Kale

Estimated Inventory, 24 ct : 53.36
This item was last sold on : 11/21/24

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Description/Taste

Kale is a non-heading, leafy form of wild cabbage that comes in a range of shapes, sizes, and colors, such as blue-green, yellow-green, white, red, or purple. Different cultivars are classified by differences in their stem length and their leaf structure, as some are flat and others are frilly. The standard Kale we usually find in the grocery store is pale to deep green with large, ruffle-edged leaves and long stems. It is hardy and fibrous when fully mature, and tender enough to be used as a raw salad green when young. The pale green stems are tough and typically removed, while the tightly curled leaves are chewy yet succulent. Depending on the variety, Kale can sometimes be spicy, other times a bit sweet, and usually slightly bitter. In general, Kale offers an earthy flavor with a nutty sweetness that is accentuated when cooked.

Seasons/Availability

Kale is available year-round with a peak season in winter.

Current Facts

Kale is a member of the Mustard family, also called the Cabbage family. It’s a variety of Brassica oleracea known as acephala, meaning “without a head”, and is essentially a form of primitive cabbage. Over the last few thousand years, this one plant – wild cabbage, also called wild mustard plant – was selectively bred based on specific morphologic traits in order to create entirely different crops: Kale, head cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, and kohlrabi. Kale was produced from selections of wild cabbage plants with larger leaves, and today there are many unique Kale cultivars including Scottish curly Kale, the most commonly found variety, Black Kale, an Italian variety known for the dinosaur-like scales on its leaves, and Siberian Kale, known to be one of the most cold hardy. However, it is important to note that Siberian Kale is actually a different species than most other varieties that are derived from Brassica oleracea. Instead, Siberian Kale is classified as Brassica napus, which is still in the same family, although it is more closely related to rutabagas than other Kales.

Nutritional Value

Kale is rich in antioxidants, and packed with vitamins A, E, K, and B, especially folate. It has a fair amount of protein and iron, and has more vitamin C than other leafy greens. It’s also high in fiber, and has more calcium, gram for gram, than a cup of milk. Researchers have even found that the phytochemicals in Kale may inhibit cancer cell growth. It is important to note that you shouldn’t overdo it with raw Kale because, like other cruciferous vegetables, it contains small amounts of substances that can affect the function of our thyroid gland. These substances become inactive with cooking, so if you have existing thyroid problems, then it’s safest to stick to cooked Kale. Most of us are fine if we stick to modest amounts of raw Kale, such as a handful, even on a daily basis.

Applications

Considering its many forms and stages of harvest, Kale is an incredibly versatile green in the kitchen, and can be used raw or cooked. Young Kale leaves add an earthy flavor to raw salad green mixes, and fully mature Kale is one of the few leafy greens that doesn’t shrink much when it’s cooked. It’s great sautéed, roasted, stewed, and even baked into Kale chips. Just be careful not to over-cook it, as it can develop a more bitter taste. Kale is also often added raw to smoothies, juices, and salads. To prep Kale for use, whether raw or cooked, first remove the tough and fibrous stems. A quick and dirty way to do it is to hold the stem in one hand and strip leaves along the stem away from you. You can also cut the leaves into thin, confetti-like ribbons. A quick massage can help the process of breaking up the cellulose structure of Kale. You can drizzle it with olive oil, salt, and lemon juice, and rub the leaves together in your hands to get a slightly sweeter, much silkier Kale. This leafy green pairs well with garlic, onion, sesame, soy sauce, ginger, smoked or roasted meats, potatoes, grains, oregano, thyme, red pepper, cream, Parmesan cheese, and more. To store Kale, wrap the leaves in a loose bundle with a paper towel or a thin cotton kitchen towel, place them in a large, sealable bag, and refrigerate in the crisper drawer for up to a week.

Ethnic/Cultural Info

The name “Kale” is a Scottish word derived from “coles” or “caulis”, terms used by the Greeks and Romans in reference to the whole cabbage-like group of plants. In Scotland, Kale is such an important part of their traditional diet that the word became synonymous with “food” in some Scottish dialects. For example, to be "off one's kale" is to feel too ill to eat.

Geography/History

Kale is one of the oldest forms of cabbage, native to the eastern Mediterranean or Asia Minor. It has been in cultivation for so long, dating back over 2000 years, and has been so spread across prehistoric traders and migrating tribes, that it’s hard to pinpoint the exact region of origin. Ancient Greeks and Romans grew both curly-leafed and flat-leafed varieties by the fourth century BCE, and these forms, which were referred to by the Romans as sabellian Kale, are considered to be the ancestors of modern Kale varieties. By the Middle Ages, Kale had spread through Europe and Asia, and was one of the most widely eaten green vegetables throughout Europe. While many believe English settlers brought Kale with them to the New World as early as the 17th century, it was David Fairchild, agricultural explorer for the USDA in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, who was specifically credited with introducing American farmers to Kale, along with mangoes, avocados, dates, nectarines, soybeans, and pistachios. Kale is very easy to grow, and it can handle cold temperatures. In fact, a good fall frost or mild, cool winter can actually impart a high sugar content and fine flavor into the Kale plant.

Featured Restaurants

Restaurants currently purchasing this product as an ingredient for their menu.

Madison	San Diego CA	619-822-3465
Kensington Cafe	San Diego CA	619-684-0044 Fausto
Portside Pier (Brigantine)	San Diego CA	858-268-1030
Bali Hai Restaurant	San Diego CA	619-222-1181
The Plot Express (Carlsbad)	Carlsbad CA	760-445-6846
Kairoa Brewing Company	San Diego CA	858-735-0051
Hotel La Jolla - Sea & Sky	La Jolla CA	858-459-0261
Crust Pizzeria Solana Beach	Solana Beach CA	858-212-8751
Portside Pier (Ketch Tasting Deck)	San Diego CA	858-268-1030
Craft House Fashion Valley	San Diego CA	619-948-4458
Great Maple Hillcrest	San Diego CA	619-255-2282
La Jolla Country Club	San Diego CA	858-454-9601
Ridgeview Health Center	San Diego CA	858-293-3950
Rubicon Deli India Street	San Diego CA	619-200-4201
Rubicon Deli-UTC	San Diego CA	858-877-9911
Harumama Noodles & Buns (Carlsbad)	Carlsbad CA	760-637-5737
Pacific Yacht Agents	Los Angeles CA	808-214-0970
The Field Irish Pub & Restaurant	San Diego CA	619-232-9840
4 The Love Of Lemons	San Diego CA	760-613-1104
Crust Pizzeria Carlsbad 2019	Carlsbad CA	760-944-1111

the other 92...

Shoreside Support Boat	San Diego CA	704-277-7929
Waverly	Cardiff CA	619-244-0416
Boujiemana	San Diego CA	415-710-0510
Chateau La Jolla	San Diego CA	858-459-4451
Brigantine Poway	Poway CA	858-486-3066
Pokewan (Del Mar)	San Diego CA	858-847-2881
Green Acres Campus	San Diego CA	858-450-9907
Nate's Garden Grill	San Diego CA	619-607-0117
Communal Coffee	San Diego CA	619-305-9525
Richard Walkers Pancake House (DM)	Del Mar CA	619-306-2999
Kettner Exchange	San Diego CA	909-915-9877
Adobo House	San Diego CA	619-990-8340
The Guild Hotel	San Diego CA	619-764-5108
Cori Pastificio Trattoria	San Diego CA	619-718-2889
Bekker's Catering	San Diego CA	619-287-9027
Harumama (Little Italy)	San Diego CA	619-269-7122
Pizzeria Luigi	San Diego CA	610-539-7025
Solare Ristorante Lounge	San Diego CA	619-270-9670
Coin-Op Game Room (North Park)	San Diego CA	818-448-0129
Mesa College	San Diego CA	619-388-2240
Craft and Commerce (Sekscobra Inc.)	San Diego CA	619-962-5935
Happy Medium SD	San Diego CA	509-869-2279
Maxota Raw	San Diego CA	201-615-1727
The Santaluz Club Inc - Main Dining	San Diego CA	858-759-3150
Madi	San Diego CA	320-491-1217
Himitsu	La Jolla CA	858-345-0220
Seasoned Catering and Events	San Diego CA	619-246-4909
Red Door Friends	San Diego CA	619-295-6000
Del Mar Country Club	Rancho Santa Fe CA	858-759-5995
Edgewater Grill	San Diego CA	619-232-7581
A & M catering	San Diego CA	206-802-8320
InterContinental Vistal Kitchen	San Diego CA	619-501-9400
UCSD Food & Nutrition Department Hillcrest	San Diego CA	619-380-9840
Wine Vault & Bistro	San Diego CA	619-295-3939
Paradisaea Restaurant	La Jolla CA	732-915-6669
The Roxy Encinitas	Encinitas CA	760-230-2899
Rancho Valencia	Del Mar CA	858-756-1123
Olivewood Gardens and Learning Center	National City CA	619-434-4281
San Diego Freedom Ranch	Campo CA	619-478-5696
SIE Culinary Management	San Diego CA	858-964-8677
Park Commons - ARE	San Diego CA	619-295-3172
Compa Coffee Roasters	San Diego CA	858-205-8048
Brigantine Del Mar	Del Mar CA	858-481-1166
Communal Coffee - Oceanside	Oceanside CA	619-920-7887
Donna Jean	San Diego CA	619-299-5500
Pacific Regent La Jolla	San Diego CA	858-597-8008
The Plot	Oceanside CA	422-266-8200
The Whaling Bar	La Jolla CA	858-355-9218
Artifact at Mingei	San Diego CA	619-846-2164
Shore Rider	La Jolla CA	858-412-5308
Kitchens For Good	San Diego CA	619-450-4040
The Bowl	San Diego CA	619-813-5865
Peace Pies	San Diego CA	619-618-6960
Brigantine Pt Loma	San Diego CA	619-224-2871
Sandpiper Wood Fired Grill & Oysters	La Jolla CA	858-228-5655
Solana Beach Kitchen	Solana Beach CA	610-717-7217
Juniper & Ivy	San Diego CA	858-481-3666
Local Greens	Solana Beach CA	858-504-0332
Brigantine Coronado	Coronado CA	619-435-4166
Wolf In the Woods	San Diego CA	619-851-7275
Stake Chophouse & Bar	Coronado CA	619-522-0077
Harumama Sushi & Ramen (Ocean Beach)	San Diego CA	858-886-9909
US Grant Hotel Main	San Diego CA	619-232-3121
Barrel & Board	San Diego CA	619-902-4646
Solterra Winery + Kitchen	Encinitas CA	858-245-6146
Brigantine Imperial Beach	Imperial Beach CA	619-591-1350
Marys Gourmet Salads	La Jolla CA	858-925-4690
Rustic Root	San Diego CA	619-232-1747
Sisters Pizza	San Diego CA	858-228-6822
Woods Hole Oceanographic Inst.	San Diego CA	508-289-2667
Scrimshaw Coffee	San Diego CA	951-663-2207
Cutwater Spirits	San Diego CA	619-672-3848
C 2 C	San Diego CA	619-972-9345
Peace Pies (Encinitas)	Encinitas CA	619-618-6960
The Handmade Chef Meal Prep Co.	San Diego CA	619-368-3705
Vitality Tap - 1St Ave	San Diego CA	619-237-7625
The Flavor Chef (Catering)	Vista CA	619-295-3172
Continental Catering Inc	La Mesa CA	907-738-9264
Blue Ocean	Carlsbad CA	760-434-4959
Third Corner Encinitas	Encinitas CA	619-417-9251
Coast Catering	Escondido CA	619-295-3173
Carte Hotel	San Diego CA	619-365-1858
Ketch Grill and Taps	San Diego CA	858-268-1030
San Diego Yacht Club	San Diego CA	619-758-6334
Margaritaville Hotel SD (Kitchen)	San Diego CA	619-819-9500
Blue Water Estate Services	Rancho Santa Fe CA	858-720-9831
Extraordinary Desserts Union St.	San Diego CA	619-294-7001
KI's	Encinitas CA	760-586-8289
The Joint	San Diego CA	619-222-8272
Brigantine La Mesa	La Mesa CA	619-465-1935
Common Theory	San Diego CA	858-384-7974
Sabi Juice	Chula Vista CA	619-971-8545

Recipe Ideas

Recipes that include Kale. One

is easiest, three is harder.

Veggie Desserts		Kale and Apple Cake with Apple Icing
Marisa Moore Nutrition		Kale, Tangerine, Pepita Salad
From A Chef's Kitchen		Massaged Kale Antipasto Salad
Yay For Food		5 Minute Kale Walnut Pesto
Dianasaur Dishes		Kale and Parmesan Casserole
Fooduzzi		Guacamole Tacos
I Knead to Eat		Creamy Chicken Hazelnut Salad
How Sweet Eats		Crunchy Taco Kale Salad
The Kitchen is My Playground		Kale & Apple Salad with Honey
Taste and See		Cheesy Kale Mashed Potatoes

the other 91...

Natasha's Kitchen		Kale Salad with Honey Lemon Dressing
Brooklyn Farmgirl		Kale Rainbow Salad
A Calculated Whisk		Kale and Bacon Quiches with Hash Brown Crust
The Weary Chef		Sausage Alfredo with Spaghetti Squash
From A Chef's Kitchen		Brown Rice Cheddar Kale Casserole
Emily Kyle Nutrition		Veggie Lovers Crustless Quiche
The Pretty Bee		Vegan Cheesy Kale Chips
The Seaside Baker		Walnut Kale Basil Pesto
Barefeet in the Kitchen		Warm Peacock Kale and Purple Cauliflower Salad
Two Peas and Their Pod		Baked Gnocchi with Sausage, Kale, and Pesto
Healthy Happy Life		Sassy Sweet Green Whole Food Smoothie
Minimalist Baker		White Bean Kale Salad with Tahini Dressing
Frugal Mama		Kale Salad with Nasturtium Flowers
Making Thyme for Health		Guac-Kale-Mole
The Foodie Physician		Sweet Potato and Kale Quesadillas
Earth Eats		Warm Mushroom Kale Dip
Skinny Miss		Baked Sweet Potatoes with Crispy Kale and Feta
This Savory Vegan		Vegan Kale Pesto
Beauty Everyday		Kohlrabi and Kale Cakes
Community Table		Tuna & Kale Tacos with Citrus salsa
Running In A Skirt		Nourishing Vegetarian Crock Pot Lentil Soup
The Busy Baker		No Fial Sea Salt and Garlic Kale Chips
Emily Kyle Nutrition		Kale & Red Pepper Shaksuka
Yes, More Please		Sweet Potato Kale and Quinoa Fritters
Green Kitchen		Kale Chip
Nyssa's Kitchen		Vibrant Kale Salad with Chili Flecked Lemon Tahini Dressing
White on Rice Couple		Baked Kale Chips with Sea Salt and Black Pepper
Becky's Best Bites		Lemony Kale Pesto
Simply So Healthy		Low-Carb Quesadillas
Heather Christo		Grilled Peach Kale Salad with Honey Almond Clusters and Crispy Prosciutto
Yay For Food		Teriyaki Chicken Rice Bowls with Garlicky Kale
The Harvest Kitchen		Beet & Kale Quinoa Salad
Served From Scratch		Garlic Kale
Amy Glaze's Pommes D'amour		Kale and Fuyu Persimmon Salad with Buddhas Hand Vinaigrette
Running In A Skirt		Vegetarian Crustless Mushroom, Kale, & Feta Quiche
The Endless Meal		Sweet and Spicy Sauteed Kale Stems
Taste and Tell		Cheesy Bacon Kale Crostini
Diethood...The Eating Effect		Smoked Sausage, Kale, & Potato Soup
Pinch of Yum		Garlic Kale and Brown Rice Salad with Lemon Dressing
SolLuna		Hearty Lentil and Kale Soup
Just One Cookbook		Massaged Kale Salad with Mango
Lexi's Clean Kitchen		Turkey Kale Soup
The Endless Meal		Roasted Beet and Kale Salad with Maple Candied Walnuts
Paleo Bailey		Egg Free Chicken Breakfast Hash
Simply Stacie		Very Veggie Chicken and Rice Soup
Taste and Tell		Pineapple Banana Kale Smoothie
The Kitchn		Kale Salad with Quick-Pickled Watermelon Radish
The Balanced Berry		Pina Kale-ADA Smoothie
Running In A Skirt		Sauteed Kale and Butternut Squash
Foodie Crush		Kale Caesar Pasta Salad
Get Rawcous		Creamy Kale Salad with Wild Horseradish Leaf
Simply So Healthy		Low-Carb Cauliflower and Kale Curry Soup
Wall Flower Kitchen		Dairy Free Mashed Potatoes with Greens
Lauren's Latest		Garlic Chicken & Kale Spaghetti
Little Bits Of		Caramelized Onion & Kale Twice Baked Sweet Potatoes
The Intentional Minimalist		Stewed Kale and Poached Eggs with Fromage Blanc
The Harvest Kitchen		Garlic Chicken Chow Mein with Kale
Cooking LSL		Cauliflower Kale Soup
Just a Taste		Raw Kale Salad with Warm Bacon Vinaigrette
Little Leopard Book		Kale Pesto
My New Roots		Roasted Kale and Beets with Honey-Horseradish Vinaigrette
Sweet Peas and Saffron		Kale Pesto with Sunflower Seeds and Pepitas
Dolly and Oatmeal		Fruity Shredded Kale Salad
The Bungalow Kitchen		Garlicky Braised Kale with Sun-Dried Tomatoes
Taste and See		Kale Orange Cranberry Salad
High Heels & Grills		Corn, Potato, & Kale Chowder
Diethood...The Eating Effect		Kale and Feta One Pot Pasta
Eat Good 4 LIfe		Walnut Apple Kale Salad
Vegan Heaven		Vegan Potato Kale Soup
My New Roots		Poppy Seed-Crusted Butternut Squash with Kale and Pomegranates
Mother Thyme		Roasted Balsamic Kale Chips
Produce on Parade		Veggie Kale Soup with 'Sausage'
Honest Fare		Lazy Kale Mash Up
Salt and Lavender		Shredded Kale and Brussels Sprout Salad
Yay For Food		One Pot Orzo Pasta with Italian Sausage and Kale
Running In A Skirt		Kale and Berry Smoothie
Young and Raw		Honey Hemp Kale Pear Salad
Fooduzzi		Warm Taco Bliss Salad
Becky's Best Bites		Albacore Tuna Kale Salad with a Simple Lemon Dijon Vinaigrette
Running In A Skirt		Rainbow Green Smoothie Bowl
Taste and See		Chicken Kale Energy Bowl with Italian Sun-Dried Tomato Sauce
The Endless Meal		Creamy Kale Salad with Maple Tahini Dressing
Ambitious Kitchen		Chopped Thai Kale Salad with Peanut Ginger Dressing
Vegalicious Recipes		Vegan Pea and Kale Patties
This Savory Vegan		White Bean, Rice & Kale Vegan Burritos
Love & Lemons		Roasted Delicata Squash Tacos
Eat The Gains		Blender Green Juice Chia Pudding
Feasting at Home		GARLICKY CRUCIFEROUS PASTA
Oh My Veggies		Vegan Garlic Bread with Kale Pesto
Life Made Sweeter		Italian Pasta Salad
I Am A Food Blog		Kale and Ricotta Stuffed Shells

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