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Homemade Salt & Balsamic Vinegar Kale Crisps

A simple recipe for homemade salt and vinegar kale crisps.


Homemade Salt & Balsamic Vinegar Kale Crisps




My friend Sarah from Maison Cupcake was the one who got me addicted to kale chips (or crisps as we are more likely to call them here in the UK).

I was down in London, it must have been for a blogger conference as I was flying solo. Anyway, Sarah and I popped into a Pret for a cuppa and a catch up and she picked up some kale chips which she said I should try.

That was it, the first time I tried kale crisps. Oh my! 

Of course I had to head back to the counter for another bag.



Homemade Salt & Balsamic Vinegar Kale Crisps

Flavoured kale crisps


Pret's crisped kale is flavoured with rosemary and salt, which I love, but when I decided to make this batch of kale crisps, not only did I not have any rosemary, but I was craving something more vinegary.

I decided to make salt and vinegar kale crisps, but of course it had to be balsamic vinegar, which is the ultimate vinegar if you want my opinion.


Ingredients to flavour kale crisps. Olive oil, balsamic vinegar and salt.


The only ingredients in these kale crisps are kale (which is the most nutrient rich foods you can eat, it's full of vitamin A, C and K, protein, folate and omega 3 fatty acids), olive oil and salt.

No artificial flavours, additives or other nasties.

Just a delicious crunch that's much healthier than regular crisps.



Preparing kale for making kale crisps. Washing, drying and cutting off stems


How do you make kale crisps?


  1. Start with a big bag of curly kale. You need a lot of kale as like mushrooms it shrinks as it cooks.
  2. Rinse the kale in a colander.
  3. Dry it thoroughly with a clean tea towel, then when you think it's dry, try again, this time with some kitchen paper. Believe me it takes a bit of work to get it completely dry.
  4. Once it is totally dry, use scissors or a small vegetable knife to cut off the thick, woody stalk and discard these.
  5. Lay your kale in a single layer on a large baking sheet, then massage your kale with a little olive oil and whatever flavouring you are adding.
  6. Bake in a pre-heated oven for 12 - 15 minutes. Keep an eye on them, you don't want them to get to dark and char.
  7. Serve and enjoy!



What to do with leftover kale stalks


There's no need to throw away the leftover kale stalks.  Here are a few ideas:

  1. Pop them to a freezer bag and put them in the freezer. When you have any more vegetable scraps or leftover vegetables just add them to the bag, then you can make a delicious homemade vegetable stock for your soups and stews.
  2. Steam them, chop them up and add them to your dog's dinner for extra nutrition.
  3. Blend them into a smoothie.
  4. Make pesto with them and any leftover kale you have.


a baking sheet full of kale

A must-have baking sheet


You may notice I have a big steel baking tray? I may be going off piste, but I have to tell you about it. I bought it back in October after watching Ina Garten roasting vegetables on this enormous tray and I thought I need that. I did a search on Amazon and found this American sheet pan, which I ordered.

I love it. It's one of my favourite things in the kitchen. I know that is pretty pathetic, but it really brings me joy or should I say it 'sparks joy' (yep been there done that).

It's just the best thing. It's really sturdy, washes up a treat and you can fit lots of veggies on it. I use it for roasting vegetables, I used it at Christmas for my roast potatoes and parsnips, I use it for savoury bakes and for making kale crisps.

Do measure your oven carefully though. Mine is a half sheet and still really big. We had a sticky moment where it arrived, I was super excited then I tried to use it and I couldn't fit in in the oven. I nearly cried. Thankfully my husband, who was less distraught tried it at the top of the oven instead of on the shelf rests. Thank goodness, it fits, but only just.

I did buy silicone baking sheets to use with it to keep it pristine but I have to admit I've yet to use them and it washes up like new without them. Mind you I'll probably use them when I'm baking cookies.


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An easy recipe for homemade salt and balsamic vinegar crisps. The crisps are 121 calories per portion and packed with nutrients. #kalecrisps #kalechips #healthycrisps #healthychips #snacks #healthysnacks #vegansnacks #veganuary #kale #curlykale #balsamicvinegar

Nutrition and calories in kale crisps


My recipe makes enough crisps for two people or one person who can't stop eating the kale crisps, but believe me that's not the best plan.  It may have happened. I refuse to say!

In a portion of these kale crisps there are 121 calories, 1.3g of saturated fat, 5g of protein, 17% of your daily recommended portion of calcium, 13% iron and 16% potassium. 

Not bad for a savoury snack huh?


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snacks
American, vegan, vegetarian
Yield: 2
Homemade Salt & Balsamic Vinegar Kale Crisps

Homemade Salt & Balsamic Vinegar Kale Crisps

Homemade salt and vinegar crisps made from curly kale. A more nutritious salty snack than regular crisps.
prep time: 10 minscook time: 12 minstotal time: 22 mins

ingredients

  • 300g fresh curly kale
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 2 tsp balsamic vinegar
  • 1 tsp salt

instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 180°c/Fan 160°c/350°f/Gas 4.
  2. Rinse the kale in a colander.
  3. Dry with a clean tea towel and kitchen paper until the kale is completely dry. This is the most important step for crispy kale.
  4. Cut the woody stem of the kale with a small knife or scissors.
  5. Lay the kale on a baking sheet in a single layer.
  6. Whisk the oil and vinegar and pour over the kale, then massage into the kale.
  7. Bake for 12-15 minutes, checking on it after 10 minutes. You want it crispy but not charred as it will just be bitter and nasty.
  8. When it comes out the oven, sprinkle with salt and leave to cool.
  9. Serve and enjoy!
calories
121
fat (grams)
9.4
sat. fat (grams)
1.3
carbs (grams)
6.8
protein (grams)
5.1
sugar (grams)
2
Created using The Recipes Generator


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14 comments

  1. Oh I am excited to try these Jacqueline. I have seen them before and thought they looked great. I love other vegetable crisps. This may be my downfall. Jill

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Haha yes they are rather addictive Jill. I do hope you try them. I am also with you on vegetable crisps, yum!

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  2. These are such a great healthy snack! Perfect for me while I'm trying to stay trim!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ah yes they are definitely a better option for you, at least you get your nutrients and a tasty snack.

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  3. Great idea for a healthy snack...way better than chips :)

    ReplyDelete
  4. I have yet to try kale chips but I have heard they are SO GOOD. I have a weakness for salty stuff, so maybe this would fix my craving without having to resort to potato chips.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh you must try them, they are so good and so different from regular crisps.

      Delete
  5. I have to make these! what a wonderful idea for a healthy snack. so yummy!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh do make them Danielle, they are super easy to make.

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  6. You guys DO NOT know how much you should appreciate kale! I live in another country (Tonga) and we have no kale here. I literally overloaded on kale on my trip to the U.S. last month!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ah that is a shame, it is definitely lovely stuff. We are spoiled here with what's on offer.

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  7. I make kale crisps with red russian kale and also cavolo nero and I flavour ir with either garlic powder or chilli powder [courtesy of lidl]. I also make courgette crisps in season. I bought a dehydrator about 10 years ago so I make the crisps in that. never thought about making salt and vinegar ones though, I'll have to try that

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh nice tips there Helen. Tell you what I will make yours and you try mine :)

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I love reading comments, so thank you for taking the time to leave one. Unfortunately, I'm bombarded with spam, so I've turned on comment moderation. I'll publish your comments as soon as I can and respond to them. Don't panic, they will disappear when you hit publish. Jac x