vegetables 6 min
Kale Too Tough
Your kale is tough because it was not massaged or cooked long enough. Massage with oil and add heat.
Part of vegetables cooking fixes and chewy food fixes .
tough leaves chewy texture vegan gluten-free
Ingredients on hand
- kale
- olive oil
- salt
- lemon juice
- skillet
Why it happened
Kale has sturdy cell walls. Massage and brief heat soften the fibers and improve texture.
The fix
- 1 massage with olive oil and salt for 1 minute
- 2 saute in a hot skillet for 2 minutes
- 3 finish with lemon juice
If it's still wrong
- chop finely and mix into a salad
- blend into a pesto
Prevent next time
- remove thick stems
- cook slightly longer for tender greens
Notes
Why this works
Massaging breaks down the tough fibers, and quick heat softens the leaves without turning them mushy.
Substitutions
- lemon juice → vinegar
- olive oil → butter
More chewy fixes
Other vegetables fixes