Strong and earthy taste with beautiful hearty leafy green, kale is not as spicy as arugula nor bitter like spinach. Depending on the variety of kale, this leafy green is typically much heartier than lettuce or cabbage.
From healthy smoothies to hearty side dishes, there are many ways to serve kale including blanch, boil, braise, sauté, steam, and stir-fry. However, it is necessary to know what pairs with kale for best taste.
What to eat with kale? Kale is typically enhanced in flavor and texture when cooked with garlic, olive oil, onions, red pepper flakes, salt, chicken stock, and thyme. These herbs and spices add flavor to make it taste better than a blank canvas.
Furthermore, kale is often used in salads, soups, and smoothies to layer flavors with other ingredients.
Kale is trendy and one of the most popular vegetables around the world. There is no denying that it packs a delicious punch and is loaded with healthy nutrients.
It is a great source of protein, calcium, iron, and vitamins. Not only from a nutritional perspective, but the vibrant green color is superb and makes it look stunning. Want to get on board with team kale? Scroll down for more wholesome food pairings.
What does kale go with?
When kale is prepared with various cooking techniques, it pairs wonderfully with steak, toppings for pizza, soup, pork, and hearty salad.
The vibrant green colors of kale makes the dish beautiful on the plate. Furthermore, the dish delivers the right balance of savory and sweet taste.
Try these ingredients to cook with kale to maximize the flavor in-depth:
- Herbs: bay leaf, oregano, thyme
- Spices: nutmeg, red pepper flakes
- Vegetables: garlic, ginger, red bell peppers, yellow onions, potatoes, shallots, sweet potatoes
- Fruits: lemon, tomatoes
- Dairy: butter, cream, sour cream
- Cheese: cheddar, parmesan
- Meat: roasted chicken, pork
- Oil: grapeseed, vegetable, olive
- Condiments: black and white pepper, kosher salt, soy sauce, sugar, red wine vinegar
- Cured meat: pancetta, sausage, chorizo
- Stocks: chicken
What flavor goes well with kale?
One of the common flavors featured in classic methods is kale and garlic. With its strong nuttiness and earth notes, garlic can deliver an intense kick to kale that absolutely enhances its flavors.
Kale is a bitter green and can go well with sources of acid. Lemon is a primary source that makes a case of flavors that can help cut the bitterness of the kale.
Other than garlic and lemon, try a drizzle olive oil, or fresh black paper, and red pepper flakes to make the dish fantastic.
With these ingredients in mind, try the classic flavor combination that goes well with kale:
- kale + garlic + olive oil + red wine vinegar
- kale + onions + salt + smoked sausage
- kale + sweet potatoes + coconut oil + red onion + garlic
- kale + bacon + garlic + butter
- kale + pineapple + green apple + banana + lemon + coconut milk + maple syrup
Eat with Kale: Conclusion
It is easy to notice that kale leaves become more irresistible when served with the right dish. Whether braised or turned into chips, the sweet kale can add a unique taste to the plate and brings an extra bunch of freshness.
Kale can be prepared by boiling, blanching, sautéing, steaming, and stir-fry them.
Use spices and herbs with oil to deepen the flavor including garlic, olive oil, onions, red pepper flakes, salt, chicken stock, and thyme.
Render bacon fat from a chunk and use the fat renderings to braise the kale, talk about a mouth watering experience.
Furthermore, you may enjoy kale in smoothies, soup, salad, and chips to name a few.
Using the tips in this guide, you will exactly what to serve with kale for a delightful culinary experience. Serve up dishes that are guaranteed to wow every time.