Best Wilted Baby Kale Recipes

SAUTEED KALE

Steps:

• Heat olive oil in a large saucepan over medium-high heat. Add the garlic and cook until soft, but not colored. Raise heat to high, add the stock and kale and toss to combine. Cover and cook for 5 minutes. Remove cover and continue to cook, stirring until all the liquid has evaporated. Season with salt and pepper to taste and add vinegar.

WILTED BABY KALE

Steps:

• Heat a large skillet over high heat. Add the olive oil, garlic, anchovy paste and red pepper flakes and cook, stirring often with a wooden spoon, until fragrant and toasted, about 1 minute. Add the escarole and 1/4 teaspoon salt and cook, stirring often, until the escarole is completely wilted and coated in all the flavors of the oil, about 2 minutes.
• Turn off the heat and add the lemon zest, baby kale and 1/4 teaspoon salt. Toss well to coat and slightly wilt the baby kale. Toss with the toasted bread, if using, or the pine nuts, and serve.

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!

SPICED CITRUS BABY KALE

Steps:

• Melt the butter with the oil in a large deep skillet or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the shallots and cook, stirring frequently, until softened, about 3 minutes. Add the orange juice and lemon juice and cook until reduced by half, about 3 minutes. Add the kale in batches, tossing with tongs until it begins to wilt, then adding more; continue until all the kale is wilted, 4 to 6 minutes. Add the orange zest, 3/4 teaspoon salt, a few grinds of black pepper, coriander and red pepper flakes and toss to combine. Transfer the kale with tongs to a serving bowl or platter and serve warm.

SAUTEED KALE WITH GARLIC

Steps:

• Cook 5 sliced garlic cloves in 1/4 cup olive oil in a pot over medium-low heat until sizzling, 1 minute. Add 1 pound chopped kale and stir until wilted, 3 to 5 minutes. Increase the heat to medium. Add 2 tablespoons cider vinegar, 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt and a pinch of red pepper flakes. Cook, stirring, until tender, 5 minutes.

WILTED KALE AND ROASTED-POTATO WINTER SALAD

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 450°F with rack in upper third.
• Toss potatoes with oil and 1/2 teaspoon each of salt and pepper in a large 4-sided sheet pan, then spread evenly. Roast, stirring once, 10 minutes. Stir in sliced garlic and roast 10 minutes more. Sprinkle with cheese and roast until cheese is melted and golden in spots, about 5 minutes.
• Meanwhile, purée tahini, water, lemon juice, minced garlic, and 1/2 teaspoon salt in a blender until smooth, about 1 minute. (Add a bit of water if sauce is too thick.)
• Toss kale with hot potatoes and any garlic and oil remaining in pan, then toss with tahini sauce and salt and pepper to taste.

BABY KALE SAUTE

Steps:

• Place pine nuts in a skillet over medium-high heat. Cook, stirring constantly, until toasted and fragrant, about 2 minutes.
• Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add onion; cook, stirring often, until starting to brown, about 5 minutes. Add garlic; cook and stir, about 1 minute. Stir in baby kale a few handfuls at a time until it starts to wilt. Cover and cook until kale is completely wilted and hot, 3 to 4 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.
• Remove from heat and stir in pine nuts and golden raisins. Cool briefly before serving, about 5 minutes.