Tips and Recipes
for Brookfield Farm Crops

  
   
 
 

Kale (Brassica oleracea var. acephola)

Kale is the most ancient and among the earliest cultivated member of the cabbage family. It was a favorite vegetable in ancient Rome and has remained a particularly popular vegetable in Scotland and Ireland. Nutritionally, kale is vastly superior to most vegetables. It is very rich in vitamins A and C, and calcium. B vitamins and other minerals are also in excellent supply. Kale also has the highest protein content of all of the cultivated vegetables.


Curly Kale tuscano kaleTuscano Kale red kaleRed Kale
 
 


Recipes:

African Pineapple Peanut Stew
1 cup chopped scallions
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 tbsp vegetable oil
1 bunch kale or chard, sliced crosswise 1" thick
2 cups undrained crushed pineapple
1/2 cup peanut butter
1 tbsp Tabasco sauce
1/2 cup chopped cilantro
salt to taste

In a covered saucepan, sauté the scallions and garlic in the oil. Add the pineapple and its juice and bring to a simmer. Stir in the greens, cover and simmer for about 5 minutes, until tender. Mix in the remaining ingredients and simmer for 5 minutes. Add salt to taste and serve on rice, millet, or couscous.

Kale Potato Soup
1 large onion
1tsp butter
1 clove garlic
2 big potatoes, cubed
1 bunch kale
5 cups stock
pepper to taste.

Sauté onions and garlic, add cubed potatoes and 2 cups of water and simmer till soft. Puree half of the potatoes with the remaining water and combine everything together adding the kale etc., and heat gently. A satisfying soup on a chilly night!

Portuguese Kale Soup
2 cups cooked kidney beans (1 can)
2 cups cooked chick peas
3 cups chopped tomatoes
garlic to taste
1 large potato chopped small
4 cups kale, packed and roughly chopped
1 tsp basil
1 tsp oregano
2 cups thinly sliced chorizo (Portuguese sausage) or kielbasa
salt and pepper to taste

Mix all ingredients, add water, vegetable or beef stock to 2" above ingredients. Simmer 45 min.


Storage Tips:

  • Wrap kale in damp towel or place in plastic bag and keep in the hydrator drawer of the refrigerator.

  • Kale is best used fresh but will keep for 2-4 days if kept moist and refrigerated.

  • For long-term storage, kale can be frozen. Wash, de-stem, and blanch leaves for 2 minutes. Rinse in ice-cold water and pack into zip-lock bag or airtight container. Freeze.