If you’re looking to add some new healthy recipes to your rotation, look no further than these lacinato kale recipes.
You can prepare this nutrient-rich superfood in a variety of ways, making it perfect for any meal.
Add it to your favorite soups or turn it into a quick garlicky side dish.
It’s also amazing when you turn it into chips!
High in vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, lacinato kale is a tasty way to get more health benefits from your meals.
From salads to main courses, these lacinato kale recipes prove just how versatile this leafy green can be.
What Is Lacinato Kale?
Also known as dinosaur kale and Tuscan kale, lacinato kale has long bumpy dark green leaves.
Like cauliflower and broccoli, it’s part of the cruciferous vegetable family.
The texture is hearty and firm while the flavor is mild and slightly sweet.
It doesn’t have the same bitter taste you get with other varieties.
Originating in Italy, lacinato kale is a key player in Mediterranean cuisine and a very popular ingredient in Tuscany.
Raw or cooked, you can enjoy it in many ways.
So what are you waiting for? Let’s make some kale recipes!
1. Sauteed Lacinato Kale
The simplest way to enjoy lacinato kale is to saute it.
Just toss it in a pan with garlic and olive oil, then cook it for a couple of minutes.
It’s incredibly easy and anyone can whip it up at the last minute.
Ready in under 30 minutes, this recipe is a real lifesaver when you just realized you forgot to make a side dish for dinner.
2. Lacinato Kale Chips
I could munch on these kale chips all day long!
This is great because they’re way more healthy than your standard bag of potato chips.
Before you pop them in the oven, be sure to pat them dry. That way they get nice and crisp.
They’re a cinch to prepare and make for a great snack.
They’re perfect when you’re feeling hangry but don’t want to ruin your appetite for dinner.
3. Lacinato Kale Gratin
My stomach is growling just thinking about this gratin!
Super cheesy and very creamy, this five-ingredient gratin is great for a crowd.
It’s full of Beecher’s Flagship white cheddar cheese, which is hands-down the best.
To cut through all that richness are a few bunches of kale.
It’s a surefire win for the holidays and everyone will happily eat their leafy greens without any complaints.
4. Lacinato Kale and Pecorino Salad
Looking for some winter salad inspiration? Look no further than this kale salad.
It has shredded kale, shredded brussels sprouts, olives, pecans, and green onions.
Add pecorino cheese for a nutty bite and coat everything in the zesty tahini dressing.
It goes swimmingly with salmon, makes a nice side for pork chops, and pairs perfectly with rotisserie chicken.
5. Garlicky Lacinato Kale
Garlic lovers will gobble up this dish! It includes an entire head of garlic sauteed in vegan butter.
Pair it with sauteed kale cooked with soy sauce. To finish it off, add a sprinkle of sesame seeds and red pepper chili flakes.
Not only does it go with just about any protein, but it also goes well with Asian cuisine like Chinese chicken wings.
6. Lacinato Kale Salad
Trade in your simple mixed green salad for this nutrient-dense leafy green delight.
There isn’t a whole lot to making this salad which is why it’s so great!
Simply massage the kale with the bright garlicky dressing and top it with parmesan cheese.
Quick and healthy, you can have this side on the dinner table in just 10 minutes.
7. Massaged Kale Salad with Lemon Vinaigrette
For a little more oomph in your salad, give this one a try.
Massaging the kale with the vinaigrette helps to tenderize the leaves.
However, it still retains some of its firmness so there is no need to worry about wilting.
Once you’re done with that, toss it with summer squash, almonds, and Parmesan cheese.
8. Lacinato Kale Caesar Salad
As far as I’m concerned, lacinato kale and Caesar salad were made for one another!
But don’t just settle for any old bottle of dressing. Make it fresh with anchovies, Dijon, lemon, cheese, and olive oil.
It’s less heavy and lighter in calories so you can feel good eating your new favorite Caesar.
9. Ribollita (Tuscan Bean Soup)
Do you ever feel like you need a high-protein soup to revitalize your body and mind?
When I get that feeling, I make ribollita.
Between the kale and the cannellini beans, it’s jam-packed with nutrients.
It tastes killer with pancetta and a glug of white wine.
But if you’re trying to keep it gut-friendly, leave it out.
10. Lacinato Kale Pasta with Parmesan and Breadcrumbs
This is my version of an elegant grown-up mac and cheese.
Chewy pasta shells get smothered in kale, parmesan, and Italian breadcrumbs. To make it all pop, it even has a squeeze of lemon.
This immaculate 30-minute dish is great for sharing. So whip it up the next time you host dinner at your humble abode.
11. One-Pot Lemony Kale Pasta
I don’t know anyone who doesn’t love a good one-pot meal, especially when it’s full of healthy pasta!
This one comes with regular spaghetti and lentil spaghetti for an extra boost of protein.
Rather than drown it out in sauce, it adds a heaping of kale, lemon, and garlic.
It’s light, it’s zesty, and it’s ready in 25 minutes.
12. Lacinato Kale and Tomato Medley Pasta
Here’s another weeknight pasta dish you can make with kale.
The tender penne boils with a splash of white balsamic vinegar.
Then, it gets topped with sauteed garlic, tomatoes, and kale.
You know what I’m thinking now, right? Time to pile on the Parmesan cheese!
13. Wild Rice and Kale Casserole
What could be more comforting than the smell of a casserole cooking in the oven?
From weeknights to Thanksgiving feasts, this vegetarian casserole is a cozy dish the whole family can enjoy.
It’s a creamy savory mix of wild rice, garlic, sage, kale, and Gruyere cheese.
Be sure to remove the ribs of the kale leaves before you chop them up. They’re rather tough, which is not ideal for this dish.
14. Vinaigrette Kale Slaw
Looking for a slaw recipe to go with all your favorite barbecue? Here’s one of the best.
It’s a vibrant mix of all the best crunchy ingredients. This includes cabbage, carrots, radishes, and of course, lacinato kale.
The sturdy kale leaves hold up well, adding more texture and nutrients to the dish.
As for the vinaigrette, keep it light and bright with olive oil, lemon juice, honey, and spices.
15. Blackened Salmon with Cajun Garlicky Kale
Treat your tastebuds and your body to a healthy helping of salmon and kale.
Salmon is rich in omega-3 fatty acids and kale is packed with vitamins.
So you can feel good diving into this scrumptious dish!
The blackened seasoning is spicy and savory. In fact, it’s my favorite way to fix up fish.
And the Cajun garlicky kale? That’s a bonus to the dish!
15 Best Lacinato Kale Recipes to Try
For healthy side dishes, try these lacinato kale recipes! From chips to salad to soup, this healthy green is too good to miss.
Ingredients
Sauteed Lacinato Kale
Lacinato Kale Chips
Lacinato Kale Gratin
Lacinato Kale and Pecorino Salad
Garlicky Lacinato Kale
Lacinato Kale Salad
Massaged Kale Salad with Lemon Vinaigrette
Lacinato Kale Caesar Salad
Ribollita (Tuscan Bean Soup)
Lacinato Kale Pasta with Parmesan and Breadcrumbs
One -Pot Lemony Kale Pasta
Lacinato Kale and Tomato Medley Pasta
Wild Rice and Kale Casserole
Vinaigrette Kale Slaw
Blackened Salmon with Cajun Garlicky
Instructions
- Select your favorite recipe.
- Organize all the required ingredients.
- Prep a kale recipe in 30 minutes or less!
