Lemon Kale
I realize it’s the 22nd day of January, which probably means a lot of folks have thrown their resolutions of being healthier by the wayside by now, having given in to the temptation of cake, cookies and the like. (Me? I never gave that stuff up in the first place, sooooo…)
Whatever the case, could we take some time today to devour this delicious veggie-centric dish?
Yes, I realize we’re devouring it WITH OUR EYES since I cannot magically make a plate of this Lemon Kale appear in front of y’all as you read this post, but I’d really like for that to happen.
Lemon Kale.
It’s vegan. (And it’s loved by non-vegans, too!)
It’s so simple.
And it’s so delicious.
And it’s perfect as a wintertime side dish that is comforting with a nice zing of lemon brightness.
Here’s how you can make it:

Lemon Kale
Get some greens in your life this January by making this super simple (and super delicious) Lemon Kale. Garlic, kale and red pepper flakes are sautéed in sesame oil, then lemon zest and juice are used for finishing this vegan side dish.
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon sesame oil
- 2 cloves garlic, , minced
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 10 oz . fresh kale, , chopped
- Juice of a lemon, , freshly squeezed
- Zest of a lemon
Instructions
- In a nonstick skillet over medium-high heat, warm the sesame oil.
- Sauté the garlic and red pepper flakes in the oil until the garlic begins to turn golden brown.
- Add the kale to the pan, and continually move the greens around the pan, cooking them down.
- When the kale has wilted down into the pan and is cooked through, add the lemon zest and juice.
- Serve warm.

I love kale year round – and with sesame oil AND lemon, I bet this is simply amazing! I know I’ll try this soon!
Kale year-round is awesome, huh? When you give this a shot, let me know what you think! This combination is so simple but SO tasty!
This sounds so flavorful! I never thought to do lemon with kale. I have some spinach in the house I was planning to saute, I wonder how it would taste with that?
It really IS super flavorful, Jenna! I bet spinach would saute up nicely with these ingredients, too. I find that kale is the meatier of the two greens, but spinach works as a nice substitution, too, if you’ve got it on hand! I hope you enjoy this!
Thanks for sharing on the “what’s for dinner” linky party!
You’re welcome, Helen! Thanks for inviting me to come and join in on the fun!
This looks Fabulous! It is a quick & easy recipe that I am looking forward to trying 🙂 Pinned!! I would love for you to share it at the Sunday Fitness & Food Link-up at: http://www.marathonsandmotivation.com