Kale is not only one of the healthiest greens, it can also be one of the easiest to prepare.
- Extremely high content of leafy greens antioxidants which can boost the immune system, reduce inflammation and potentially slow down the development of certain diseases.
- High in nutrients such as antioxidants, Vitamin C, Vitamin A and many more.
- A high fiber food which can significantly aid in improving bowel movement frequency issues, as well as help to cleanse/detox the colon.
We have all heard about kale, possibly too much. For those of us who have tried kale, it often results in a single attempt that leaves us with a mouth full of rough, tough, bland chewing.
We would like to highlight some of the benefits of steaming or sautéing kale instead of eating it raw. By cooking the kale before eating it:
- Reduces the bitter flavor
- Softens fiber making it easier on our stomachs
- Makes it more fun to eat!
Simply wash and chop your kale, place it into a large (3 quart or bigger pot with top), add 1-3 tablespoons of olive oil, with 1-2 cloves of minced garlic and season to taste (salt, pepper, etc). You can sauté it on medium heat with the top on for 5-8 minutes and then reduce the heat to your lowest setting and let simmer for another 5-15 minutes.
Ideally, you want to stir the kale every 5 minutes to make sure the oils evenly coat the kale and to prevent the kale from overcooking. When your kale is about 3-5 minutes away from being done, squeeze 1-3 tablespoons of fresh lemon juice into it and stir.
This recipe is not only very simple and easy (total prep time under 10 minutes), it’s remarkably tasty once you get your individual recipe down.
By adding a little heat to the kale process, not only can we make kale easier to digest and more tasty, by heating the kale it reduces its size and makes it easy to eat a larger portion.
Personally, I can take an entire bunch of kale (think gallon sized zip lock bag when raw) and cook it into 1 cup or less in size. This trick allows me to eat what would otherwise be a giant kale portion size, as an easy to chew, digest, and enjoy kale side dish with my entree on a regular basis!