Crunchy Kale Chips Make The Best Snack

Crunchy Kale Chips Make The Best Snack

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Kale is without a doubt one of the most popular superfoods available. Kale is much denser than other leafy greens, making it hard for some to digest in its raw form. While sauteeing is the most common form of cooking kale, we absolutely love turning ours into crispy, flavorful chips. Kale’s texture makes it perfect for creating crunchy chips that don’t fall apart. You’ll find yourself reaching for this cheesy, perfectly spiced version again and again.


Brassica benefits

Belonging to the Brassica family, along with Brussels sprouts and cabbage, kale is dense in many nutrients. Its assistance to our detoxification system is one of the greatest benefits of consuming kale on a regular basis. Glucosinolates are compounds naturally found in kale. When the body breaks down glucosinolate, the result is the production of ITCs (isothiocyanates). ITCs assist our body in the detoxification of our cells. Glucosinolates also help with the body’s detoxification system. They stimulate the liver, helping it produce an enzyme that prevents free radicals from attacking our DNA.

Kale has been shown to improve cardiovascular health as well. Specifically, kale can decrease cholesterol levels. The fiber in kale binds with bile acids found in the digestive tract, making it easier for the bile to be excreted and to do the job of breaking down fats. Studies have shown that daily consumption of kale lowers the risk for cardiovascular disease.

Antioxidant-rich snacks are the best snacks

Kale is one of the densest sources of lutein, an antioxidant most commonly touted for its ability to protect our eye health. We are unable to create this antioxidant on our own, so it’s important to consume it through our food. Lutein is so powerful, that it has been shown to stop or slow the progression of certain eye diseases. This antioxidant is also a powerful aide in preventing skin disease and certain cancers.

We recommend trying all varieties of kale (but stick with curly kale for chips). There are 45 known flavonoids (free-radical and disease-fighting antioxidants) across all of the varieties of kale.

Ingredients:

1 large bunch curly kale
2 teaspoons olive oil
1 heaping tablespoon nutritional yeast
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon paprika
1/8-1/4 teaspoon salt
Cayenne to taste

Directions:

Step 1: Heat the oven to 300 degrees. Wash and dry kale. Note: It is crucial to dry every bit of water off of kale. If you leave them moist the kale will steam in the oven and the chips will turn out soggy.

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Step 2: Massage oil, one teaspoon at a time into every nook and cranny of the kale. It’s important not to drown the kale in oil and to distribute the oil evenly.

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Step 3: Mix all spices together, then sprinkle over kale. Toss until fully combined.

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Step 4: Spread kale onto a parchment paper-lined baking sheet. Bake for 20-25 minutes, tossing half-way through. When you take the chips out of the oven, they may still feel slightly soft. Let them cool for 10 minutes and they’ll crisp up.

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Recipe and photography by Kaitlyn Noble

If you like this recipe, you might also like A Magical Kale Salad That Will Leave You Full and Satisfied


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