baked kale chips

hey it's baked kale chips

This is another one of those things that I probably shouldn't even both blogging about because it's been so extensively covered by other food writers, most of whom are way better at this than I am. (This is normally where I would give you a series of links demonstrating just how saturated the blogosphere is with this recipe, except that a: I almost typed blogoshop, which sounds like a vaguely terrifying place, and b: I sliced open my left pinky cutting brussel sprouts off the stalk tonight so I am typing with only nine fingers.)

Well pinky be damed, I am still going to tell you about these kale chips anyway. I can hear Nathan complaining already, but I have my reasons. Firstly, I don't really think my "audience" is reading any other food blogs, so I expect this will still be new to all five of you who are here. Secondly, I'm not writing this blog to get a deal writing a cookbook of my original recipes. I'm writing this blog to keep a personal record of what I'm cooking. What worked, what didn't, what I loved, where I got all my recipes... In other words, it's not about you, dear reader, it's about me.

But seriously, even without these reasons, and even if this wasn't pretty tasty, I'd probably have blogged about this just because it looked so cool. My baked kale chips, lightly oiled and salted, were not only an excellently crispy snack. They were like a lovely plate of fallen autumn leaves!

As for this recipe, the amount of attention it's gotten is somewhat ridiculous. My theory about the popularity of baked kale chips is that they've taken off because everyone is joining a CSA these days. Food co-ops tend to give out a lot of kale, which is not exactly the world's tastiest veggie. Baked kale chips are crispy and salty, which everyone loves, and they don't really taste like kale anymore. Hardly a revelation, for sure, but still a marked improvement on some more steamed or stir-fired kale.

Plus, check out how cool these look! Like fall on a plate. With Thanksgiving around the corner and piles of freshly fallen leaves on the street, it's hard not to get a smile from eating something that looks so seasonal.


a cookie tray of baked kale leaves

Believe it or not, these peeled right off the baking sheet, and stayed pretty much in one piece. If you really must know, I followed this recipe from the Smitten Kitchen. Happy kale chipping!