Best Crispy Tuscan Kale On The Grill Recipes

GRILLED KALE

Steps:

• Prepare a grill, preferably with some chunks of maple or oak thrown on the fire, on medium heat.
• Rinse the kale and pat it completely dry. Strip away and discard the stems from the kale. Tear the leaves into large bite-size pieces (large enough so they don't fall between the grates of the grill) and toss them with olive oil and a good pinch of salt. Arrange the kale in a single layer on the grill rack. They'll begin to 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, flip the leaves once to give a slight char to the other side of the leaves. Cook for another minute or so, then move the kale to a platter. That's it. Serve immediately.

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.

EASY TUSCAN KALE

Steps:

• Wash and dry the kale leaves, then destem and roughly chop the kale.
• Smash and peel the garlic cloves.
• Add the olive oil to a large skillet and heat over medium-high heat. Add the smashed garlic and kale and cook for 3 minutes, stirring frequently until wilted and bright green.
• Remove from the heat and add the kosher salt and several grinds of fresh ground pepper. Discard the garlic cloves and serve immediately. (If desired, you can add lemon juice or Parmesan: but neither are necessary with the sweet flavor of Tuscan kale! You may want to consider them if using curly kale.)

CRISPY ROASTED KALE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Arrange 3 oven racks evenly spaced in the oven.
• Lay each kale leaf on a board and, with a small sharp knife, cut out the hard stem. Tear large leaves in half. Place the kale in a large bowl of water and wash it well. Drain the kale and dry it in a salad spinner. Dry the bowl, and put the kale back in the bowl.
• Toss the kale with the olive oil, 1 teaspoon kosher salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Divide the kale among 3 sheet pans or roast them in batches. If you put too much kale on one pan, it will steam rather than roast and will never become crisp. Roast for 15 minutes, until crisp. Sprinkle with fleur de sel and serve hot.

BRAISED TUSCAN KALE WITH PANCETTA AND CARAMELIZED ONIONS

Steps:

• Put oven rack in middle position and preheat oven to 350°F. Cut out a round of parchment paper to fit just inside a 5- to 6-quart heavy ovenproof pot, then set round aside.
• Blanch kale in a 6- to 8-quart pot of boiling salted water in 2 batches, 2 minutes per batch, transferring with tongs to a colander as blanched, then drain well.
• Warm oil in 5- to 6-quart pot over moderate heat, then add pancetta and cook, stirring frequently, until crisp, 10 to 15 minutes. Transfer pancetta with a slotted spoon to a plate and reserve, discarding all but 1/4 cup of fat in pot (if necessary).
• Tie thyme, bay leaf, and parsley together with kitchen string to make a bouquet garni and add to pot along with onions and garlic. Cook over moderate heat, stirring frequently, until onions are golden brown, about 20 minutes. Return pancetta to pot then add butter and heat, stirring occasionally, until melted. Stir in kale and add enough stock to cover three fourths of kale. Increase heat to high and bring to a simmer. Cover kale directly with parchment round, then transfer pot to oven and braise, stirring once or twice, until kale is very tender, about 45 minutes.
• Transfer pot to stovetop and discard parchment, then boil mixture, stirring occasionally, until almost all of liquid is evaporated but kale is still moist, about 35 minutes. Discard bouquet garni and garlic and season kale with salt and pepper.

CRISPY TUSCAN KALE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 250 degrees F.
• Remove the tough lower stems of the kale. Toss the kale generously with olive oil, salt and crushed red pepper.
• Lay the dressed leaves in a single layer on a sheet tray (use more than one if you need to!) and place in the oven. Roast the kale or until the leaves are crispy, 30 to 35 minutes.
• Serve as a snack or side dish.