This post may contain affiliated links. If you click a link and make a purchase, assume we make a commission.
What does kale taste like? It’s a question that almost nobody can agree on and people have some pretty strong options. Long story short: kale tastes earthy, bitter, and slightly peppery.
Jump to:
No doubt kale is a healthy food, and there are tons of benefits to gain from enjoying this interesting variety of lettuce.
Some people love it and hail it as the greatest superfood on earth. While others hate the stuff, claiming they’d rather eat dirt. While I don't believe anyone would rather eat dirt, I'm thinking it's possible that they just haven't had kale prepared correctly. It can be pretty delicious with a few simple tricks (read on to find out!).
What is kale? And what does kale taste like?
The 3 most common types of kale that you’re going to see in the grocery stores are:
- Curly kale: Curly kale, as the name states, has tight curls and it’s slightly bitter in flavor. This variety is great for salads but even better for soups and stews, as it has a lot of structure and doesn’t easily lose its integrity.
- Tuscan kale: Tuscan kale grows on long stems and it has an earthy, but not super bitter, flavor. This variety is great for salads.
- Russian Red: This is probably not going to be found in non-upscale grocery stores, but you can certainly find it. This kale is a favorite at farmer’s markets because it’s pretty. It has a mild, slightly peppery (reminiscent of full grown arugula) flavor. It’s great for salads and garnishing meats.
Health benefits of kale
Kale is a superfood that contains: Vitamin A (great for supporting bone and eye health). Vitamin C (helps prevent diseases and the common cold). Vitamin K (good for your blood).
Additionally, kale contains omega-3’s (less than fish and eggs, but nevertheless!)
Kale also contains phosphorus, potassium, calcium, and zinc.
Overall it’s a great addition to a balanced diet!
FAQs
Can kale taste good?
Yes! Kale can absolutely taste good. It’s a very versatile veggie and you can even make chips out of it! Kale chips are delicious, just remove the stems (just cut them off). Then place your kale onto a baking sheet. Toss in olive oil, and sea salt, and bake at 300 degrees Fahrenheit for 15 minutes. Then open the oven slightly and let them rest for 10. That’s it! They’ll be nice and crispy.
Does kale taste like cabbage?
No, it’s not quite as bitter as cabbage and when cooked it retains much more of its structure. While it can be reminiscent of cabbage, it’s not quite the same or even similar in terms of flavor profile.
What is the best way to eat kale?
Salads, soups, and baked into chips are my favorite ways to eat kale!
How do you make kale taste better?
Remove the stems, and massage the kale with a few tablespoons of salad dressing. Like this one:
Does kale taste like cabbage?
Kale has a much stronger, more earthy, and slightly more bitter taste than spinach. So depending on how you’re serving kale it can be a nice substitute for spinach. Just be sure to remove the stems before adding it to your dish.
Leave a Reply