Hi Everyone!
Happy Saturday!
When you hear the word “Kale” what is the first thing that comes to your mind? Is it “Ew!” or “Do I have to…”? If so, that’s probably because you’ve never had kale done right. Truly. This post will show you how unbelievably easy it is to create delicious kale dishes that are pleasurable to eat and will make you change your mind forever about this green vegetable and possibly others too.
Guys – this Nutrient Powerhouse is worth learning how to make right so you can make it a total staple in your meal planning!! It is a real, whole food that seriously helps support health and vitality, ensuring that you and yours are thriving every single day. Which is what I want for you. So it’s time to start making more delicious kale…
You know to eat your vegetables, but did you know they could taste this good??…
First of all, before I bring on the rocking real food recipes, I have to say that FUELLING your body should be an absolutely delicious undertaking. I mean, what’s a good life without delicious food, right? It’s about abundance. It’s about variety. It’s about satisfaction. It’s about gorgeous aromas drifting out of the kitchen and happy taste buds. This is not about deprivation. It’s not about starvation. It’s not about being on a “die-t” (notice the word “die” in there? ????). In fact, when you start eating more real, plant-based foods and good seafood, you will naturally start to “crowd out” other foods because you have filled up on the good stuff. And as a result, most people see a drastic reduction in hunger pangs and cravings. They already feel full and (physically and emotionally) satisfied.
The great thing is that you don’t even have to go far to experience this new culinary landscape, or spend loads of money. You can do it yourself at home in your kitchen and your local farmer’s market, grocery store and health food stores all provide the best ingredients you’ll ever need.
When you’re ready to try this on and are ready for a transformation and you buy some great “real” foods, but experience anxiety, overwhelm, confusion or just get downright stumped when you get home and into the kitchen…I hear you!
Starting today, I’ll be adding more (super easy) recipes to my blog to help out with that! They’ll show that healthy doesn’t have to be hard and that broccoli or kale really aren’t disgusting!! 😀
Real Food Recipes that ROCK
Kickin’ Kale Salad
This is a recipe I learned at a Seventh Day Adventist Health Workshop. It was a really fun experience for me! Their church has a very active health department, which I admire.
Serves 4
Ingredients:
- 5 cups fresh, finely chopped kale
- 1/4 cup tahini (sesame seed butter that you find in every peanut butter isle of the grocery store)
- 3 Tbs lemon juice
- 1 Tbs Braggs Liquid Aminos (a healthy version of soy sauce found near vinegars or in the healthy section/organic section of your grocery store)
- 1 Tbs honey
- 1/4 tsp sea salt or Pink Himilayan Salt
- 1/8 tsp cayenne pepper (this gives it a nice kick!)
- 1/4 cup water
- Toppings like walnuts, pumpkin or sunflower seeds, cranberries, blueberries, sliced apples, etc.
Directions:
Blend the last 7 ingredients in a blender until smooth and creamy. Place kale into a big bowl and pour the dressing over it. Now get your hands washed up and get them into that bowl! It’s time to mix and massage the yummy dressing into the kale until the kale is fully covered and not too hard anymore. Done! Add walnuts or other nuts, seeds, dried fruits like cranberries or blueberries, sliced mandarins, apples, or oranges, or even beans and enjoy your amazing salad!
Kale and Mango Kowabunga! (Nutrient Powerhouse Breakfast Smoothie)
This is one of my favourite ways to use raw kale. Makes a great smoothie bowl base. Just put it in a bowl and top with seeds, nuts or fruit.
Serves 1-2
Ingredients:
- ½ cup fresh or frozen mango
- 1 cup kale
- ¾ cup pineapple juice
- 1 cup water (or until you get your desired thickness)
- 1 tsp moringa powder or fresh/frozen leaves if you have them or substitute moringa with wheatgrass powder, spirulina, or chlorella (optional).
- 3 Tbsp fresh parsley
- 2 Tbsp fresh mint
Directions:
Blend all of these awesome ingredients in a blender until they’re smooth and creamy, thick and green. Serve immediately. Enjoy!
Sautéed Chipotle Chili Kale
Serves 4
Ingredients:
- 1 bunch kale – any kind
- 1 medium to large onion
- 1-3 tsp chipotle chili powder (add more or less based on what you like)
- 3-4 Tbsp avocado or coconut oil for frying
- ½ tsp Celtic or Pink Himalayan sea salt
Directions:
Wash, dry and tear the kale leaves from the thick stems. Discard the stems. Tear the leaves into bite-size pieces and set aside. Peel and chop the onion. Pour oil into a wok style pan or a large frying pan and place over medium heat. Add onion and pinch of salt and sauté approximately 5 minutes, stirring occasionally so it cooks evenly. Add kale, pinch of salt and more oil if necessary and continue frying until kale is wilted and bright green, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat and serve. This goes very well with hot, plain quinoa, rice, or your choice of protein. Enjoy! Store leftovers in the fridge.
Kale Chips
If you don’t know exactly what to do with the kale you bought, I would recommend trying this as your first kale recipe ever. It’s genuinely healthy and genuinely tastes like junk food.
Serves 4
Ingredients:
- 1 bunch fresh kale
- 2 Tbsp olive oil for roasting, avocado oil or grapeseed oil
- ½ tsp Celtic or Pink Himalayan sea salt
Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Wash kale and dry thoroughly. Remove the ribs from the kale and tear or cut the rest into pieces the size of your pinkie finger. Put onto a large baking dish and rub with oil and sprinkle with sea salt. Bake for about 15-20 minutes. Remove from oven and let cool. Taste and add extra salt if needed. Serve cold as a snack.
Optional:
You can make a variety of flavours by adding spices before baking. Some suggestions would be garlic powder, chilli powder, cayenne pepper, smoked paprika, onion powder, steak spice, Cajun seasoning. Have fun with it!
Bon Appétit!
Agathe
