Okay, so most people dislike kale. It’s that tough green that everyone raves about nutrition-wise but prefer softer green options like silverbeet or spinach. It’s definitely an aquired taste, if you weren’t introduced to it as a child. I have grown it in our garden for the past three years, yet only now, am I truly appreciating it in all it’s glory! A kale leaf or two thrown into a fruit smoothie – you don’t even taste it but your body benefits enormously! A handful of leaves chucked into a hearty winter stew or soup, delicious AND nutritious. A leaf or three finely chopped into a salad, hmm, there’s a thing of beauty!
What I really want to talk about though, is making a regular “junk food fix” into the healthiest, yummiest snack EVER! Kale chips! They’re the best, for a home movie night when that snack craving hits home.
What you need:
- A bunch of kale leaves, any variety will do (12-14 leaves)
- 1 tspn sea salt
- 1 TBspn olive oil
- 2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
- 2 TBspn Tamari or soy sauce
- 2 TBspn tahini
- 3 TBspn lime or lemon juice
- A dehydrator (or low temperature oven)
Method:
- Inspect leaves and make sure they are clean and bug free (washing them prohibits the flavouring from sticking to leaves).
- Cut stems off of leaves (these can be rather tough and stringy).
- Mix all the other ingredients together in a large bowl.
- Place leaves in bowl and make sure you rub mixture through them to thoroughly coat each leaf with tahini mix.
- Place leaves on dehydrator trays and allow dehydrator to run for 3-4 hours.
- Allow kale chips to cool.
- Try not to eat them all in one go!
My dehydrator had paid itself off a hundred times over! I paid $20 for it from a second hand store. I dehydrate excess produce from the garden, apples, pears, persimmons etc. I make fruit leathers and have even recently dehydrated some store bought mushrooms when they were on special! A kitchen appliance every backyard farmer needs!
For the health benefits of this powerhouse of nutritious goodness, go to http://www.mindbodygreen.com/0-4408/Top-10-Health-Benefits-of-Eating-Kale.html
P.S. You can add any combinations of flavouring to your kale chip mix, I’ve tried adding wee lashings of sweet Thai chilli sauce – yum! Or cumin, Morroccan spice etc. Give yourself unlimited creative license! And don’t forget to grow heaps of kale in the garden to keep up with your demand for this new health snack!😊
Enjoy!
