Lets talk about kale.
It’s often referred to as a “superfood” and it’s easy to see why.
So what is it about kale that makes it so nutritious and what exactly is it?
Kale is a vibrant leafy green vegetable, similar to cabbage or spinach. It belongs to the Brassica family that includes cruciferous vegetables such as cabbage, collards, broccoli, and Brussels sprouts.
Its known as a superfood for its rich nutrient content including antioxidants Vitamin A, Vitamin C and Vitamin K and some trace minerals. It is also a good source of calcium where 1 cup kale provides the same amount of calcium as ¾ cup milk ( 210 mg calcium). Its fibre content cannot be forgotten either with a good 2.6g fibre per 1 cup kale.
Including kale in your dietary intake can be beneficial for heart health, diabetes, bone health and digestion.
I’m a big believer of trying different foods, especially if they’re nutrient dense like this one! So I encourage you to try it, too. To get you started I have included a recipe below for some kale chips. Would love to hear your feedback on how you go with these, or other ways that you like to cook with kale.
Kale Chips
300g kale, stems trimmed, leaves roughly torn
¼ – ½ teaspoon chilli flakes
½ teaspoon of paprika
Pinch of sea salt
Olive-oil spray
Zest of 1 lemon
1. Preheat oven to 180 degrees C. Line a baking tray with baking paper.
2. Combine torn kale leaves with chilli flakes, paprika and sea salt in a large bowl; season with cracked black pepper and toss well to evenly coat leaves.
3. Place kale on prepared tray in a single layer, spray evenly with olive oil. Bake for 10-12 minutes or until leaves are crisp, then leave to cool slightly.
4. Sprinkle cool kale chips with lemon zest and serve.
