Baby kale! Costco is selling 1 1/2 pound bags of organic baby kale, a new product for Anchorage. In Alaska, fresh baby greens in April and early May are a glorious treat. It’s not just food junkies who feel this way; I went to a party with normal people last week and baby kale was the evening’s hot topic.
Baby kale is tender, with only a mild bite, and is perfect for eating raw. It makes a great addition to fresh salads of all kinds. We’ve been enjoying it mixed with romaine lettuce and dressed with sherry vinaigrette. I’ve also been adding a handful to my breakfast smoothies.
My friend Kalyn Denny of Kalyn’s Kitchen has also fallen in love with baby kale. She recently developed a great recipe for Raw Baby Kale Salad with Apples, Sunflower Seeds, and Lemon-Dijon Vinaigrette that I can’t wait to try.
Baby kale is good cooked, as well as raw. For breakfast yesterday, I enjoyed baby kale in scrambled eggs. I’ve also used it to flavor risotto and to add depth and interest to a simple garlic and olive oil pasta sauce.
Although the recipe below is for a free-form tart, the filling may also be served without a crust. To do so, make the filling and bake in an oiled gratin dish until the cheese starts melting. Kale, Squash, and Blue Cheese Gratin makes a lovely addition to any holiday table.
For those who’ve tried it, how are you using baby kale? Please leave a comment below to share your ideas.
This looks fabulous! I can understand how you’ve become addicted!
This looks so good and healthy. Kale is a rage at the moment…i love it raw…
Me too!!
I toss big handfuls of kale and spinach into the last minute or two of boiling pasta water, then dress the whole thing with garlic, oil, lemon zest, and feta. Sometimes I give it a dash of crushed red pepper for a little zing.
Excellent idea Melissa! With kale, the zing of crushed red pepper is very tasty. If you haven’t tried Aleppo pepper before, you might give it a try. It’s spicy and a little fruity at the same time. Summit Spice on Benson/Denali carries it in Anchorage.
Thanks for sharing this recipe. The tart is delicious and I can’t wait to have more of it.
Baby kale!
What state do you live in. I have been trying to find baby kale and am having a hard time. A restaurant in Sedona swerve Tuscan kale salad which is delicious and to die for. After coming home from vacation I have been trying to find baby kale bu can’t find it. I live in southern California.
Laurie-I just saw it last week at Costco also and bought some. I love it and have already finished the bag. I also added it to lettuce salads and very briefly boiled it then drained and sautéed in lemon-infused olive oil and garlic. It’s so tender though that I don’t think I need to blanch it first. I also added it to a simple soup of leftover cubed pork tenderloin, black beans, corn , chili powder and cumin. A kind of chili with lots of healthy greens. And I added it along with a scrambled egg and salsa in a corn tortilla. Time to go to Costco for more!
Cindy, that sounds absolutely delicious! Black beans are my favorite, and I love the egg idea. I agree, the baby kale doesn’t need to be blanched.
The baby kale is so versatile and I LOVE the sound of this tart!
Oh wow, I’ll have to look today when I go to Costco. I wonder if we’ll be so lucky in Juneau… Are you making anything with spruce tips yet? I am anxiously watching them everyday for the right moment to harvest.
I have also been watching the spruce tips daily (and the devils club too!) in anchorage neither are quite ready yet. In Siutheast, I suspect the devils club are out. You might want to check. Happy Foraging!!
I made this for dinner tonight. Delicious. Dan ate half the pie. I don’t usually use blue cheese as a baking cheese but it melted so nicely into the squash and kale. I think it is company worthy.
Could someone tell me if baby kale is similar to kale? Thanks!
Hi Julia,
Baby kale is immature kale. It is harvested shortly after it begins growing. Because it is harvested so young, it is more tender and has a milder flavor than fully grown kale. Baby kale can be eaten raw or cooked. It’s delicious! Laurie
Does baby kale have the same nutrition as kale.
Hi Sue, Sorry for the delay in responding. There isn’t a definitive answer to your question as far as I can tell. Here’s a discussion of the same issue, but in relation to spinach/baby spinach: http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=dailytip&dbid=265
My feeling is that kale is super healthy in all its forms, and you can’t go wrong either way. Not really on topic, but here’s a fun comparison of the nutritional benefits of kale vs. spinach: http://nutribulletblog.com/a-nutribullet-showdown/