Kale enjoys cult status not only in northern Germany. Because of its valuable ingredients, it has long since conquered gourmet kitchens and there is hardly a food blog that does not contain at least one kale recipe. But before you can enjoy it, you have to wash and prepare the vegetables. With our tips, this work can be done quickly.
How should you wash kale properly?
To wash kale properly, first remove any wilted or discolored parts, pick off the foliage along the midrib, and soak it in a sink full of water. Then wash all the leaves thoroughly and repeat the process with fresh water before draining the kale in a colander.
Clean and prepare kale
Since kale is very curly, small insects like to crawl into the leaves. Remains of soil and other dirt must also be carefully washed off before consumption.
- First rinse the entire stalk under running water.
- Then break off the leaves. Wilted or discolored parts are disposed of immediately.
- Pick off the curly leaves along the midrib.
- Leave the sink full of water and add the kale.
- Wash all leaves thoroughly.
- Remove the cabbage and place it in a large sieve.
- Let in fresh water.
- Wash again very carefully.
Why does kale get bitter?
This may depend on the variety. However, one of the following reasons is usually responsible for the unpleasant taste:
- The cabbage was stored too long or incorrectly. If the leaves are no longer crisp, dark green, their aroma changes.
- You weren't careful enough when cleaning and some parts of the stem or stem accidentally ended up in the dish.
- Blanch the cabbage before cooking and do not use the water to cook the vegetable, instead discard it. Bitter substances collect in the blanching water.
- A pinch of sugar counteracts the bitter taste. A good dash of cream or a pat of butter can also be helpful.
- You got a variety that should only be harvested after the first frost. Cold causes the metabolic processes in cabbage to slow down and the vegetable tastes milder. If you freeze the blanched curly cabbage overnight before preparing it, this will have the same effect.
Storage after purchase
You can recognize fresh kale by the hard leaves that squeak when you rub them together. Do not wash the cabbage before putting it in the vegetable compartment as this will negatively affect its shelf life. To keep it nice and crisp, you can wrap it in a clean, slightly damp tea towel. This way the winter cabbage will keep for about a week.
Tip
Since washing and cleaning fresh kale is quite time-consuming, many people shy away from this work. Frozen food is a good alternative and usually doesn't have any major differences in taste compared to fresh brown cabbage. If you are often in a hurry, you can blanch the prepared cabbage briefly after washing and freeze it in portions for storage.
