Grilled Lacinato Kale Recipes

EASY GRILLED KALE

Steps:

• Preheat a grill to medium heat (350-375 degrees)
• Wash the kale leaves, then pat them as dry as possible with a clean dish towel. (If using curly kale or if serving as a salad, cut out and discard the bottom thick part of all stems.) In a large bowl, gently toss the kale leaves with the olive oil, salt, and garlic powder. Mix with your hands until everything is coated evenly.
• Grill over indirect heat, on an upper rack if available, for 6 to 9 minutes until lightly crispy, bright green and charred in parts (or about 4 to 5 minutes for salad).
• Serve as an appetizer or side dish (avoid eating the thicker portions of the stem). If serving as a salad, tear the cooled kale into pieces and top with Italian dressing and croutons, or make a grilled Caesar salad.

GRILLED LACINATO KALE

Steps:

• Strip away and discard the stems of the kale. Tear the leaves into large bite-size pieces and toss them with the olive oil and a good pinch of salt.
• Cook the leaves briefly over a medium fire seasoned with chunks of maple or oak. They will begin to burn and sizzle almost immediately. This is a good thing. Resist the temptation to turn them; the burn is good; the burn is your friend. After 4 to 5 minutes, turn them once to give a slight char to the wilted leaves that have been on top. Cook for another minute or two, and then remove them from the grill. That's it. Serve immediately.

LACINATO KALE SALAD WITH ROASTED SQUASH

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place squash on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Drizzle with 1 1/2 tablespoons olive oil, and sprinkle with a pinch of sea salt and pepper; toss well. Roast until golden brown, tossing halfway through, about 45 minutes.
• Meanwhile, place shallots on a parchment-lined baking sheet, and drizzle with remaining 1 1/2 tablespoons olive oil, and sprinkle with a pinch of salt and pepper. Roast until brown, tossing halfway through, about 30 minutes.
• In a large salad bowl, combine lemon juice, flaxseed oil, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and a pinch of pepper. Cut 2 inches off bottom of kale, and slice leaves crosswise into 3/4-inch ribbons (you should have 12 cups loosely packed kale); add to salad bowl. Toss kale with dressing, squeezing until leaves are soft. Let stand for at least 30 minutes.
• Add vegetables, cheese, and nuts to kale. Toss well to combine.

BRUSSELS SPROUT AND KALE SALAD WITH GREEN GODDESS DRESSING

Steps:

• Set up your grill for cooking with indirect heat. If using a charcoal grill, build the coals on one side only. If using a gas grill, heat one side only.
• To a food processor, add the torn bread and pulse until you have some very fine and some larger breadcrumbs. Transfer to a cast-iron pan. Drizzle with the olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Toss to coat. Place on the indirect-heat side of the grill, close the lid and bake until golden brown and crispy, 10 to 12 minutes.
• To a blender, add the avocado, garlic, buttermilk, sour cream and vinegar. Season with salt and pepper, then blend until smooth. Pour into a mixing bowl and mix in the dill and scallions. To a large mixing bowl, add the kale. Massage the kale until it darkens and softens. Add the Brussels sprouts and toss to combine. Dress with as much dressing as you'd like. Top with the croutons and cheese. Serve! Any remaining dressing will keep in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

CREAMED LACINATO KALE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a large braiser over high heat. When the oil begins to smoke, add half the kale to the pan. Season with salt and cook, stirring, until the leaves take on a deep green hue and lose 50 to 75 percent of their volume, 2 to 3 minutes. Transfer the kale to a large bowl with the spinach. Repeat with the remaining oil and kale, adding it to the bowl as done.
• Return the braiser to high heat and add the cream. Simmer the cream until it reduces to about 1 3/4 cups, about 5 minutes. Add the cream to the greens and stir to combine. Add the Parmesan, Gruyere, Worcestershire, chile flakes, nutmeg, lemon zest and juice and salt to taste. Return the greens to the braiser and top with the panko and a drizzle of oil. Bake until warmed, 12 to 15 minutes.

LACINATO KALE AND LEEK FLAN

Steps:

• Wash leeks in a bowl of cold water, then lift out and drain well. Cook leeks in butter and oil in a 5- to 6-quart heavy pot over moderate heat, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 6 minutes. Stir in kale and cook, covered, until slightly wilted, about 2 minutes. Add broth and water and simmer, uncovered, until kale is tender, about 8 minutes.
• Purée kale mixture in 2 batches in a blender until very smooth (use caution when blending hot liquids). Pour through a fine-mesh sieve into a bowl, pressing on and discarding solids.
• Preheat oven to 325°F.
• Bring cream and cheese just to a boil, then remove from heat. Steep, covered, 10 minutes.
• Whisk together whole egg, yolks, and kale purée in a bowl. Pour cream mixture through fine-mesh sieve into kale mixture and whisk to combine. Divide among buttered ramekins and bake, uncovered, in a water bath until set, 30 to 35 minutes (centers will still be slightly wobbly).
• Transfer ramekins with tongs to a rack and cool 5 minutes. If desired, invert custards onto plates by first running a thin sharp knife around edge of each ramekin.

COCONUT AND LIME GRILLED KALE

Steps:

• Heat coconut milk in a saucepan over low heat until lukewarm, about 5 minutes; pour into a large glass bowl. Stir lime juice, paprika, sea salt, cayenne pepper, and red pepper flakes into milk until marinade is smooth.
• Place kale into marinade and press down to ensure all leaves are covered. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 4 hours.
• Preheat an outdoor grill for medium-high heat and lightly oil the grate. Remove kale from marinade and shake off excess. Discard remaining marinade.
• Working in batches, grill kale leaves in a single layer until edges are slightly crispy and centers are soft, 45 to 60 seconds per side.