Kale Chips — Amazingly Good! And Not Just a Qualified Kale-Good, Rather Standalone Good!

I have recently discovered homemade kale chips, and they have completely changed my eating routine this fall!  I have to admit that I previously found eating kale to be a bit of a chore.  No matter the kale type, the strong flavor and tough texture just overwhelms any positives of the dish.  This experience shifted when I decided to forgo making a kale pappu — which did feel like a chore — and instead try a NYTimes.com recipe for Crispy Kale Chips with Chili and Lime.  Except, I didn't really use the NYTimes.com embellishments on the standard kale chip, and just consulted the recipe, as well as others on the internet, to guide the preparation of this snack, which can be prepared while the oven is heating up.  I have made this recipe a few different times, with both curly and dinosaur kale, kosher salt and sea salt, and different oven temperatures, and it is surprisingly flexible.  

Basically, take the amount of kale you have, rip it into 1-inch pieces, wash the pieces in a bath of cold water, and spin dry in a salad spinner or pat dry.  Even when I use my salad spinner, there is still some remaining water, so I usually just do a quick pat dry with a clean dishcloth, even though I can never get the kale fully dry.  That lingering water hasn't made a noticeable difference yet with the baking process.

Finally, toss the kale pieces with a small pour of olive oil, kosher or sea salt, and lay the pieces in a single layer on a foil-lined baking sheet.  I have baked the chips at temperatures ranging from 275 – 350, and the cooking time has varied from 10 – 20 minutes.  Remove the kale from the oven when it is just crisp.  Even if the chips are browned, I find they still have a good flavor, but folks on the internet seem more squeamish than me on this point.  You can serve immediately or let the kale cool.  

It's SO easy.  Pick up some kale next time you are at the farmer's market — I promise eating healthy will not feel like a chore!  And don't just take my word for it — when I first made them, Andy remarked that we never need to eat potato chips again!