Baked Kale Chips

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What is it about potato chips that makes it so hard to eat just one?  Is it the satisfying crunch?  The salt?  The powerful combination of crunchy and salty?

If you're a potato chip addict and would like a healthier, more nutritious alternative, then this is the recipe for you!

I know, I know..."Kale Chips" doesn't exactly make the mouth water.  But when you try this quick and easy recipe, you'll change your mind. 

In less than 20 minutes, you'll have a tasty snack ready to eat that won't make you feel gross or guilty.  Kale chips are crispy, crunchy, flavorful and you'll forget you're eating a leafy green vegetable. Yes, that's right, kale chips are actually GOOD for you! Just take it easy on the salt :-) Experiment with different toppings and see what you like best.  Extra virgin olive oil and sea salt is delicious as is, but I like adding paprika to give it that extra kick.

Baked Kale Chips

Prep time: less than 5 minutes

Cooking Time: 10-15 minutes

INGREDIENTS

  • 1 Large bunch of curly kale (organic if possible)
  • 1-1.5 Tbsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil
  • Paprika (amount is up to you)
  • Sea Salt (to taste)

DIRECTIONS

  1. Pre-heat oven to 350 F degrees
  2. Rinse kale leaves and dry well. Remove leaves from the stems and tear leaves into chip-sized pieces. (If you have a salad spinner, remove and discard the stems, tear leaves into pieces, and use your salad spinner to wash/dry the kale)
  3. In a large bowl, coat the kale with olive oil and "massage" the kale with your fingers to ensure that all pieces are covered
  4. Place kale onto a cookie sheet (or two...cooks best when the pieces aren't overlapping)
  5. Sprinkle paprika and sea salt on top
  6. Bake for 10-15 minutes, or until crispy. Take them out of the oven before they turn too brown or burn.
  7. Let the chips cool and store in an airtight container for an easy snack on the go!

VARIATIONS

Add nutritional yeast to the kale in Step 5. This will give it a cheesy flavor and add some texture to the final product.  Nutritional yeast is a complete protein and certain brands are fortified with Vitamin B-12, which is a must-have for vegans.

Try these other toppings: lemon juice, cayenne pepper, apple cider vinegar, parmesean cheese, sesame seeds...experiment!