Thursday, January 15, 2015

Roasted Sesame Kale Chips...


We've all heard how great kale is for you and it's not just an over-used food trend that will go away soon. The plethora of health benefits puts it in the top category of superfoods, if not #1. You may have seen the different renditions of homemade kale chip recipes and store-bought kale snacks with ingredients such as paprika, garlic salt, chili powder, even sweet flavourings like vanilla and honey, but how about changing up the usual olive oil to another, like fragrant and nutty sesame oil? They bake-up tasting just like roasted seaweed that are popularly sold in Korean markets 'cept you get to control the salt level and you're not grappling with seaweed :) And my kids absolutely adore them! I love serving these nutritious chips for my kids packed as a snack for school or as a quick after school nibble. Just make sure you give them a plate, or crispy bits will be everywhere at the rapid rate they'll be munching.

1 bunch kale
1 Tbsp. sesame oil
1/2 tsp. kosher or sea salt

Preheat an oven to 325F. Line baking sheet with parchment paper. With a knife or kitchen shears carefully remove the leaves from the thick stems and tear into bite size pieces. Wash and thoroughly dry kale with a salad spinner. Drizzle kale with oil and sprinkle with salt. Bake until the edges brown but are not burnt, 15 to 20 minutes.

TIPS for perfect chips:

* Remove the stems and tear leaves into medium pieces;
* Thoroughly dry the washed leaves; drain and pat dry;
* Don’t drench leaves in oil; massage oil to coat all the nooks and crannies and to help spice/salt stick;
* Spread kale, curly-side down into a single layer on the baking sheet;
* Use low-heat for even baking and let cool a few minutes before serving (to crisp up even more).


With these simple techniques you’ll be well on your way to kale chip heaven...

Grab base of stem with one hand and push outwards along stem to slide off leaves.

Kadoya is my favourite sesame oil brand.

Make sure the curly-side of the leaves are turned down. This ensure crispier roasting.


Super healthy, crispy, crunchy, aromatic with a salty finish... what's not to love?

If you tried making these at home and haven't absolutely loved them (burnt or too soggy), follow the above TIPS for a few things you can do to ensure crispy flawless roasted chips. Because if done right, honestly they'll be gobbled up in no time flat. Just ask my kids... here one second, gone the next...



For more on incorporating kale in your family's diet, try Toasted Sesame Kale Stir-Fry and Portuguese's national soup Caldo Verde.



No comments:

Post a Comment

Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.