Best 11 Braised Kale Recipes

BRAISED KALE AND TOMATOES

Steps:

• Heat the olive oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. Once hot, stir in the onions and saute until softened, about 4 minutes. Toss in the red pepper, garlic, kale and some salt and pepper and continue to cook for 2 more minutes. Pour in the tomatoes and stir to combine, then add the chicken stock. Turn the heat to medium, cover with a lid and cook until the kale is silky and tender, about 15 minutes.

CIDER-BRAISED CHICKEN WITH APPLES AND KALE

Steps:

• Arrange rack in upper third of oven; preheat to 450°F. Season chicken all over with 1 tsp. salt and 1/2 tsp. pepper, then rub with 1/4 cup mustard, making sure to get mustard under skin.
• Heat 2 Tbsp. oil in a large heatproof high-sided skillet or heavy braising pan over medium-high. Sear chicken, skin side down, until golden-brown, about 8 minutes. Turn chicken, then arrange apples and onion around chicken. Add wine and 1 cup cider, then transfer to oven and roast until an instant-read thermometer inserted into thickest part of thigh registers 165°F, about 20 minutes.
• Meanwhile, heat remaining 1/2 cup cider, 1 Tbsp. oil, and 1/2 tsp. salt in a large pot over medium; add kale, cover, and cook until wilted. Continue to cook, stirring occasionally, until kale is tender, about 5 minutes. Using slotted spoon, divide kale among plates.
• Transfer chicken, apples, and onion to plates with a slotted spoon. Heat remaining liquid in skillet over high. Add cream and remaining 1 tsp. mustard and bring to a boil. Cook, whisking constantly, until sauce is thickened, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in lemon juice.
• Spoon sauce alongside chicken and kale. Garnish with tarragon, if desired.

BRAISED KALE AND BEANS

Steps:

• Cut tough stems off kale and discard. Stack leaves, roll tightly and cut crosswise into 3/4-inch strips. Transfer to a large bowl and cover with cold water; swirl to remove grit. Drain in a colander. Clean a second time if water in the bowl looks visibly dirty.
• Heat oil in a saucepan over medium heat. Add onion and a pinch each of salt and pepper. Cook, stirring often, until golden brown around the edges, about 3 minutes. Add garlic and sage; cook and stir until fragrant, about 1 minute.
• Stir in vegetable both, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the saucepan. Cover, reduce heat to low, and simmer, about 5 minutes. Increase heat to medium and add the kale. Season with salt and pepper and stir until just wilted, about 2 minutes. Cover and cook until tender but not soft, about 3 minutes.
• Uncover saucepan; stir in beans and hot sauce. Stir until beans are heated through, 2 to 3 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.

BRAISED KALE WITH BLACK BEANS AND TOMATOES

Steps:

• Using a sharp paring knife, slice off the hard, central vein of each kale leaf.
• Stacking 3 to 4 leaves at a time, cut them crosswise into half-inch strips.
• Rinse in a colander or sieve and shake well, leaving some moisture clinging to leaves.
• In a large Dutch oven or heavy pot, heat oil over medium-high heat.
• Saute onion until translucent, about 4 minutes.
• Add kale and mix until wilted, about 3 minutes.
• Add tomatoes and garlic.
• Cook, stirring, until tomatoes soften slightly, about 3 minutes.
• Add beans and broth.
• Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer until kale is tender, about 30 minutes.
• Season to taste with salt and pepper.
• Serve as a side dish or over brown rice for a main course.

BRAISED KALE WITH BACON AND ONIONS

Steps:

• Cook kale stems and ribs in large pot of boiling salted water until tender, about 10 minutes. Drain. Set aside.
• Cook bacon pieces in heavy large pot over medium heat until brown and crisp, about 4 minutes. Add chopped onions and sauté until tender, about 8 minutes. Add kale leaves, ribs and stems and sauté until leaves are crisp-tender, about 10 minutes. Cover and cook until kale is very tender, stirring often, about 15 minutes. Stir in vinegar. Cook mixture 2 minutes to blend flavors. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Transfer to bowl and serve.

BRAISED ROTISSERIE CHICKEN WITH BACON, TOMATOES, AND KALE

Steps:

• Heat oil in a large skillet with a lid or braising pan over medium. Cook bacon until fat starts to render, about 5 minutes. Add shallots and cook until shallots are soft and fat is rendered from bacon, 8-10 minutes.
• Increase heat to high and add wine, garlic, and rosemary. Cook, stirring, until wine is reduced by half, about 1 minute. Add tomatoes, chicken stock, salt, and red pepper flakes and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium and nestle chicken pieces, skin side up, in sauce. Top with kale, cover, and cook until kale is wilted, about 6 minutes. Stir kale into sauce and cook, uncovered, until chicken is warmed through, about 5 minutes more. Serve with bread.

BRAISED KALE CROSTINI

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375°F. Brush bread slices with 2 tablespoons olive oil; arrange bread on baking sheet. Bake until beginning to color, about 6 minutes. Rub toasts with halved garlic.
• Heat 4 tablespoons olive oil in heavy large pot over medium-high heat. Add minced garlic and dried red pepper and stir 30 seconds. Add kale and broth and bring to boil. Reduce heat, cover and simmer 15 minutes. Uncover and continue to simmer until kale is tender and broth has evaporated, stirring often, about 15 minutes. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Top toasts with kale. Drizzle with remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil and serve.

BRAISED KALE

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of generously salted water to a boil. Meanwhile, set aside a large bowl of ice water. Add kale to boiling water, return to a boil, and after 1 minute transfer to ice bath. Drain well, and set aside.
• In a large sauté pan, heat oil over low heat and sauté onion, carrot and celery until just softened. Add sherry vinegar and cook until reduced by two-thirds. Add kale and stir to coat, then add chicken broth, honey, 2 teaspoons salt and the pepper. Bring to a simmer and cook, partly covered, until kale is tender, 6 to 8 minutes.
• Transfer kale leaves to a warm bowl, leaving onion, carrot and celery in broth. Strain broth, discarding solids. If there is more than * cup, it may be boiled in a small saucepan until reduced. Adjust salt and pepper as needed, and pour over kale. Serve immediately, or cover and refrigerate for up to 24 hours; gently reheat before serving.

BRAISED KALE WITH RED BELL PEPPER AND BACON

Steps:

• Render the bacon until crispy in a Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Remove and set aside on a paper towel-lined plate. Add the onions and bell pepper and sprinkle with salt. Stir to combine and saute until translucent, about 5 minutes. Add the kale and red pepper flakes and toss to combine. Allow the kale to wilt, about 2 minutes. Turn off the heat and toss in the apple cider vinegar. Taste and adjust the seasoning with salt and pepper.

BRAISED CANNELLINI BEANS WITH KALE

Steps:

• Directions: In a 3-quart La Chamba clay oval casserole dish set over a diffuser, or in a Dutch oven set directly on the stovetop, warm the olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the fennel and onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened and translucent, about 10 minutes. Add the garlic and cook, stirring constantly, for 1 minute. Add the thyme sprigs, beans, broth and water, and season with salt and pepper. Bring to a simmer, then reduce the heat to medium-low. Cover and cook, stirring occasionally, until the beans are tender, 50 to 60 minutes. Uncover the pot and remove and discard the thyme sprigs. Increase the heat to medium-high, add the kale and cook, uncovered, until the kale is tender but slightly toothsome, 5 to 10 minutes. Stir in the parsley and adjust the seasonings with salt and pepper. Transfer to a serving bowl and serve immediately. Serves 4.

BRAISED KALE WITH TOASTED ALMONDS

Steps:

• In a large saute pan over low heat, toast almonds for 3 to 4 minutes until lightly browned. Add butter and allow to brown. Add garlic and onions. Cook for 3 minutes until slightly caramelized. Add kale and toss lightly. Add broth, bouillon and pepper. Cook kale for 5 to 6 minutes until tender and liquid has evaporated.