Best Fried Kale Recipes

AIR-FRIED KALE CHIPS

Steps:

• Preheat an air fryer to 360 degrees F (180 degrees C) according to manufacturer's instructions.
• Stir kale leaves off the stems and chop into small pieces. Place in a large bowl; add olive oil, salt, paprika, garlic powder, pepper, and cayenne. Toss until well coated.
• Add a layer of kale leaves to the air fryer basket. Cook for 3 minutes. Shake the basket and pour kale out onto a cutting board or baking sheet to cool and crisp up. Repeat with remaining kale, working in batches to prevent it from steaming and getting soggy.

STIR-FRIED CURLY KALE WITH CHILLI & GARLIC

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a large wok, then add the kale and a couple tbsp water. Season, then stir-fry for 5-8 mins, adding the garlic and chilli for the final 2 mins. When the kale is tender and a vibrant green, remove from the heat and serve.

PAN-FRIED POLENTA WITH CORN, KALE AND GOAT CHEESE

Steps:

• In a medium saucepan, heat the butter over medium heat. Add the garlic and stir constantly for 1 minute; don't let the garlic brown. Add 3 cups of the water, and bring it to a boil.
• While the water heats, whisk together in a bowl the cornmeal, salt, and 1 cup water to make a smooth mixture.
• When the water in the saucepan comes to a boil, pour the mixture into it. Whisk constantly for 3 minutes to prevent lumps from forming. Turn the heat to low. Cook for 40 minutes, stirring with a wooden spoon every 10 minutes. Stir in the corn kernels and cook the polenta 5 minutes more. Stir in the pepper and Parmesan cheese. Pour the polenta into a lightly oiled 8x8 inch pan and smooth the top with a spatula. Chill the polenta in a refrigerator for 1 hour.
• While the polenta is cooling, cut away the stems and center stalks of the kale. Cut the leaves into 3-inch pieces.
• Cut the chilled polenta into 4 large triangles. Heat the olive oil in a large non-stick skillet over medium-high heat. When the oil begins to smoke, carefully add the polenta triangles. Fry the polenta until it is golden brown on the underside, then turn the polenta over and cook it until it is golden brown on the other side. Arrange the polenta on a baking sheet.
• Preheat the broiler on your oven.
• Place the kale and 1/3 cup water into the skillet that was just used to fry the polenta. Cover the skillet and cook the kale over a medium-high heat for 4 minutes.
• Place the tomato slices on top of the polenta triangles. Sprinkle the goat cheese on top of the tomato slices. Broil the polenta until the cheese melts and the tomatoes begin to cook.
• Arrange the kale on a serving platter. Place the hot polenta triangles on top of the kale and serve immediately.

QUICK PAN-FRIED KALE

Steps:

• Thoroughly rinse the kale in cold water, soaking it in the water if it seems gritty or sandy. Tear the leaves into chunks and discard the stems.
• Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the garlic and quickly stir it around to avoid burning. Throw in the kale and use tongs to move it around the skillet. Sprinkle in plenty of salt and pepper and the red pepper flakes. Continue cooking until the kale is slightly wilted but still a little crisp, about 2 minutes. Drizzle over some sesame oil and toss.
• Transfer the kale to a plate and serve it to anyone who has a hankering for a huge dose of beta-carotene and vitamin K!

FRIED KALE

Steps:

• Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add the olive oil and garlic and stir constantly for 30 seconds. Little by little add the kale, increasing the heat to high. The kale will collapse as it hits the heat. Stir in the salt. When all the kale is in the pan, cover and cook, stirring occasionally, for 10 minutes, or until the leaves are tender but still dark green and slightly firm. Serve hot.

STIR-FRIED KALE AND BROCCOLI FLORETS

Steps:

• Heat olive oil in a large wok or skillet over high heat. Stir in garlic and chile pepper; cook for 2 minutes, stirring frequently. Stir in broccoli; cook 1 minute. Add kale, and cook 2 minutes, stirring frequently. Stir in sun-dried tomatoes. Pour in lime juice, and season with salt to taste. Toss well.

STIR-FRIED BROWN RICE WITH KALE OR FRIZZY MUSTARD GREENS AND TOFU

Steps:

• If using kale, stem, wash and coarsely chop. If using frizzy mustard greens, cut away about 1 inch of the stem ends, wash and coarsely chop. Set aside near your wok.
• Beat the eggs in a bowl and season to taste with salt. Heat a 14-inch flat-bottomed wok over high heat until a drop of water evaporates within a second or two when added to the pan. Swirl in 2 teaspoons of the oil by adding it to the sides of the pan and swirling the pan, then, making sure that the bottom of the wok is covered with oil, carefully pour in the eggs. Cook 30 seconds to a minute, tilting the pan so that the eggs spread out into a thin pancake. Once the pancake is set and beginning to color, flip it over with a metal spatula and allow to cook for 5 seconds. Remove to a cutting board and roll up the pancake. Cut into thin strips and set aside.
• Swirl in 1 tablespoon of the oil and add the tofu. Let sit in the pan for about 30 seconds, until it begins to sear, then stir-fry for about 2 minutes, until it is lightly colored. Push to the sides of the wok and add the remaining oil and the ginger and garlic. Stir-fry for no more than 10 seconds and add the greens and salt to taste. Turn the heat to high and stir-fry for 1 minute, until the greens have wilted. Stir the tofu down from the sides of the wok and add the soy sauce. Stir-fry for a couple of seconds and add the rice. Stir-fry for 1 to 2 minutes, scooping up and breaking up the rice, then pressing it into the pan and scooping it up again. Add the egg strips, cilantro and more soy sauce if desired, and stir-fry another 30 seconds to combine. Remove from the heat and serve.

CHILE AND GINGER-FRIED TOFU SALAD WITH KALE

Steps:

• Arrange the tofu on a plate or baking sheet. In a blender, combine the soy sauce, chile sauce, chile halves, cilantro, garlic, and ginger; puree until smooth.
• Using a pastry brush, coat the tofu on both sides with two-thirds of the chile mixture (reserve the rest for serving). Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour and up to 6 hours.
• Fill a 12-inch skillet with ½ inch of peanut oil and heat it over medium-high heat. Dip the slabs of tofu in the cornstarch, coating both sides, and tap off the excess.
• Working in batches, add the tofu to the hot oil and cook, turning it over once, until it is golden brown, 1 to 2 minutes per side. Transfer the tofu to a paper-towel-lined plate to drain off the excess oil.
• In a large bowl, toss the kale with the olive oil and fine sea salt to taste. Add the tofu and toss. Some of the kale will wilt, which is what you want. Serve hot, topped with sliced scallions and cilantro leaves, and with the reserved chile marinade alongside for drizzling.

TURMERIC-KALE FRIED RICE

Steps:

• In a medium saucepan, bring brown rice, or your choice of grain, plus the appropriate amount of water to a boil (for brown rice, use 3 1/2 cups water). Reduce to a simmer, cover and cook for 35 to 40 minutes until tender. Drain any excess liquid, fluff with a fork, and set aside to cool.
• In medium saute pan, heat the oil over medium-low heat. Add the yellow onion and saute for about 8 minutes, or until translucent. Add the garlic and cook until fragrant. Add the carrots and cook approximately 2 minutes. Pour in the soy sauce and cook, stirring occasionally, until it begins to evaporate, about 2 minutes.
• Add half the green onions and turmeric and stir-fry for another 3 minutes, or until thoroughly heated. Add the cooked rice or grains and saute until warmed through. Add the tofu and warm through. Add the finely chopped kale or broccoli rabe and stir to coat and quickly warm through.
• Spoon the fried rice into a serving bowl. Top with the remaining green onions, sprinkle with some gomashio and toasted sesame seeds if desired and serve immediately.

FRIED BROWN RICE WITH KALE AND TURMERIC

Steps:

• Remove dark green parts from scallions, thinly slice, and set aside. Thinly slice white and pale green parts and set aside separately. Heat 1 Tbsp. oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium. Add rice, breaking up any lumps, and pat down into an even layer. Cook, undisturbed, until beginning to crisp, about 2 minutes. Toss and continue to cook, adding kale by handfuls and letting wilt slightly before adding more and tossing occasionally, until rice is heated through and all the kale is wilted, about 3 minutes. Season with salt and transfer to a plate.
• Heat remaining 1 Tbsp. oil in same skillet and cook garlic, ginger, and reserved white and pale green parts of scallions, stirring often, until softened and fragrant, about 2 minutes. Sprinkle turmeric over, then stir in eggs, using a pair of chopsticks or a heatproof rubber spatula to blend whites and yolks. Season with salt and cook, stirring gently, until eggs are barely set. Return rice and kale to skillet; toss to combine. Cook, tossing occasionally, until hot. Add lime juice and season with salt.
• Divide fried rice between plates and top with reserved scallion greens. Serve with lime wedges for squeezing over.

BREAKFAST FRIED RICE WITH KALE AND EGG

Steps:

• Heat oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add onion and garlic and saute until onion is translucent, about 5 minutes. Add mushrooms and chickpea crumbs and cook until mushrooms are soft, about 5 minutes. Pour in wine and cook for 1 minute. Add rice, sesame oil, and soy sauce and cook, stirring frequently, another 5 minutes. Add oregano and thyme and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Toss in kale and cook until warmed and slightly wilted, about 1 minute. Season with salt and pepper.
• Heat remaining 1 teaspoon olive oil in a small skillet over medium-high heat. Pour egg into the skillet; cook and stir until egg is set, about 5 minutes. Serve egg with kale and rice mixture and drizzle with Sriracha sauce.

BEER BATTER-FRIED KALE

Steps:

• In a blender blend the beer, the flour, the table salt, and the pepper for 20 seconds, or until the batter is smooth, transfer the batter to a bowl, and let it stand, covered, for 1 hour.
• In a large deep skillet heat 1 inch of the oil until it registers 360°F. on a deep-fat thermometer. Dip each leaf into the batter, coating it thoroughly and knocking off the excess batter on the side of the bowl, and fry it in the oil for 30 seconds on each side, or until it is golden. Transfer the kale as it is fried to paper towels to drain and sprinkle it lightly with the coarse salt. Serve the kale with the lemon wedges.

TURMERIC-KALE FRIED RICE

Steps:

• In a medium saucepan, bring brown rice, or your choice of grain, plus the appropriate amount of water to a boil. Reduce to a simmer and cook for 25 to 30 minutes until tender. Drain any excess liquid, fluff with a fork, and set aside to cool.
• In medium sauté pan, heat the oil over medium heat. Add the yellow onion and sauté for about 8 minutes, or until translucent. Add the garlic and cook until fragrant. Add the carrots and cook approximately 2 minutes.
• Pour in the soy sauce and cook, stirring occasionally, until it begins to evaporate, about 2 minutes. Add half the green onions and stir-fry for another 3 minutes, or until thoroughly heated. Sprinkle in the turmeric. Add the cooked rice or grains and sauté until warmed through. Add the tofu and warm through. Add the finely chopped kale or broccoli rabe and stir to coat and quickly warm through. Top with the remaining green onions, sprinkle with some gomashio, if desired, and serve immediately.

ALMOND FRIED CHICKEN WITH ROASTED KALE AND APPLES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Toss the kale and apples on a baking sheet with 3 tablespoons vegetable oil and 3/4 teaspoon salt. Roast, stirring occasionally,until the apples are tender and the kale is crisp, about 20 minutes.
• Whisk the almond butter with the milk, honey and 1 teaspoon salt in a small bowl. Dredge the chicken in flour, coat with the almond butter mixture, then roll in the panko.
• Heat 1/2 inch vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Pan-fry the chicken, adjusting the heat as necessary to keep it from burning, until crispy and cooked through, 5 to 6 minutes per side. Serve with the roasted kale and apples and a squeeze of lemon.

SWEET POTATO AND KALE HASH WITH FRIED EGGS

Steps:

• Set a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add 2 tablespoons of the coconut oil, the sweet potato, and a pinch of salt and cook until the potatoes begin to soften and brown, about 5 minutes. Add the kale, bell pepper, scallion, cumin, paprika, a pinch of salt, and a twist of black pepper and cook until the kale wilts and softens, about 5 minutes. Taste, adding salt and pepper as needed.
• Meanwhile, in a small nonstick skillet, heat the remaining 1/2 tablespoon coconut oil over medium heat. When the pan is hot, carefully crack the eggs into the pan. Cover and cook until the whites are set but the yolks are still runny, about 3 minutes. Season with a pinch of salt and a twist of black pepper.
• Top the hash with the eggs and serve.

BERKSHIRE PORK CHOPS WITH PAN-FRIED FINGERLING POTATOES AND WILTED KALE

Steps:

• Fill a large saucepan with 8 cups water and add garlic, rosemary, and 1/4 cup salt; bring to a boil over medium-high heat and cook until salt dissolves. Remove from heat and let cool to room temperature. Place pork in brine mixture so that it is fully immersed in the liquid. Cover and transfer to refrigerator; chill at least 12 hours and up to 24 hours. Remove from brine, rinse, and pat dry.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Cover exposed ends of pork bones with aluminum foil to prevent them from charring during cooking; tie kitchen twine crosswise around roast, evenly spacing between the bones. Season with salt and pepper. Heat a large cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat; add 2 tablespoons canola oil. When oil is hot, add pork, fat side down; cook, turning on all sides, to form a crust. Transfer skillet to oven and continue cooking until pork reaches an internal temperature of 130 degrees on an instant-read thermometer, about 45 minutes.
• Meanwhile, bring a medium pot of water to a boil over high heat. Generously salt water and return to a boil. Add potatoes to boiling water and cook until fork tender. Drain and pat dry.
• Heat remaining 2 tablespoons canola oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add shallots and cook, stirring, until soft and translucent. Add potatoes and cook, stirring, until potatoes are caramelized, about 10 minutes. Remove from heat; season with salt and pepper. Just before serving, stir in chives.
• Remove pork from oven and transfer to a cutting board; let stand, in a warm place, for 10 minutes. Drain off any excess fat from skillet. Place skillet over medium-high heat and add pancetta; cook until fat is rendered, about 3 minutes. Add kale to skillet and cook until kale is wilted and heated through, about 2 minutes. Add vinegar and toss to combine; season with salt and pepper and remove from heat.
• Cut pork roast in half between bones to form two double chops; place each, bone side up, on a serving plate. Divide kale and potatoes evenly between the two plates and serve immediately with mustard and cornichons.

PAN FRIED BLUE CORN COATED RED SNAPPER WITH GREEN CHILE AIOLI AND CREAMED KALE

Steps:

• Green Chile Aioli: Combine all ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth.
• Red Snapper: Season the eggs lightly with salt and pepper. Place the eggs, flour, and cornmeal in 3 separate bowls. Season the snapper fillets lightly on both sides with salt and pepper. In a large saute pan over medium-high heat, heat the oil. Dredge each fillet in the flour and shake off any excess. Dip into the beaten egg and let the excess drip off. Dredge both sides lightly in the cornmeal and shake off any excess. Saute for 3 minutes on each side and drizzle with the red pepper sauce. Serve immediately, garnished with green chile aioli.
• Creamed Kale: Blanch the kale in lightly salted water until tender, rinse in ice water, drain and cut into 1/2-inch ribbons. In a large saute pan over medium heat, melt the butter and add the kale, cream and nutmeg. Reduce the heat to low and cook for 5 minutes, or until the cream has reduced and thickened. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

CHEESY MASHED WHITE BEANS WITH KALE, PARMESAN, AND A FRIED EGG

Steps:

• Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat until shimmering. Add garlic and cook until aromatic, about 1 minute. Add beans, almond milk, and 1/2 cup water. Bring to a simmer, then mash beans lightly with a potato masher. Add water until a loose, porridge-like consistency is reached. Stir in cheddar and Parmesan cheese and season to taste with salt and pepper. Keep warm.
• Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large skillet over high heat until shimmering. Add kale, season with salt and pepper, and cook, tossing and stirring frequently, until wilted and starting to crisp, about 4 minutes. Stir in lemon juice and transfer to a bowl.
• Heat remaining tablespoon oil in skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering. Add eggs, season with salt and pepper, and cook until whites are set but yolks are still runny, about 3 minutes.
• To serve, stir half of scallions in white beans and adjust consistency with water as necessary. Transfer to warm bowls, top with sautéed kale then with a fried eggs. Sprinkle with remaining scallions and grate some Parmesan over the top. Serve immediately.

CHORIZO & KALE HASH WITH A FRIED EGG

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a medium frying pan, and add the chorizo and onion. Fry for about 8 mins, until the chorizo is golden and has released its orange oils, and the onion is soft.
• Turn up the heat, tip in the kale and stir-fry for 1 min until wilting. Stir in the potatoes, paprika and some seasoning. Fry everything together for another 5 mins or until the potatoes are hot through and the kale is tender. Scrape the bottom of the pan now and again for those all-important crispy bits.
• Meanwhile, fry or poach the eggs, then serve on top of the hash.

PAN-FRIED GNOCCHI AND KALE

Steps:

• Finely chop the kale, removing the stem, wash it, and shake off as much water as you can. Set aside. Toast the walnuts. Chop coarsely and set aside. Heat 2 TB of the olive oil over medium-high heat in a large non-stick skillet. Add half the gnocchi in a single layer. Stir to coat with oil, then let them sit undisturbed to brown on one side, about 5 to 7 minutes, before turning to brown the other side, also about 5 to 7 minutes. The gnocchi should be golden and a bit crunchy on the outside. Remove to a plate. Then heat remaining 2 Tb oil and repeat procedure with other half of the gnocchi. Remove to plate and tent with foil to keep warm. Add the kale and salt to the skillet and cook for less than a minute, just long enough for the kale to lose a bit of its structure. Stir in the walnuts and garlic, wait 10 seconds, then stir in the nutmeg. Wait ten seconds and stir in the lemon juice and zest. Remove from heat and mound on plates, top with gnocchi, and serve dusted with Parmesan cheese.