Baked kale chips were a revelation, the first time I made them last year (even though I burned them a little, ahem). You’re with me on this one, right? Baked kale chips = awesomeness.
But, my long-ago history with kale was sketchy, at best. My mom, with her Eastern European roots, served us cooked kale and kielbasa on a regular basis. I honestly don’t remember whether I liked or disliked it, because that detail was drowned out by an unfortunate kale incident involving a worm. More specifically, a plump worm corpse.
Stuff gets into food, especially wrinkly, foldy kale leaves — it happens — but I was at some ‘tween age where worms were neither kindergarten cool nor adult just-scootch-that-portion-discretely-to-the-side. A worm in my dinner was just plain gross, and man, did it scar me (in Mom’s defense, I’m fairly certain she was using packaged frozen kale, which one could reasonably expect to be worm-free). Kale and I went our separate ways for many, many years.
But, bygones must be bygones: kale’s health benefits simply can’t be denied. Getting reacquainted with kale has been a pleasant, non-scarring experience. Kale made regular appearances in my soups last winter, and warmer weather welcomed back the kale chip, the only snack that, for me, is a satisfying alternative to the potato chip.
Recently, after investigating the health benefits of various herbs and spices, it hit me {bonk!} that I should be using these spices everywhere … including on my beloved kale chips. And so I whipped up my own super simple superspice mix, sprinkled it on, and holy. moly. You might already be spicing up your kale chips, but I wanted to share my blend and the health benefits each spice provides.
And here’s the amazing thing about this spice mix: you don’t even need salt. Most spiced baked kale chip recipes I see on the Interwebs include liberal sprinklings of salt. The spices I gathered here would make baked cardboard taste delicious, much less something already as addicting as baked kale chips. So, feel free to forego the salt without flavor worry.
Meet the Superspices:
Cinnamon — has anti-clotting agents and antifungal properties, can help moderate blood sugars, can help treat headaches.
Cumin — boosts immune function, aids in digestion, may have anti-cancer properties.
Garlic — contains health-critical sulphur compounds, helps lower blood triglycerides and total cholesterol, protects blood vessels from inflammatory damage, and lowers blood pressure.
Ginger — aids in digestion, provides relief from nausea, has anti-inflammatory properties, provides relief for the pain and swelling of arthritis, may have anti-cancer properties, boosts immune function.
Paprika — contains anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant agents, may lower the risk of cancer.
Turmeric — may delay liver damage from cirrohsis, may inhibit the growth of certain cancers, may lower the risk of Alzheimer’s.
This is a vaguely Indian/Morrocan spice blend, and is so delicious, balanced, and versatile that I store a small amount in a teeny salt shaker, for easy access and application.
The next time you bake kale chips — and that’s really soon, right? — sprinkle on your favorite superspices for an extra boost of health benefits … and flavor.
Oh! A word to the wise: turmeric is awesome, but it stains like the dickens. Keep a damp paper towel handy while you’re munching so your fingertips — followed by your cheek, your pants leg, the TV remote — don’t end up smudged in dark yellow. 🙂
Karen xo
Superspice Kale Chips
Ingredients
- kale leaves center ribs removed, torn into 2" pieces (I use dinosaur kale)
- extra virgin olive oil
- pinch of regular table salt optional*
- 1/8 teaspoon cinnamon powder
- 1/8 teaspoon cumin powder
- 1/8 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/8 teaspoon ginger powder
- 1/8 teaspoon sweet paprika (or sub cayenne pepper if you want a heat kick)
- 1/8 teaspoon turmeric
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 275°F.
- Place the torn kale leaves in a bowl and drizzle just a bit of oil over them — you don't need much at all. Sprinkle very, very lightly with salt, if using. Gently massage the oil into the leaves until all are coated and have turned a brighter green.
- Mix the spices together in a bowl and sprinkle some over the leaves. Toss the leaves in the bowl and add more spices, being sure to coat all sides.
- Spread out the leaves in a single layer on a parchment paper- or mat-lined baking sheet. Bake for 15 minutes. Check for crispness — the leaves should be crispy but not browned or blackened. Bake for a few minutes longer, if necessary.
- If the chips are still slightly oily, add them to a bowl with torn pieces of a paper towel and toss gently. The paper towel will pick up some of the extra oil.
- Serve immediately, as the chips will soften over time.
Morgan
Tuesday 6th of November 2012
I store my kale chips in a glass jar. The kind with the glass lid and the metal clamp/rubber seal. What are those called? It works really well. They stay crisp for at least a week.
Sprigs of Rosemary
Monday 5th of November 2012
. . . like I needed anew addiction. But Super Kale Chips? Too super to resist. Thanks, Karen.
Cher
Wednesday 24th of October 2012
Baked kale chip are far superior to potato chips - my very fussy 17 year old declared it so, therefore it must be true. I can never make kale chips stay around long enough to worry about storage - they seem to go straight from the pan into waiting mouths. I have had success using dried pasta in the storage container to help wick out moisture with some other foods. Maybe that's worth a shot?
Mary@FitandFed
Tuesday 23rd of October 2012
I've had that experience of getting my fingers stained with turmeric, in my case by sprinkling it on popcorn. Turmeric is such a good anti-inflammatory spice, as well as, of course, being tasty, that it's tempting to add it to a lot of things. I still haven't made-- or even had-- kale chips, even though they are such a classic food blogger recipe. This winter I'll have to give them a try.
Rocky Mountain Woman
Tuesday 23rd of October 2012
What a great idea! Take something healthy and make it even healthier! I need to do more of that instead of taking something healthy and making it less healthy...
sigh...
SoupAddict
Tuesday 23rd of October 2012
LOL! I know exactly what you're talking about....