A simple sautéed kale with caramelized onions to win over the dark leafy green haters in your life!
A little technique goes a long way in creating a healthy dark leafy vegetable that everyone can enjoy!
I think I am in love. It seems so hard to believe I once hated dark greens. I still am averse to chard, and spinach has a weird texture for me…but kale? I just can’t seem to get enough of it when it is prepared well! And this sautéed kale with caramelized onions recipe is just that sort of recipe!
Kale chips are amazing, and this recipe? Totally different, but equally so. My mom and I had picked up some kale salad with caramelized onions at my local natural foods deli. We adored it, so it was only natural to try and recreate a sautéed kale recipe laced with caramelized onions to mimic this great find.
Even people who are averse to dark greens will likely enjoy this sautéed kale: so simple, but OH SO GOOD! And as far as nutrients go, you can’t get a more nutrient dense leafy green than kale, so go ahead…INDULGE!
Reasons to eat kale?
If you want to read about all the amazing reasons WHY you should be getting more of this wonder veggie into your gullet too, read this informative article!
But besides being good for you, this recipe is just darn delicious! So just consider it an especially convenient fact that is good for you too!
Easy ways to change this sautéed kale up!
While magical on its own, there are some great ways to change up the flavors a bit here. Some suggestions!
- cook some chopped bacon over low heat to render some of the fat out. Remove the crispy bacon pieces, then proceed with the recipe. Be sure to add the bacon back in at the end!
- mix in a teaspoon or two of Dijon mustard with the apple cider vinegar to toss in at the end!
- about five minutes before you finish cooking, throw in some chopped garlic. Alternately, you can infuse the oil oil with sliced garlic over low heat in the beginning o f the recipe, remove garlic slices before proceeding.
- chopped ham can be a savory addition too!
What kind of kale should I use to make this sautéed kale recipe?
While any variety of kale will do, my favorite is Lacinato or Dinosaur kale. Its flavor is more mild and ‘sweet.’
Curly kale is another option, as are endless varieties of kale found in the farmer’s markets!
Here are some additional simple vegetable sides you could try to win over your veggie hater!
- Caramelized Butternut Squash is so simple and yields delectable caramelized cubes of squash!
- Vegan Pesto is a flavor packed sauce with lots of uses!
- Oven Baked Crispy Sweet Potato Fries are one of my most popular recipes for a reason!
- Oven Roasted Cauliflower is a quick roasted veggie side to get on the table!
Sautéed Kale W/ Caramelized Onions Recipe:
Did you make this? Let me know by dropping a comment below!
Sautéed Kale w/ Caramelized Onions
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons avocado oil or coconut oil
- 1 onion halved and sliced thinly
- 1 head kale I used lacinato or dinosaur, washed, and thinly sliced
- 1/4 teaspoon sea salt to taste
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar optional
- 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes optional
Instructions
- Preheat a large skillet over low heat (my cast iron skillet is my favorite!)
- Add the oil and heat gently.
- Add the onion, stir to coat with oil, then saute for 10-15 minutes, stirring occasionally. This slow cooking over low heat sweetens the onions. You know they're ready when you taste one.....no pungent onion flavor, just luscious sweetness! This can take longer if your onions are thicker.
- Add the kale on top along w/ 1-2 tablespoons water.
- Increase the heat to medium and cover.
- Steam the kale for about 5-10 minutes until the kale is wilted and tender. Remove the lid and stir to incorporate the onions.
- Add some salt to taste. Sprinkle in the vinegar and pepper flakes and saute another minute or two to evaporate any leftover moisture.
- Taste and adjust seasonings. Try not to eat the whole batch all to yourself!
Nutrition
Great idea. I used balsamic vinegar, and added chopped sun dried tomatoes and some soy sauce.
On top- fried bits of veggie bacon, toasted pine nuts and Roquefort cheese.
Delicious . Will now look forward to my neighbour giving me even more kale!
I love your additions!
This is so good the grandkids ate it! hello!! Second time making this dish, I’m juicing this week and wanted something hot in my stomach so I made this tonight. Soooo tasty and simple, I love simple. I made it with coconut oil. I usually don’t like onions but hello again! Sauteing the onion slowly does the trick making this dish deliish. lol thanks for sharing, it’s a keeper.
So glad you liked it Helena!
Delicious but there’s NO WAY there’s so few calories. Do you know how many calories are in coconut oil? Healthy fat, but not calorie free. Thank you for this wonderful recipe.
Hi Diana…a good general rule of thumb is 1 tablespoon of fat is around 100 calories. If you use three tablespoons as called for in recipe and divide by 4 servings, the 91 calories makes sense. COconut oil has more than other fats, about 120 calories per tablespoon.
absolutely delicious. i used 2 tbsp of coconut oil and only added sea salt at the end as had no cider vinegar it is so true that the onions make everything so sweet. delicious and an easy and quick way to use kale! thank you!
Yay! Thanks Alissa!
DELICIOUS!!! I’ve made it often. So easy, so good!!!
glad you are enjoying it Ida! Thanks for letting me know!
Maybe the onions will make me like kale. 😀 I tried some plain, steamed kale last week and I swear, it gave me an upset stomach. This sounds way better!
This is such an amazing way to cook kale! The flavors that all come together with the onion, salt, and coconut oil- it’s so simple but literally perfect!
I love this recipe! So easy to make and so full of flavor. This will be on my dinner table a lot.
Unique recipe that tasted so good! Vinegar boost the flavor with all the other ingredients.
Glad you enjoyed it Karen!
Thanks for this recipe! I modified it by using an orange flavored vinegar (from Olive A Sudden), which gave it a sweet and spicy taste with the pepper flakes. Delicious!
What a great twist Karen, sounds amazing! Glad you enjoyed it!
This is a tasty side dish! I may also throw some chopped bacon in there 🙂
This is da bomb and totally easy! I used regular kale this time instead of lactino and actually liked the texture. Thanks, Tess!
Awesome! Perfect this time year!!!
I added minced garlic with the onions and threw in a diced fresh tomato 2 minutes before it was finished!! But this is definitely the best kale I ever tasted!! Thanks so much for posting!!
oooo, love the idea of tomatoes Brandi!! Thanks for leaving feedback and sharing your tweaks!
We just tried this recipe tonight and it’s delicious! Thanks so much for posting this.
One of my favorites Julie, thanks for letting me know you enjoyed it too!
🙂 Thank you for sharing your recipe in the And Love it, Too! March Ingredient-Challenge Monday!!! You were featured today as our winning entry!
I do hope you’ll join us again.
xoxo,
SunnyB
http://www.andloveittoo.com
And thank YOU for selecting my recipe! I’ll have to see what i can muster up for pineapple……
ooh this sounds yummy! I still have some kale in the garden cling to life after all the frost and snow, must get it in and make this!
Sounds delicious! I love kale chips too, and this looks like another good recipe! And kale is so good for you too, added bonus! Thanks for sharing!
Yes, many would, although in my family, weusualy double it!! Easy enough to leave out!