Baby Kale Recipe with Garlic and Red Pepper Flakes

Jump to Recipe Print RecipeThis post may contain affiliate links. Read my Privacy Policy. This baby kale recipe is for you dedicated kale lovers. It’s earthy, strong flavored, peppery and just so…. kale-like! With garlic and crushed red pepper flakes, the flavors of this veggie side dish will definitely stay with you for a while. In a good way! I sometimes struggle with kale. It’s not the easiest vegetable to get creative with. At least not for me. The flavor is so specific and so strong that I often have a tough time pairing it with other ingredients. So instead of fighting it, I decided to go with it. There is no mistaking the fact that you are eating kale with this baby kale recipe. It’s dominant and almost overwhelming. A perfect side dish for those dedicated to kale! IS KALE OR SPINACH BETTER FOR YOU? Kale and spinach are highly nutritious and associated with several benefits. While kale offers more than twice the amount of vitamin C as spinach, spinach provides more folate and vitamins A and K. Both are linked to improved heart health, increased weight loss, and protection against disease.Healthline HEALTH BENEFITS OF KALE: We all know dark greens are good for us, but what are the specific benefits for our bodies? Kale contains: Tons of vitamin C!Tons of fiber!A whole bucket load of antioxidants!Lots and lots of vitamin K!1 cup of kale has 3 grams of protein!Lots of folate!Plenty of vitamin A!HOW TO MAKE KALE LESS BITTER: Many folks don’t like kale because of its bitterness. But there are ways to prepare kale that will make the bitterness less noticeable. Combine it with something sweet. Bitterness is offset by sweetness.Cook it will. Cooking will reduce bitterness.Massaging your kale first, and then rinsing it can help a bit, though the effects won’t be significant.Combine with something creamy, such as avocado or real cream.At the end of the day, the bitterness in kale simply must be “subdued” by other flavors. In this recipe, the cooking helps. MORE BABY KALE RECIPES: Baby Kale PastaBaby Kale SaladBaby Kale Quinoa SaladBABY KALE RECIPE WITH GARLIC AND RED PEPPER FLAKES Baby Kale Recipe With Garlic and Crushed Red Peppers A delicious and healthy side dish that pairs well with most main courses. 4 from 2 votes Print Pin Rate Course: Side Dish, VegetablesCuisine: American Prep Time: 5 minutesCook Time: 10 minutesTotal Time: 15 minutes Servings: 2 servings Calories: 70kcal Author: The Gracious Pantry EquipmentSkillet Ingredients½ cup chicken broth (or vegetable broth – no sugar added, low sodium is best)4 cups baby kale (tightly packed for measuring)1 tsp. olive oil2 tsp. garlic powder (or 6 medium cloves, minced)1 tsp. crushed red pepper flakes1 tsp. low sodium soy sauceUS Customary – Metric InstructionsSauté the garlic in the olive oil in a large pan for about 30 seconds over medium heat. Pour the chicken broth into the pan and add the kale, garlic powder, red pepper flakes and soy sauce. Cook until kale is wilted and cooked to your liking. NotesPlease note that the nutrition data given here is a ballpark figure. Exact data is not possible. NutritionServing: 0.5the recipe | Calories: 70kcal | Carbohydrates: 9g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 3g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 357mg | Potassium: 360mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 4925IU | Vitamin C: 54.5mg | Calcium: 71mg | Iron: 1.4mg Recipe from the Gracious Pantry archives, originally posted 6/4/12.