4 Reasons Why You (Think You) Don’t Like Kale
If you don’t love kale, let me encourage you to give this leafy green another chance! Here are a few reasons why you may not be loving that kale salad.
I can’t tell you how many times I hear people say “I really want to like kale, but I just don’t like the taste/texture/flavor.” And I get it. Kale might be trendy but it isn’t something that you’ll love at first bite… if it’s not prepared correctly. So I thought I’d share the common mistakes people make when preparing kale that might cause you to think you don’t like it.
You’re not removing the kale stems
Kale stems are extremely bitter and very hard to chew. If you just chop up your kale without removing the stems, you’ll find yourself chewing and chewing and wondering why you decided to eat a tree for dinner. Do yourself a favor and de-stem the kale. You can either fold the leaves in half and slice the stem off or you can just tear the leaves right off the stem.
You’re not massaging the kale
Kale is a tough green and it needs a little massaging to make it tender. If you’re wondering “why is kale so hard to chew?” it’s because it’s a very tough green. It really needs to be massaged to make it easier to chew. After you’ve washed your kale, you want to literally massage it with your hands. I typically massage the dressing right in. My easiest combination is just lemon juice, olive oil, salt + pepper. You can pour the lemon juice and olive oil on top and then work it in with your fingers. You want to soften the kale just a bit. All you need is a minute or two of working the kale in your hands, then you’re ready to go!
You’re trying too many unfamiliar things at once
When I’m trying a new food (or trying to get someone else to try a new food) it usually helps to pair it with something familiar. You’ve probably seen kale caesar salads popping up everywhere and while it might not be the healthiest option (let’s be real, it’s creamy dressing, croutons, and cheese) it can be a good way to get used to the texture and taste of kale. Once you’ve found a familiar way to enjoy it, you might be more adventurous the next time!
You’re not using the right dressing
Kale is a very bitter green and it needs something to help soften it a bit. An acidic dressing will help break down the fiber in the kale which will make it easier to chew. As I mentioned before, I love using lemon juice and olive oil but it’s also great with white balsamic or apple cider vinegar.
Hate the texture of the edges of the leaves. It’s worse when in a salad with carrot strings. Some vegetables only work when they’re sliced/cut/shredded in the right way. Texture, surface area-volume ratio etc. play a large part in how things taste and are experienced. Just had a salad with Kale, Carrot strings, rice, wheat berries etc. The Kale and Carrot ruined a perfectly lovely salad.
I cannot taste kale. To my knowledge, I never could.
.I eat it cold in salads without dressing. I eat it warm in soup. Is there a reason anyone knows why I never could taste kale?
So what if you’re allergic to kale? What other “super” foods can I eat?
Hey Stefi! You could substitute just about any other leafy green! Try spinach or arugula 🙂
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I like kale when it’s sauteed in a boat loaf of olive oil or coconut oil! Mmmmmm oil makes everything better!
I remember when I figured out I needed to massage the kale. Life changing! I really love having the leftovers the next day – the leaves get so soft and flavorful.
Yesss massaging the kale makes such a big difference! I remember once I made a big kale salad for a family party, and I massaged it extra long to make sure it was nice & tender for all of the “I’m not sure I like kale…” family members. Everyone was surprised with how much they liked it!
You made some really good points here. 🙂 I think the next time I try kale I really need to get in there and massage it; because I’ve never loved the really tough texture of it. We usually remove the stems, but you made me think about some other good ways to enjoy kale.
Kale definitely took some experimenting for me to enjoy. I also find baby kale much more delicious for people who arent ready for the big stuff haha
I totally didn’t know you had to massage the kale!