Kale

About

Kale is dark, rich and slightly bitter, with common varieties including curly kale and black kale (cavolo nero, also called Tuscan kale). Its flavor improves after frost, tasting cleaner and more mineral in cold weather, and tends to grow more bitter as the growing season progresses.

Pairs well with kale

• CiLemonA lemon vinaigrette, made with juice and a little finely grated zest, suits kale well, whether massaged raw into the leaves or tossed with…
• EaPotatoKale and potato combine into a satisfying soup on their own.
• CiOrangeKale and orange are both at their best in the same season and share a bracing bitterness.
• SuGarlicKale is milder and less sulfurous than its cabbage relatives once cooked, and garlic can supply the pungency it's missing.
• WoAlmondKale's bittersweet, mineral flavor pairs well with many of the same ingredients that complement bittersweet chocolate, including nuts,…
• FrAppleA salad of kale, sliced apple (a variety like Cox's Orange Pippin works well) and smoked almonds, tossed in a simple vinaigrette, pairs…
• CiGingerThe Scottish cook Catherine Brown prefers kale raw or stir-fried, pairing it with ginger, whose warmth complements the nutty flavor…
• BeMintKale and mint share an affinity similar to kale and chocolate.
• ChCheeseKale's sturdy, bitter leaves hold up well to thick dressings, grated Parmesan, and croutons in Caesar-style salads, and to salty garlic…
• GrAvocadoKale can take on a seaweed-like note if picked in warm weather but tastes better from colder ground; it pairs well with avocado in a Green…
• RoSesameOgiri-saro, a fermented sesame seed seasoning from Sierra Leone made through a multi-day process of soaking, crushing, fermenting and…
• SuCornCorn's sweetness pairs well with strong, contrasting flavors: salty miso, sour lime and, in the case of kale, bitterness.
• FrPlumKale and plum make a good bittersweet salad combination, best with a dressing on the sour side; a salty cheese or a miso-pickled egg both…
• GrChileChiles amplify kale's natural pepperiness, and smoked chili powder gives kale chips an appealingly junky edge.
• WoOatIn traditional Scottish cooking, boiled and mashed kale ("kail") was often finished with a scattering of raw oatmeal, and the two formed a…
• EaBlack beanFrijoles y quelites is a Mexican pairing of beans and greens used in tacos and tamales, rooted in Lenten cooking; recipes often use black…
• WoCashewFood scientist Laura Griffin identified a 'greenwood bitter' note in cashews, resembling raw cruciferous vegetables, a quality easy to…
• WoPecanPecan's buttery, brown-sugar notes make it one of the best matches for kale, similar in principle to cabbage cooked with butter, sugar and…
• WoPine nutKale pesto, made by blending torn kale leaves with toasted pine nuts, garlic, cheese and olive oil, echoes the flavors of a Caesar salad,…
• WoPistachioA kale salad with fennel ribbons, kale chips and a sweet pistachio, crème fraîche, honey and lemon dressing works because the dressing's…
• CrPassion fruitKale salad with a passion fruit vinaigrette belongs among the classic brassica-and-fruit pairings, alongside Brussels sprouts with…
• EaWhite beanKale gives bean broth a rough, bitter edge, while the broth in turn softens kale's tough texture into something silkier.