The Magic of Kale, and Five Ways to Eat It
If Lisa’s post about the connection between chocolate and child labor has made you reconsider your Halloween candy-buying habits, here’s an alternative for you to feed the trick-or-treaters: kale!
Yeah, you’re right—that’s probably not a good idea unless you want your house egged. But did you know that kale has a historic Halloween connection?
Kale, courtesy Flickr user daveeza
According to the book Halloween: An American Holiday, An American History, by Lesley Pratt Bannatyne:
Cabbage and kale, unlikely magical tools that they may seem, were assumed by the Irish to possess great fortune-telling power. The foods were plentiful throughout the British Isles, and young people pulled up kale plants to judge the nature of their future spouses from the taste (a bitter stalk meant a bitter mate), the shape (straight or curved, indicating the condition of the spine), and the amount of dirt clinging to the root (degree of wealth). The divination worked best if the kale was stolen; it was most telling if practiced on Halloween.
This ritual of “pulling the kail” (kale) was so popular that it even inspired poetry. In “Halloween,” written in 1785, the great Scottish poet Robert Burns lyrically describes young people running into the fields, blindfolded, to select their plants on “that night, when fairies light”:
Then, first an’ foremost, thro’ the kail,
Their stocks maun a’ be sought ance;
They steek their een, and grape an’ wale
For muckle anes, an’ straught anes.
Poor hav’rel Will fell aff the drift,
An’ wandered thro’ the bow-kail,
An’ pou’t for want o’ better shift
A runt was like a sow-tail
Sae bow’t that night.
In other words: A silly lad named Will, having pulled up a kale plant with a stem as curly as a pig’s tail, is pouting about his future hunchback wife. Poor guy.
Kale may not have supernatural properties, but its natural ones are pretty potent: one cup of boiled kale is packed with vitamins A, C and K, as well as potentially cancer-fighting isothiocyanates and anti-inflammatory flavonoids. And it can taste fantastic, prepared properly. Try these ideas if you’re not a believer yet:
1. Kale chips. They are, indeed, insanely addictive.
2. If kale seems too intimidating on its own, combine it with comfort food like mashed potatoes or bacon.
3. Simply sauteed kale, seasoned with a squirt of lemon juice and crushed red pepper, is one of my all-time favorite foods. It could get even better with toasted cashews.
4. Give it an international twist: Seasonal Chef has seven ideas, ranging from spicy African kale with yams to Portuguese kale-sausage soup.
5. Layer chopped, sauteed kale into a lasagna with squash and walnuts or sausage.
What’s your favorite way to eat kale?
Categories: Around the World, Cooking, Five Ways to Eat..., Food History, Fruits and Vegetables
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Beth Ludwick, Milwaukee MollyCools. Milwaukee MollyCools said: The Magic of Kale, and Five Ways to Eat It http://goo.gl/fb/MCuJt [...]
by Tweets that mention The Magic of Kale, and Five Ways to Eat It | Food & Think -- Topsy.com on Oct 26, 2010 at 11:55 am
Kale chips are our absolute favorite!!! In fact, my 9 year old has requested them for her birthday!!!!
by Heather L. on Oct 26, 2010 at 12:19 pm
sauteed w/ garlic and vinegar. Bobby Flay’s recipe – easy and delish!!!
by DKB on Oct 26, 2010 at 12:33 pm
Kale tastes delicious in potato soup with spicy sausage and bacon, as well. I’ll be giving the other ideas a try – thank you!
by CJ on Oct 26, 2010 at 12:40 pm
Raw Kale Salad
Chop kale and remove spines. Put in bowl with olive oil and salt. Squeeze for a minute (with clean hands) or so to soften and ‘cook’ the kale. Add balsamic, avocado, tomatoes and green onion.
Inspired by B. Mars
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/brigitte-mars/a-tale-of-kale-with-brigi_b_468409.html
by Eso on Oct 26, 2010 at 12:51 pm
Great post! I’ve always wanted to try kale chips and have no excuse not too now! I rarely purchase it and that needs to change … it’s so good for you and so cheap!
by Debbie B. on Oct 26, 2010 at 12:52 pm
I LOVE KALE!!!!!
No really, I really really really love kale.
If you are looking for more yummy kale recipes you can check out my website: http://www.ilovekale.com
by Sarah Jane on Oct 26, 2010 at 5:10 pm
I love this article and I love kale! We do it kinda like we do our collard greens. Boil a pot of water, throw the kale in and let it boil for just a few minutes, then throw it in to a strainer and shake it like a salt shaker…or a strainer…lol! Next, throw some EVOO (Extra Virgin Olive Oil) in to a saute pan on medium to medium/high with some chopped garlic (or minced garlic from the jar…Badia sells garlic like this and it’s easier for some folks), throw your srained kale in to the saute pan, season with some garlic salt and pepper, and once it’s cooked down a little bit…boom!! You have some delicous kale as a side dish…almost like collard greens!! Thanks for the great article Amanda. If you have a chance, check out our website, we have some great tips on grocery shopping and cooking on the cheap.
Regards,
Brian Oliver
http://savingsmith.com
by Brian Oliver on Oct 26, 2010 at 8:50 pm
Is the purple and green ornamental kale edible?
by Deanne on Oct 27, 2010 at 12:21 am
We have a kale, quinoa, avocado, leek and lemon salad for dinner or potluck periodically. It’s excellent picnic food.
I once saw raw kale used for texture as part of the taco salad filling at a raw restaurant in Minneapolis.
by Marie M on Oct 27, 2010 at 12:44 pm
I do kale the same way I cook Swiss Chard…chopped up, and sauteed with just a little garlic, olive oil and salt. Awesome!
by Paul Strobl on Oct 28, 2010 at 4:44 pm
ummmm kale…tuscan kale I make “farinata di cavolo nero” it’s a kale and polenta mixed together! It’s a tuscan recipe I adore….oriana
by Oriana - the tuscan foodie on Feb 11, 2011 at 9:01 am