Hello and welcome green eaters!
To most, the idea of eating kale is the equivalent of drinking a wheatgrass shot...completely unappealing. However, kale can be prepared in a variety of manners that make this leafy Super-Food a tasty treat!
The Recipe: Kale Chips
- 4 leaves raw Kale
- 1 tsp oil
- Salt
- Lemon Juice (Optional)
- Pepper (Optional)
The Process:
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
- Mix your oil and salt in a small dish. If you are using lemon and/or pepper, add it now.
- Rip smaller sections of leaf off your raw Kale and lay the pieces on a baking tray.
- Brush each Kale piece with the oil/salt(/lemon/pepper) solution.
- Bake for 20 minutes, or until Kale becomes crisp and the tips brown.
- Allow to cool briefly.
- Enjoy!
The Calories:
Kale: 20 calories
Olive Oil: 40 calories
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TOTAL: 60 calories
Any additional "toppings" such as salt, pepper, or, lemon juice are relatively insignificant, as only a few drops or shakes are necessary for the entire recipe.
What went right:
I made one batch with just oil and salt and another with oil salt and lemon. I preferred the plain ones, but figured I should try two different kinds. Nonetheless, the chips were delicious, light, and healthy...in the words of my mom: "Sydney, we could SERVE these!" They have a crispy texture and are loaded with taste.
What went wrong:
Nothing, really. I enjoyed the more medium sized chips more than the larger ones, which tended to curl up on themselves and have a layered texture which felt strange to my mouth. Due to the success of the first batch, I decided to make the second a double, but learned that the chips to not keep more than a day or so.
Would I do this in college?:
Yes, I can definitely see making this in college as a study snack. They have a very quick prep time, low cleanup, and the bake time can be used for studying or changing laundry loads.
Overall, a quick, easy, and tasty use of Kale!
