Lemon Kale
Get some greens in your life by making this super simple (and super delicious) Sauteed Kale with Lemon. Garlic, kale and red pepper flakes cook together and are finished with a squeeze of fresh lemon juice. This simple side dish is perfect for a weeknight dinner or a holiday meal.
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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.
More side dish recipes featuring greens: Kale Madeline | Bacon Collard Greens | Sauteed Greens
What you need to make this recipe:
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- Sharp knife and cutting board
- Skillet
- Wooden spoon
- Citrus juicer
- Zester
Let’s talk ingredients!
In addition to the tools above, you’re going to need some ingredients to make this recipe, too! Chances are, you might already have some of them in your fridge or pantry. Scroll down to the recipe card for the full measurements and instructions.
Here are the simple ingredients that you need to get from the store:
- Sesame oil — I love using this potent oil because it adds flavor to the dish. You can use a more neutral oil, like extra virgin olive oil or avocado oil, if you prefer.
- Garlic cloves — mince these yourself so they’re as fresh and potent as possible! I prefer to use large cloves garlic for bonus flavor.
- Red pepper flakes — to give our greens a little kick!
- Fresh kale — grab a bunch of kale, remove the tough stems and chop it up! You don’t want the pieces to be too big or sauteeing them will be ungainly. I go for bite-sized pieces so that they still have some bite once cooked down but aren’t massive. You can use curly kale or lacinto kale leaves. You can replace these with other hearty, leafy greens if you prefer.
- Lemon — you need one for its juice and zest. Get a fresh one and do this yourself for the best flavor.
Variations of this recipe:
Play with the spices. Use black pepper instead of red pepper flakes. Shake in some onion powder or garlic powder. Add a sprinkle of sea salt or kosher salt if you need it to be a little saltier.
Add cheese. Sprinkle some grated parmesan on top of the cooked kale for a salty finish.
Make it into a grain bowl with your favorite ingredients, like cooked quinoa, pasta or poached salmon.
How to Saute Kale with Garlic and Lemon
Mise en place. Mince the garlic. Remove the stems, and chop the raw kale into bite-sized pieces. Zest the lemon, and then juice it. Set these all aside.
Warm the oil in a skillet over medium-high heat on the stovetop.
Saute the garlic with a pinch of red pepper flakes. Cook them until the garlic turns golden brown. This will take about a minute. Keep an eye on it because garlic burns quickly!
Add the kale to the skillet. Continually move the greens around the pan with a wooden spatula as they cook down. They will shrink up and get smaller as they cook.
Finish with a squeeze of lemon and its zest. Once the kale has wilted down and has cooked through sufficiently, add that squeeze of fresh lemon juice and the zest. Stir.
Serve the sautéed kale immediately, and enjoy!
When to share…
- DINNERTIME: This is the perfect side for so many proteins!
- HOLIDAYS: Add a pop of freshness to the table with this recipe.
- NEW YEAR’S DAY: Because greens = financial prosperity and money for the new year, and we all want that.
Here’s how you can make it at home…
Lemon Kale
EQUIPMENT
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Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon sesame oil
- 2 cloves garlic
- ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 10 oz. fresh kale
- ½ Lemon , freshly squeezed
- 1 Lemon zested
Want to save this?
We’ll email a link directly to you so you can come back to it later! Plus, you’ll receive new recipes delivered to your inbox each week.
Instructions
- Mise en place. Mince the garlic. Chop the kale into bite-sized pieces. Zest the lemon, and then juice it. Set these all aside.
- Warm the sesame oil in a nonstick skillet over medium-high heat on the stovetop.
- Add the garlic and red pepper flakes to the oil. Saute until the garlic begins to turn golden brown, about 1 minute.
- Add the chopped kale to the pan, and continually move the greens around the pan with a wooden spoon as they cook down. They will shrink as they cook.
- When the kale has wilted down and is cooked through, add the lemon zest and juice.
- Serve warm, and enjoy immediately.
Nutrition
About the Author:
Erin Parker is a Southern gal living in Texas with her husband and two daughters. She started The Speckled Palate to share what she was cooking as a newlywed… and over the years, it’s evolved to capture her love for hosting. Specifically, the EASIEST, lowest key entertaining because everyone deserves to see their people and connect over good food. Learn more about her…
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!!