Move aside Broccoli! Your leafy cousin Kale is taking over the world by storm!
If you haven’t heard, kale has been making waves over the past few years for its superfood qualities. Is it because, on an equal weight basis, it has more vitamin C than an orange? Or that it has more vitamin A than any other leafy green? Or perhaps it’s because it is high in calcium and omega-3 fatty acids. Regardless, I wouldn’t be surprised if its poor cousin broccoli is feeling a little bit rejected!
Whether a person loves kale or not, a sure way to get it to win its way into a someone’s stomach is by turning it into these tasty chips. Combined with this recipe’s seasonings (not to mention the fact that the lemon juice, parmesan and olive oil actually help to release many of its healthy compounds when eaten together!), this is one nutritious and incredibly delicious snack.
Spicy Parmesan Kale Chips
Yield: 4 cups
Active Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 25 minutes
4 c. (6 oz. / 170 g.) kale leaves, torn into bite-sized pieces
2 tsp. olive oil
2 tsp. lemon juice
1/4 c. (1 oz. / 28 g.) finely grated parmesan cheese
1/4 tsp. garlic salt
1/4 tsp. sugar
1/4 tsp. crushed red pepper flakes
1) Preheat oven to 275 F / 135 C. Place a layer of parchment paper on two large cookie sheets and reserve.
2) In a large bowl, toss all of the ingredients together.
3) Place the kale leaves in a single layer on the two prepared cookie sheets*. Bake for 20-25 minutes until crispy.
* Chef’s Tip: Don’t overcrowd the pan. To give the kale a chance to crisp properly, ensure that each leaf is placed flat on the pan and avoid any overlapping with one another. Also, if your oven temperature varies significantly in certain areas,  rotate the pans halfway through the cooking time.
Gifting Idea:
While hearty in flavor, these chips are quite delicate, so be sure to package them up in a container that will prevent them from getting crushed. An original option could be a metal pail: tied with a twine bow and lined with parchment paper, you can give this food gift a fun, fresh-from-the-farm vibe.
If you’re feeling extra crafty, paint a black square onto the front of the pail to make a chalk board so you can write a descriptive label.
Neat— who would have thought you could do kale chips, only mel !!
Great idea. Oh my gosh, I adore kale chips. And with parmesan… yum, yum, yum. Who knew healthy could taste this great! I noticed that you cook them at a fairly low temperature, so I will try the variation - I bet it yields the perfect chip, Melissa.
Hi Shanna! These are quite tasty…I had a hard time not eating these while doing the photoshoot, haha! And yes, I found that a slightly lower temperature gave the kale a chance to develop the best flavor, while still ensuring they crisped up nicely without burning. I hope you like them as much as I do!
I love all of the great cooking techniques that I am learning from your blog. Cooking the kale chips on a lower-heat for longer is yet another example. Thank you, Melissa! Warm wishes, Shanna
i want to make kale chips. this sounds like a great healthy snack!
Thanks! I hope you get the chance to try them - they really are delicious (and nutritious!) :)
This look so yummy and healthy!
They really are tasty! But watch out..they are quite addicting! ;)
These look delicious- I’m also loving eating kale at the moment- so I really must give your recipe a go :)
Thanks Jessica! These really are amazing and guilt free. A much better snack than potato chips :) Enjoy!