Kale Chips FTW

Two weeks ago my parents visited the Pickles Not Pipe Bombs factory. They, like me, enjoy vegetables and experimenting in food preparation. While at the farmer’s market we picked up A LOT of kale. All different varieties. It was great. However, we realized that we had to do something with it. I went into the ceegar box of recipes and came up with gundru and kale chips.

Consensus said that we’d make Kale chips. That was fine with me as it gave me a chance to use a recipe from Thrive Foods: 200 Plant-Based Recipes for Peak Health. This book is chock full of vegetable based recipes. Some are super simple and others are gourmet. On top of that, Brendan Brazier also dedicates a portion of the book to making the connection between diet and the environment.

Try this recipe and then buy the book.

Salt and Vinegar Kale Chips
1/2 cup raw sunflower seeds
1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
1/2 tbsp balsamic vinegar
Water for blending
1/2 tsp sea salt, to taste
1 bunch curly kale (I’ve used many times of kale. All have worked.)

• Combine the sunflower seeds, both vinegars, and sea salt in a blender or food processor. Blend for several minutes until a chunky paste has formed, adding a tablespoon of water into the blender as needed to assist with blending. (The more water that is added, the longer the chips will take in the oven.)
• Strip off the kale leaves into a bowl and discard the stems. Tear up any large pieces roughly, and pour the creamed mixture on top of the kale. Using clean hands, massage the mixture into the kale for one more minute to evenly coat the leaves.

Oven Method

• Heat the oven to 200°F. Place a piece of parchment paper on top of a baking sheet, then spread out the kale chips evenly over the surfaceto ensure even cooking time
• Bake for about 2 hours (time varies according to relative humidity), or until kale has dried out and is crispy. Keep a close eye on the kale at the end of its cooking process to make sure it does not burn.
• Enjoy immediately or keep in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks.

Dehydrator Method

• Warm the dehydrator to 115°F. Spread out the kale onto 4 mesh dehydrator sheets, and dehydrate for 10-12 hours, or until crispy (time may very depending on relative humidity).
• Enjoy immediately or keep in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks.