National Kale Day

It is the first Wednesday in October so it is officially National Kale Day and we want to help you celebrate. We’ve seen kale rise in popularity dramatically over the past few years as diners look to healthier alternatives. Lately you can’t go anywhere without finding a kale salad on the menu and it’s one of the super foods that people love.

 Varieties

Here are some of the different varieties of kale that is available and worth seeking out:

• Curly/ Green Kale
• Dino Kale
• Purple Kale
• Red Bore Kale
• Red Russian Kale
• Spigarello Greens
• Lollipop Kale

 Alternatives

If you are a chef that is tired of using kale, introduce your diners to something new with these great alternatives:

• Beet Greens
• Bloomsdale Spinach
• Bok Choy
• Broccoli Greens
• Collard Greens
• Dandelion Greens
• Mustard Frill
• Mustard Greens
• Chard

Uses

You will find kale in every dish these days and a variety of ways to prepare it. Here are just a few of the common uses for kale:

• Braising Greens
• Ribollita
• Risotto
• Pasta
• Salad
• Soup
• Stew
• Pesto
• Vegetable Dish
• Side Dish

Recipes

Here is a list with some more creative ways for using kale with a link to the recipe:

• Kale Caesar Recipe
• Kale Salad Recipe
• Tuscan Kale Ribollita Recipe
• Kale Risotto Recipe
• Kale Pesto Recipe
• Kale Pasta Recipe
• Kale Chip Recipe
• Sautéed Kale Recipe
• Braised Kale Recipe
• Kale Bruschetta

 Cooking Methods

One of the new popular methods that we have seen recently is to fry or bake the fresh kale until it turns into a “chip” or “crisp”. Kale chips make a great snack with a glass of wine or as a garnish for many dishes. Braising and sautéing are also popular cooking methods that go well as a side dish with many different entrées. Here are the best cooking methods:

• Bake
• Boil
• Braise
• Fry
• Raw
• Sauté
• Steam