Baked kale chips are a healthier alternative to potato chips that only need a bit of olive oil to get that satisfying crispy texture.
If you want to be healthy AF, kale is a great place to start. It’s got an impressive nutrient profile, with lots of good-for-you vitamins (K, A, and C) and minerals (iron, calcium, manganese, and copper).
Kale chips are a weird-yet-wonderful health food I discovered about five years ago. Kale can sometimes have a stronger flavor, and you may even notice the aroma as they’re baking, but the end result of making these kale chips is surprisingly tasty. (There’s a reason I’ve never had any leftovers when I’ve made these.)
To make my basic recipe for kale chips, you just need three ingredients: kale (rinsed), olive oil, and salt. Here are some tips for making sure these turn into the perfectly crispy chip texture you want:
- Dry them after you’ve rinsed them, so you don’t end up steaming them in the oven.
- Remove the really thick veins when you’re tearing the leaves into smaller pieces (they’re sometimes chewy even after baking).
- When baking, separate the leaves so they’re not touching; this ensures they cook evenly and don’t stick together.
- A little bit of seasoning goes a long way, because the “chips” are incredibly thin.
Experiment with different seasonings to your heart’s content. I’ve tried using a couple seasoning blends, but I usually just go back to sea salt because it’s so easy and delish.
Ingredients:
- 2 kale stalks
- 1 tsp olive oil
- Sea salt to taste
Instructions:
- Remove the ribs and rip the kale leaves into small pieces.
- In a large bowl, combine the kale pieces and olive oil. Gently massage until the leaves are coated with oil.
- Place the kale on an ungreased baking sheet (leaving space between leaves); lightly salt.
- Bake at 275 degrees for 20 min, or until leaves are crisp and the leaf veins are no longer chewy.
Unlike some foods, a little does not go a long way with kale chips. They shrink up a lot when they bake, and they’re so easy to keep popping in your mouth that they really don’t last very long. It’s a happy problem. 🙂
The original version of this post was published in August 2013.
It seems like everybody is making kale chips nowadays. I think I need to jump on the bandwagon. They sound weird yet intriguing to me too! haha
Do it! They’re confusing and tasty.