As a natural source of potassium, it helps fight heart disease. With its iron properties, it assists with healthy muscle function and the transfer of oxygen between cells. Its Vitamin K content improves bone and brain health, and the fiber that it contains assists in digestion. Vitamin A present in kale can contribute to healthy hair and skin. Some scientists claim that kale reduces the risk of cancer. Kale is also full of Omega-3 fatty acids, which can reduce inflammation in the body. It also has been associated with mood elevation in one study. Kale is also good source of vitamin C and magnesium.
For this reason, many heath-oriented consumers often add kale to salads, wraps, soups smoothies, casseroles, and other dishes. Some kale enthusiasts even eat the green vegetable in its raw form. (RELATED: Read more about superfoods at NaturanNewsIngredients.com.)
You're sold, right?
With that in mind, and despite kale's ability to strengthen the body's natural defenses against disease, some people may be inadvertently throwing away one of the best parts, namely the equally nutrition-rich thick stems,
As the MindBodyGreen website explains, many recipes call for de-stemming kale before it is consumed. But there are some techniques available to the home chef that make using kale stems easier, so they are ready to eat along with kale leaves. "Just like massaging those kale leaves makes them more palatable (and tasty!) by releasing some of the bitterness and breaking down the tough-to-eat fiber, a few kitchen hacks will have you devouring those stems instead of trashing them," the website advises.
- Blanching: Simmer the stems briefly in water, then chop them and add to a salad. Blanched stems can also be stirred into a pesto or added to a saute with garlic and olive oil.
- Pickling: Dump the kale stems in a vinegar, sugar, and salt brine and refrigerate in an airtight container for two days or so.
- Blending: Add kale, stems and all, into your juicier or smoothie maker with your favorite fruits and vegetables to break down the fiber.
- Braising: Slow cook greens with your cooking liquid of choice; add stems a few minutes before you thrown in the greens.
- Toasting: Either leave the stems on when you make kale chips in the oven or toast the stems separately. Add your favorite spices.
Kale, with or without stems, can also be boiled, steamed, or stir-fried. The nutrition-dense green can also be sprinkled on pizza, mixed into scrambled eggs, lasagna, burritos, or quesadillas, among many other possibilities. Perhaps the only limitation is your culinary imagination.
Check out some Natural News-recommended kale recipes, including kale chips, at this link.
Kale usually lasts about two days on the kitchen counter and about five days in the crisper. Kale can be stored longer by washing, drying, mincing/chopping, and then freezing it. It thaws relative quickly and can then be incorporated in recipes just like raw kale. And remember, keep the stems.
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