I just realized it's been awhile since I posted and it's about time I talk about kale chips. Yes, that's right. Kale chips. They are delicious. They certainly can satisfy that craving for something crispy and crunchy. I've been playing around with a variety of ways to make them.
I saw a recipe for kale chips in Vegetarian Times but it called for a dehydrator. I don't have a dehydrator nor do I want one. I don't know about you, but I don't want another piece of kitchen equipment in the house. In fact, I'm on a mission to rid myself of items that just take up space (but that's another story). I needed to figure out a way to make kale chips without a dehydrator.
First couple of attempts, I set the oven to 175 and let them 'bake' for hours. It definitely make the kale strips crunchy, but, you definitely need a good 2 - 3 hours of bake time. I also tried making them in a 350 degree oven and they became chips within 15 minutes or so. That makes it a little easier to quickly whip up a batch.
If you are a raw food proponent, then the 350 degree oven with the door closed is not for you since it heats the kale up past what is considered an appropriate temperature for keeping food raw.
I also played with flavorings. I tried various combinations of salt, oil, balsamic vinegar, lemon and nutritional yeast. Kale creates a great blank canvas so I would say play with anything that sounds good to you.
The other thing I have learned is to not overlap the kale when it's in the oven. If you do they will not get crispy, they will stay pretty soggy. Trust me on this one. I speak from experience.
So far my favorite way of making kale chips is to:
Preheat the oven to 350
Wash the kale and remove the tough stems
Cut or tear the leaves into pieces about 2" wide
Put them on a baking sheet. Do not allow the kale strips to overlap. If the kale leaves overlap they will not crisp up.
Sprinkle with salt, olive oil, lemon juice and nutritional yeast.
Mix to coat.
Bake for about 15 minutes or until crispy.
Enjoy!
If you make kale chips, please share your favorite toppings.
