How to Make Kale Chips Right at Home
Kale may not be everyone's favorite leafy green, especially when eaten raw in a salad, as it can lean toward a relatively bitter taste. However, those who don't like the nutrient-dense vegetable in its natural state may find it more palatable in the form of a crispy, crunchy chip. Pre-packed kale chips are growing in popularity, and though tasty, they can be expensive. Why fork over the extra money when you don't have to? You can easily make this healthy snack in the comfort of your own kitchen.
We asked recipe developer and wellness writer Beth Lipton to provide us with a step-by-step guide on how you can whip up a batch of kale chips that actually taste good with easy, cheap ingredients.
How do you make kale chips?
Step 1: Prep the kale by removing any thick stems and tearing up the leaves. Make sure if you wash the kale (if it isn't pre-washed) that you dry it thoroughly.
Step 2: Toss it in a bowl with a little bit of olive oil. You want just enough to lightly coat the kale—don't saturate it, and season lightly with salt and any other seasonings you want.
Step 3: Spread the kale out on baking sheets and bake at 250ºF until the leaves are golden and crisp. They'll crisp up more as they cool.
Step 4: Cook between 20 and 30 minutes.
A few additional tips from Lipton.
- Don't overcrowd the baking sheets—that will get you steamed kale, and it won't crisp.
- Turn the pans around and switch them from top to bottom at least once during baking time.
- Remove the chips as they're done; some might take longer than others.
What are some of the most compatible flavors you can add to your kale chips?
Seasoning the kale lightly is key here. After all, kale already packs a distinctive flavor of its own.
"I usually just use a little sea salt, but sometimes I'll add a pinch of chili powder or paprika," says Lipton. "Go light on the seasoning—when you bake the kale chips, you remove the excess water, so the flavors become more concentrated. It's easy to over-season them."
Great tip! No one wants to nosh on a too-salty kale chip—that kind of defeats the purpose of it being considered a healthy snack, right?
