Kale, My Tastebuds Hate Me Now
I wanted to like the cruciferous vegetable kale. It’s a nutrient power-house full of carotenoids (thought to be anti-cancer agents), calcium, and vitamins A & C, among others. It’s low cal and has even been considered a “superfood” with historic importance. Recipes for its “chips” version are prolific on food blogs (see here, here, here, & here). Everyone pretty much agrees – kale’s darn good.
Pictured here in its “barbecue” flavor (“massaged” with bbq sauce, sea salt & pepper)
So, uh, hate to ask, but, am I the lone dissenter here? The outcast? To be shunned amongst my health-inclined peers?
Kale, I want my money back — I lovingly massaged you (with spices) as directed (and in three different ways to give you enough of a chance), I baked you at 350 for about 10 minutes and flipped you half-way, allowed you to cool and even sweetly cooed to you, “please, oh please, don’t taste like crap.”
Well, you didn’t taste like crap — but, you certainly didn’t taste good. Kinda tasted like crispy seaweed.
This is all too reminiscent of my spaghetti squash experience here.
All of you out there who’ve tried “kale chips” – what did I do wrong? What are some other ways you’ve cooked kale (and liked it)?
Pre-Chewed News
- Whole Grain Boosts Life Expectancy of Diabetic Women
- Childhood Obesity Taskforce Outlines Areas for Action
- Fat All the Same for Stopping Hunger Pangs
- Some Strains of E.Coli have been Ignored
- More studies saying link between exercise and ease of sleep inconclusive/tenuous
<3,
The Cranky One
Tags: food bloggers, Health in the News, healthy food, kale, kale chips
14 People have left comments on this post
I was real excited about one day soon making Kale Chips. But then I followed on of those links you posted. Eh, I don’t want it. So now the no-Kale-Chips club makes 2.
Bleh, I HATE seaweed (to the chagrin of my sushi lovin’ friends), so I bet I wouldn’t be a kale fan either. Haven’t tried the spaghetti squash thing either. I don’t mind squash in a soup or salad, but when I expect noodles, I doubt it would work for me.
Hey Girl! Just found you on Janetha’s page! Love It!! Can’t wait to start reading your blog on the regular.
) I left a reply to your Q’s over on her page in the Comments!
ahh kale is my favorite veggie!
try this recipe, it’s much less bitter:
rip up a bunch of kale, just like you did for the chips. top with a pinch of coarse sea salt, however much olive oil you want (tsp to a tablespoon or more, depends on your preference), a big splash of vinegar (apple cider vinegar is my fave), and massage with your hands until the kale turns bright green and starts to “break down” a little bit. serve, and top with whatever! my favorite add-ons are cayenne pepper, pine nuts, and sundried tomatoes, but it’s also amazing drizzled with a teeny bit of agave/maple syrup, dried cranberries, and chopped walnuts.
give it a try, it might change your mind
I like to make kael chips with nutritional yeast baked on. They taste much better that way. Glad I found your blog through Janetha. Its great! And what an amazing story!
Hey girl, saw your guest post on Janetha’s blog. I love your blog name!
My favorite two ways to eat kale–
1. cooked on the stove in coconut oil (about a tbsp). it makes it less bitter!
2. “massaged” in olive oil, apple cider vinegar, salt, and pepper with a chopped up apple, dried apricots, and sunflower seeds.
I am a kale lover through and through.
I borrowed my MIL’s dehydrator (I’m secretly taking over possession of it without telling her muahahahaha) and I made the kale chips. I didn’t flip like they recommended, I just left them in there overnight and holy guacamole they were delicious. Check out Averie’s recipe http://www.loveveggiesandyoga.com/2010/03/nutritional-yeast-nooch-info-10-recipes.html I thought that they tasted like cheezits!!! So delicious. I understand REALLY wanting to like something and not being able to stomach it. I have always wanted to like olives. I have tried them more times that I can think of, but each and every time I think they are vile! It would make my life soo much easier if I could just eat them, but no such luck. Good luck with your Kale adventure!
Hey! I saw your guest post on Janetha’s page – great info! I have a twin too – so fun!
And for the record, you are correct, kale tastes like ass! I tried making the kale chips and just the smell from the oven was ass, let alone the taste! I wanted a refund too!
Hope you have a great weekend!
I have tried these before. Some suggested dipping them…mine where way to fragile to dip into anything..I didn’t love them but I certainly will wait to make them again!
I hate it too and cannot understand why so many people love kale! I’ve tried really hard to like it. I’ve turned it into chips and steamed it and put it into smoothies. Yuck yuck yuck. I guess some things we just haven’t acquired a taste for.
Oh no!! I liked mine, they turned out really brown each time, but I liked the flavor. I used coconut oil and sea salt and on a few I put red pepper!
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