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READY IN 20 mins

Italian Kale

Read Reviews (132)

"This is an old Italian family favorite for kale." — dwieberg

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Original recipe makes 4 side dish servings Change Servings

1 bunch kale, stems removed and leaves coarsely chopped
1 clove garlic, minced
1 tablespoon olive oil

2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
Salt and ground black pepper to taste

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Directions

Cook the kale in a large, covered saucepan over medium-high heat until the leaves wilt. Once the volume of the kale is reduced by half, uncover and stir in the garlic, olive oil and vinegar. Cook while stirring for 2 more minutes. Add salt and pepper to taste.

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PREP 5 mins
COOK 15 mins
READY IN 20 mins

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Whoa!!! This is excellent!!! And, can you say HEALTHY??? Superb recipe. Only change I made was to use 4 cloves of garlic (what can I say - I'm a garlic freak.) I've also used a similar method with swiss chard and spinach, but never tried it with balsamic vinegar. That adds a real tasty touch! Note that the recipe says to cook the kale until half of the volume is reduced. Don't over cook it - it's healthier that way!! You don't want it to end up like a wet rag. There should still be a hint of crispness to the leaves. Also, toss the kale a few times and it won't burn. The water on the leaves from washing should be enough. Simple, tasty and good for you!!!

—MuscleMan

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Most Helpful Critical Review

Feb 20, 2009

NEEDS 1/2 CUP LIQUID. This is a good way to cook any greens: kale, spinach, chard, collards. Saute the garlic in olive oil, add the greens -with some liquid, like water, veggie or chicken broth, cook it down, add a little salt. Your done. The vinegar is tasty.

—Hester

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180 Ratings

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Jan 28, 2008

This was a super recipe! If you are a novice at cooking kale, like I was a while ago, you need to strip the leaves off the stems and also chop the leaves a bit before cooking. You should add a small amount of water when cooking the kale and watch carefully so it doesn't boil away and burn. This recipe is very easy and has a really nice flavor. Thank you so much!

—SOUP LOVER

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Nov 16, 2008

Very nice kale preparation. Tastes very Southern, even though its Italian. Be advised it takes at least 20 minutes to wash and de-spine and chop the kale. Also, it helps to have half of the olive oil in the pan when you're cooking the kale, to help it from sticking. Also, add 1/2 cup of water and cover the pan- this will ensure that the kale doesn't burn. The water will evaporate off at the end, leaving nicely sauteed kale.

—Citron

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May 28, 2007

In the past, I steamed my kale (chard, spinach, etc.), then transfered it to a frying pan with garlic butter, and then dressed it on the plate with balsamic vinaigrette . . . so imagine how happy I was to see this simplified version of a side-dish I enjoy so much (albeit sheepish about not having figured out the "one pan" method for myself. Seems so obvious now!) Anyway, this tastes wonderful: fresh greens are so easy and good for you!

—kikadee

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Jun 04, 2008

I made this recipe as listed and it was very good. Next time, I plan to cut the amount of balsamic vinegar in half. There was too much and it overpowered the taste of the vegetable.

—TMCBRID

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Jul 25, 2007

Our neighbor gave us a bunch of fresh kale from her garden. I didn't know how to prepare it, so gave this recipe a try. I've made spinach this way, and the kale tasted just as good with the EVOO, garlic, & balsamic. Felt like we were doing something very healthy for ourselves with dinner tonight! Thanks, Dwieberg.

—LADYJAYPEE

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Oct 15, 2007

I'm sure it would have been much tastier if I didn't burn it. Smelled lovely in the pot. I think it just needed some more water... make sure you keep enough water while steaming the kale!

—Natalie

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Nutrition

Calories
92 kcal
5%

Carbohydrates
12.6 g
4%

Cholesterol
0 mg
0%

Fat
4.2 g
6%

Fiber
2.3 g
9%

Protein
3.8 g
8%

Sodium
147 mg
6%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.

Nutritional Information

Italian Kale

Serving Size: 1/4 of a recipe
Servings Per Recipe: 4
Amount Per Serving
Calories: 92
Calories from Fat: 38

% Daily Value *
Total Fat 4.2g 6 %
** Saturated Fat 0.6g 3 %
Cholesterol 0mg 0 %
Sodium 147mg 6 %
** Potassium 510mg 14 %
Total Carbohydrates 12.6g 4 %
Dietary Fiber 2.3g 9 %
Protein 3.8g 8 %
** Sugars 1.1g
** Vitamin A 344 %
** Vitamin C 224 %
** Calcium 19 %
** Iron 20 %
** Thiamin 12 %
** Niacin 14 %
** Vitamin B6 20 %
** Magnesium 14 %
** Folate 18 %

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.
** Nutrient information is not available for all ingredients. Amount is based on available nutrient data.
(-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a medically restrictive diet, please consult your doctor or registered dietitian before preparing this recipe for personal consumption.