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Original poster

Whole kale leaves

27 replies

sugarplum33 · 22/08/2023 17:23

Since discovering that kale is much more agreeable after being lovingly massaged, I've got quite into a kale salad. But all I can ever find in the shops is the awful pre-shredded stuff that has been chopped up, stalk and all. Why they think anybody wants a tough, woody bit of chopped up stalk I do not know.

So has anybody seen anywhere that sells whole leaves of kale? I've definitely purchased it at some point and it was so much easier to remove the stalk and chop it up instead of picking through the bag and discarding all the stalky bits. But recently all I've seen is the bags of chopped kale.

OP posts:

CaptainMyCaptain · 22/08/2023 17:25

I get a weekly veg box from Oddbox and when they supply kale it's always whole leaves. How do you massage it?

Flashy9 · 22/08/2023 17:36

my local Tesco, M&S, and Waitrose all sell the Kale leaves - and yes the massaged kale salad is great :)

Notsoadmirablecrichton · 22/08/2023 17:38

They sell it in co-op. I also love cavolo Nero and most supermarkets will sell that in season.

Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g · 22/08/2023 17:42

Massaging it - you strip the leaves from the stalky bits, wash them, put them all in a bowl, add some oil and salt (I think, it's a while since I did this) and just gently rub the leaves to soften them up a bit. It does massively improve kale that you want to use in a salad.

Any good recipes for kale salad? I can contribute this one, which has a lot of ingredients, but is pretty good. https://cookieandkate.com/greek-kale-salad-recipe/ Flexible approach to ingredients perfectly possible.

Greek Kale Salad with Creamy Tahini Dressing

This healthy Greek kale salad recipe is full of bold Mediterranean flavors. It packs great for lunch, too. Vegetarian, gluten free, and easily vegan.

https://cookieandkate.com/greek-kale-salad-recipe

madeinmanc · 22/08/2023 17:44

I know! Why on earth they think people want it pre-shredded is a mystery to me. My local Sainsbury's has whole leaves in theory but they've been out of stock for a while now. Otherwise there's cavalo nero but that's twice the price.

CaptainMyCaptain · 22/08/2023 17:44

Thanks. I'll try that next time we gave it. Unfortunately it gives me terrible wind but doing this might help.

BlackForestCake · 22/08/2023 18:25

Other kinds of cabbage are available that actually taste nice. I have no idea why this obsession with eating kale has come from.

Original poster

sugarplum33 · 22/08/2023 18:26

Thanks all! All I found in tesco was whole cavelo Nero but I'll check again for curly kale, maybe it comes in and out of stock. Coop is a good shout, I hadn't looked there. We unfortunately haven't got a Waitrose, M&S or Sainsburys very close really but such is my rage for the bags of chopped rubbish that I may have to find a reason to pop in and have a look if the coop doesn't come up trumps. Or look into veg boxes. Life is too short to pick stem out of my dinner!

@Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g That looks good, tahini is so nice with kale. I must have originally found a recipe but my go to is now just a made up creation. I massage the kale with EVOO, salt and lemon juice and add a dressing of three parts tahini to one part honey and one part cider vinegar (add lemon juice if you haven't already used it to massage the kale). Thin the dressing out as necessary with water and season well. Add in puy lentils, softened/caramelised red onions, sweet potato cubes and-if I'm feeling indulgent- a bit of goats cheese. Yum!

OP posts:

Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g · 22/08/2023 18:32

That sounds nice!

I'm a bit baffled by the recent craze for kale. I am Scottish and was always familiar with it growing up, but after we moved to England I had the impression most people (this was back in the 70s) had never heard of it, let alone eaten it. I've always liked it. I don't think there's a type of cabbage/brassica I don't like, though ...

darkestnights · 22/08/2023 18:42

CaptainMyCaptain · 22/08/2023 17:44

Thanks. I'll try that next time we gave it. Unfortunately it gives me terrible wind but doing this might help.

A squeeze of lemon juice also really helps soften it up!

It has a similar affect on my guts but if I don't eat too much of it the farts are fine

SM4713 · 22/08/2023 18:42

I can't answer about where it gets sold whole unfortunately. According to eat the seasons, its an Autumn/Winter crop though, so likely on its way in the coming months. Eat the Seasons | Kale

Have you heard of kalettes OP? A cross between kale and brussel sprouts. I put them on a baking tray, a spray of oil then sprinkle sesame seeds and bake till the frills are just getting crispy. I do the same with cavolo nero for a cripsy green veg.
There is also this recipe Super green spaghetti | Vegetarian spaghetti recipe (jamieoliver.com)

TeenDivided · 22/08/2023 18:45

Waitrose sells it. 'Brentland'(?) kale.
I buy it for the guinea pigs, lasts in the fridge way longer than the chopped up stuff so turns into better value for them.

Riapia · 22/08/2023 18:47

BlackForestCake · 22/08/2023 18:25

Other kinds of cabbage are available that actually taste nice. I have no idea why this obsession with eating kale has come from.

Convince people that something is a”superfood “ and they’ll eat anything, no matter how vile it tastes.
They’ve been captured.

Words · 22/08/2023 19:47

I love it, especially cut up and roasted with loads of olive oil and salt.

That tahini dressing idea looks good. Will try. But yes, it is a winter vegetable. Cavolo Nero is around at the mo.

Great tip re massaging of leaves!

villamariavintrapp · 22/08/2023 19:54

I can only ever find whole cavolo Nero. Who on earth is the chopped kale for?!

Original poster

sugarplum33 · 22/08/2023 20:16

@Riapia I've not been captured, I just think it's actually quite tasty when you know what to do with it.

@villamariavintrapp I have no idea. Even @TeenDivided 's Guinea pigs get the proper leaves of kale, they would probably turn their little piggy noses up at the chopped up version. And having watched a few episodes of Inside the Factory, I fail to believe there's not a robot out there that could be programmed to strip a kale leaf from the stem before sending it through the chopper. Perhaps Greg Wallace needs to get on the case.

OP posts:

Helenahandkart · 22/08/2023 20:47

Sainsbury’s sell whole kale leaves as well as the chopped one.

TeenDivided · 23/08/2023 05:36

@sugarplum33 You are right, the piggies are definitely less keen on pre chopped.

Rayna37 · 23/08/2023 05:56

I find Sainsbury's is the only reliable place for whole leaves. I love cavolo nero too and more places sell that in whole leaves. Less keen on the whole leaf kale variety that Waitrose sell.

TheOldLadyOfThreadneedleStreet · 23/08/2023 08:12

my guinea pigs are fussy about pre chopped too! luckily they like spring greens which aren't too expensive, as well as every other green veg you can name. sorry for thread derail

madeinmanc · 23/08/2023 08:46

I quite enjoy spring greens, too, like the guinea pigs 😅

GingerIsBest · 23/08/2023 11:48

I also recently discovered the joys of massaged kale. I always hated the texture of it before and so refused to eat it but we regularly do kale salad now because it genuinely tastes delicious. We do ours with lemon, garlic, parmesan and almonds but I like the idea of a tahini dressing. will have to explore that.

Words · 23/08/2023 12:00

That kale salad recipe is delicious. Definitely needs the olives and chickpeas.

LadyKenya · 23/08/2023 13:30

I just buy the spring greens in Sainsbury's. They are very cheap as well.

TeenDivided · 23/08/2023 13:31

This may seem a stupid question, but 'spring greens' sounds like a generic term that could apply to a multitude of tings. What are 'spring greens'?