10 Ways to Use Kale

Whatever your opinion of the kale-gone-wild movement to infuse everything with kale (like chocolate cake), there is a reason to eat more of it. Kale is one of the healthiest vegetables on the planet, delivering calcium, vitamin A, vitamin C and vitamin K, along with tons of phytonutrients and minerals, with very few calories. Plus, even everyday home cooks will find it versatile: Kale lends itself to braising, grilling, frying, baking, juicing or salt tenderizing, and it's good served raw. Here are 10 go-to ways to use this incredible superfood.

1. Salads: Make the world's healthiest salad with raw, salt-kneaded kale, avocado, and olives.

Or use it to replace romaine in a Caesar—the sturdy greens defy wilting under the thick dressing, making it great for a buffet table or potluck.

Toss raw leaves with fried kale as well as brussels sprouts and lots of herbs for a sensational multi-textured salad.

For a hearty side dish or vegetarian meal, blanch it and toss with grains, as in this wheat berry salad with butternut squash.

2. Grilled sides: Grill stemmed kale leaves in a perforated pan to make it smoky. For a great side dish, toss it with bacon and a lemony dressing, like star chef Adam Perry Lang does.

3. Chips: Bake kale leaves nearly naked (just tossed with olive oil, garlic and salt) for serving with a lemon-yogurt dip. Or toss the leaves with an umami-packed dressing before toasting so they become sturdier and more crispy.

4. Pizza toppings: Top whole-wheat pizza crust or focaccia with kale before firing. Or just wilt it with olive oil and garlic to serve over butternut toasts with shavings of Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese.

5. Tamales: Cook kale with mushrooms to make an unorthodox tamal filling. The same filling is fantastic in tacos.

6. Breakfast casserole: Add kale to strata — a savory bread pudding made healthy with multigrain bread and lots of vegetables.

7. Roasted under chicken: For a homey one-pan meal, roast chicken legs on top of a bed of kale and potatoes, so the delicious meat juices season the vegetables.

8. Stuffing: Incorporate kale into a classic cornbread stuffing, such as chef and food writer David Tanis's version with bacon.

9. Hash: Make the ultimate comfort food healthier by adding braised kale. Star chefs Jon Shook and Vinny Dotolo make a fantastic kale hash with nutty sunchokes.

10. Soups: Kale makes any soup super nourishing — even one made with a pancetta-and-Parmesan enriched broth.