounce can plum tomatoes, drained, seeded, and chopped
2 cups finely chopped rinsed kale leaves

In a small heavy saucepan bring 1 cup water to a boil, add the rice and salt to taste, and cook the rice,
covered, over low heat for 20 minutes, or until the liquid is absorbed and the rice is tender. In a
heavy skillet cook the garlic in the oil over moderately low heat, stirring, until it is golden, add the
tomatoes and the kale, and cook the mixture, stirring occasionally, for 3 to 5 minutes, or until the kale
is tender. Fluff the rice with a fork and in a bowl combine well the rice, the kale mixture, and salt and
pepper to taste. Gourmet 1990

GREENS AND BULGUR GRATIN

1/2 cup coarse bulgur*
2 pounds assorted greens such as kale, collard, escarole, spinach, Swiss chard,
and/or mustard greens
6 large garlic cloves, minced or 1 bunch green garlic!
3 tablespoons olive oil
1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan (about 1 ounce)
6 ounces chilled whole-milk or part-skim mozzarella, grated coarse

For topping
1/2 cup fine fresh bread crumbs
1 tablespoon olive oil

*available at natural foods stores and specialty foods shops

In a heat proof bowl pour enough boiling water over bulgur to cover by 1 inch. Cover bowl with a
plate to trap steam and let stand 20 minutes. Drain bulgur in a large fine sieve, pressing out excess
liquid, and transfer to a bowl.

Keeping each variety of green separate, tear greens into bite-size pieces, discarding stems. Still
keeping greens separate, wash thoroughly by dunking in a sinkfull of water and transfer to a colander
to drain.

Put coarser greens (kale or collard) in a 4 1/2- to 5-quart kettle and steam in water clinging to leaves,
covered, over moderate heat, stirring occasionally, until wilted, about 4 minutes. Add delicate greens
(escarole, spinach, Swiss chard, and/or mustard) to coarse greens and steam, covered, stirring
occasionally, until just wilted, 3 to 4 minutes. Drain greens in colander, pressing out excess liquid.

In a large heavy skillet cook garlic in oil over moderate heat, stirring, until softened but not golden.
Stir in greens and bulgur and season generously with salt and pepper. Stir in Parmesan and remove
skillet from heat.

Preheat oven to 400¡F. and lightly oil a 1 1/2-quart gratin dish or other shallow baking dish.

Spread half of greens mixture in dish and sprinkle evenly with mozzarella. Spread remaining greens
mixture over mozzarella and smooth top with a rubber spatula. Gratin may be prepared up to this
point 8 hours ahead and chilled, covered.

Make topping:
In a small bowl with a fork stir together bread crumbs and oil until crumbs are evenly moistened.

Sprinkle topping over greens mixture and bake in middle of oven 30 minutes, or until bubbling and
top is browned lightly.
Gourmet
September 1995

Kale recipes at Epicurious: (search for Kale)

Corn Bread Stuffing with Greens from Chez Panisse Vegetables by Alice Waters

1 recipe corn bread (see below)
1 bunch greens (chard, kale, etc.)1/2 to 3/4 of a pound
olive oil
1 small onion
2 cloves garlic
1/2 pound bacon or smoked sausage (vegetarians can substitute celery)
1 sprig thyme
a few sage leaves
a few sprigs parsley
1 egg
1/4 cup milk
S & P

Crumble the corn bread into a large mixing bowl.
Wash and trim the greens, chip roughly, and cook until tender in a little olive oil. Peel and the dice the onion. Peel and chop the garlic. Dice the bacon (if using sausage or celery, cut it into chunks) and sautŽ it in a tablespoon of olive oil. When it has begun to render its fat,add the onion and cook until softened, but not too brown, about 2 to 3 minutes. Add the garlic, stirring quickly to prevent it from burning. Remove from the heat and add to the corn bread. Finely chop the leaves of the thyme and sage; there should be about 1/2 teaspoon each.
Finely chop enough parsley to make about 2 teaspoons. Add the herbs; the cooked greens; the egg, lightly beaten; and the milk to the bowl with the corn bread. Mix well. Add more milk if the mixture looks too dry. Season with S & P. Makes 4 cups, enough for 2 chickens.

Alice's corn bread (or you can use any recipe you have)

3/4 cup flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 1/2 tablespoons sugar
1 teaspoon salt
1 1/4 cup cornmeal
1/4 pound butter (1 stick) plus more, for greasing the pan
1 cup milk
1 egg

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Place a 9 inch cast iron skillet in the oven from the start of preheating.
In a large bowl, thoroughly combine the flower, baking powder, sugar, salt and cornmeal. Put the butter and milk in a small saucepan and heat until the butter is melted.
Break the egg into another bowl, beat lightly, and whisk in the milk and butter. Make a well in the flower mixture, pour in the liquid ingredients and stir until just smooth.
Take the skillet out of the oven, put in a lump of butter, and swirl it around to coat the pan. Pour in the batter. Bake for 25 minutes, or until a toothpick or skewer inserted in the corn bread comes out clean.