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Food & Recipes

Hate Kale? This Trick Will Get Rid of That Bitter Taste

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Despite being one of the most popular superfoods today, some people find kale too bitter to really enjoy. The strong leaves that make it perfect for simmering in soups or crafting hearty salads, can also make them feel like a chore to consume. Apparently, the secret to taming that pungent flavor is giving it a bit of a spa treatment.

Like most of us, your kale needs a massage. It may sound like odd advice, but giving the leafy green a little rub down can make it taste mild, sweet, and totally edible. But before you start, go ahead and get rid of the stems. They are the thick, stringy culprit for a large portion of that unpalatable taste. Once those are out of the way, you can chop up the leaves, rinse them off, and get massaging.  

Take a look at the image below from Cooks Illustrated to see just how big a difference this small step can make:

How much more appetizing does the “after” side look? The experts at Bon Appétit also recommend adding a pinch of salt and a squeeze of lemon or vinegar, then crunching the kale between your hands. They caution against over massaging the leaves, though. “You know what’s worse than tough kale? Mushy kale.” We have to agree. The trick seems to be rubbing them down until they just barely start to wilt.

After that, you can add them to your favorite recipe or top them off with more veggies and salad dressing for a deliciously healthy meal. If you’d like a reminder of why kale is so good for you, according to Healthline, it is chock full of nutrients such as vitamins A, K, C, and B6, manganese, calcium, magnesium, and antioxidants like quercetin and kaempferol — just to name a few. 

Now go ahead, give this powerful leafy green another chance with your next meal!

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