Best Kale Purée Recipes

PAN-SEARED VEAL CHOP WITH ROASTED KALE PESTO AND BUTTERNUT SQUASH AND PARSNIP PUREE

Steps:

• Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add butternut squash, parsnip, and onion; cook and stir until starting to brown, about 3 minutes. Stir in 2 cloves garlic; cook until fragrant, about 2 minutes.
• Pour water into the saucepan. Add coriander, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon black pepper, cayenne powder, and Chinese five-spice powder. Simmer until butternut squash is very soft, about 20 minutes. Remove from heat; drain excess liquid. Let cool slightly, 5 to 10 minutes.
• Stir butter into butternut squash mixture. Puree with an immersion blender until smooth.
• Set oven rack about 6 inches from the heat source and preheat the oven's broiler.
• Toss kale, walnuts, 2 tablespoons olive oil, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon black pepper together on a rimmed baking sheet.
• Broil in the preheated oven until kale starts to brown, about 5 minutes. Cool slightly, about 5 minutes.
• Combine kale mixture, 1/2 cup light olive oil, lemon juice, 3 cloves garlic, agave nectar, and red pepper flakes in a food processor; blend into a chunky paste.
• Preheat oven to 450 degrees F (230 degrees C).
• Combine 2 tablespoons olive oil, rosemary, and thyme in a large oven-proof skillet; heat over medium-high heat until lightly smoking. Season veal chops with 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon black pepper. Cook in the hot oil until browned, about 2 minutes per side.
• Transfer skillet to the preheated oven; roast chops until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the center reads 140 degrees F (60 degrees C), about 10 minutes. Transfer to a cutting board; let rest for 10 minutes.
• Divide butternut squash puree between 2 large serving plates. Place 1 chop on each place; top with a heaping tablespoon of kale pesto.

KALE PURéE

Steps:

• Place garlic in a large pot of water and bring to a boil; generously season with kosher salt. Add kale and cook until very tender, 10 to 12 minutes. Reserve 1 cup cooking water, then drain kale and garlic. When cool enough to handle, squeeze as much water from kale as possible.
• Transfer kale and garlic to a food processor with 1 teaspoon flaky salt; pulse into a paste. With motor running, slowly add oil. Add reserved water, a little at a time, until purée is thinned to desired consistency. Serve warm or room temperature.

KALE RUTABAGA PUREE

Steps:

• Peel the rutabaga, and cut it into 1-inch chunks. Place in a medium saucepan with enough water to cover, and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce to a simmer, and cook until tender, about 25 minutes. Drain, and set aside.
• Cut the stems off the kale, and discard. Roughly chop the kale, and wash in a large colander. Coat a large saute pan with olive-oil cooking spray, and place over medium-high heat. Add the onion and garlic, and saute until translucent. Add kale in batches, allowing each to wilt before adding more. Cook until all the kale is wilted, add salt and pepper, and transfer to the bowl of a food processor. Puree mixture until the kale is smooth; add reserved rutabaga. With machine running, add milk gradually; stop when mixture is smooth, and serve.

PLANCHA GRILLED STRIPED BASS WITH CREAMED KALE, BLANCHED GARLIC PUREE AND WHEAT BERRIES WITH TOMATO PUREE

Steps:

• For the wheat berries: Place the wheat berries in a saucepan. Cover with 4 quarts water and keep over low heat until the wheat berries soften and burst, about 2 hours.
• For the blanched garlic puree: In a medium skillet over medium-high heat, add the garlic, clam stock and honey. Bring to a boil and allow to cook until the garlic softens, about 30 minutes. Remove from the heat, put the garlic into a food processor and puree, adding some of the stock as needed in 1 tablespoon increments. Taste and season as needed. If desired, pass the puree through a fine mesh strainer and set aside until ready to serve.
• For the striped bass: Put the fish into a container and add the parsley, lemon thyme, thyme, lemons and shallots. Cover and set aside for 20 minutes or up to 2 hours in the refrigerator.
• For the tomato puree: Place the olive oil, mustard, ginger, tomatoes, and lemon zest and juice into a blender and process until smooth. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed. Set aside until ready to serve.
• For the creamed kale: Place a medium skillet over medium-high heat and add the oil. Once heated, add the leeks, shallots and garlic and saute until slightly translucent, 2 to 3 minutes. Add the sliced kale and toss to combine. Add the chicken stock and allow the kale to cook down slightly, about 5 minutes. Add the cream and cook until reduced slightly, another 2 minutes. Remove from the heat and place into a food processor. Process until pureed (or until desired consistency). Taste and season as needed. Keep warm until service.
• When ready to grill, preheat a griddle (la plancha) over medium-high heat and the oven to about 400 degrees F. Remove the fish from the marinade and sprinkle with salt. Heat the oil on the griddle, and when hot, place the fish on the griddle, skin-side down, and sear. Do not move the fish. Allow it to sear until the skin is crispy and allows you to remove it from the griddle, 4 to 5 minutes. Put into an oven-safe dish, skin-side up, and place into the oven to finish cooking through, another 3 to 5 minutes. Cook time will vary here depending upon the thickness of the fillet - keep an eye out.
• Drain the wheat berries of any water and toss with 2 to 3 tablespoons tomato puree and the chives and parsley. Taste and season if needed.
• For plating: Place 1 cherrystone clam either on a grill or on the griddle over high heat and cook until opened, about 2 minutes.
• Meanwhile, spoon 1 tablespoon garlic puree on the plate. Top with the wheat berries, creamed kale and grilled striped bass. Serve the clam alongside. Garnish the plate with fried crispy kale, chile oil and micro greens if desired.

KALE AND POTATO PURéE

Steps:

• Cook kale in a pot of boiling salted water (1 1/2 tablespoons salt for 4 quarts water), uncovered, until tender, about 7 minutes. Drain kale, then immediately transfer to an ice bath to stop cooking. When kale is cool, drain but do not squeeze.
• While kale cooks, peel potatoes and cut into 1/2-inch pieces. Simmer in cream with 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper in a heavy medium saucepan, covered, stirring occasionally, until tender, 15 to 20 minutes.
• Purée potato mixture with kale in 2 batches in a food processor until just smooth (use caution when blending hot liquids). Transfer to a 4-to 5-quart heavy saucepan and cook over low heat, stirring frequently, until heated through. Season with salt and pepper.

KALE AND POTATO PURéE

Steps:

• Cook the kale in a pot of boiling salted water (1 1/2 tablespoons salt for 4 quarts water), uncovered, until tender, about 7 minutes. Drain, then immediately transfer the kale to an ice bath to stop the cooking. When kale is cool, drain but do not squeeze.
• While kale cooks, peel the potatoes and cut into 1/2-inch pieces. Simmer in the cream, salt, and pepper in a heavy medium saucepan, covered, stirring occasionally, until tender, 15 to 20 minutes.
• Purée the potato mixture with the kale in 2 batches in a food processor until just smooth (use caution when blending hot liquids). Transfer to a 4- to 5-quart heavy saucepan and cook over low heat, stirring frequently, until heated through. Season with salt and pepper.
• DO AHEAD
• The PURÉE can be made 1 day ahead and chilled. Reheat over low heat, stirring frequently.