Making Kale Chips

I’m a total kale chip-a-holic. I love kale chips! It’s an expensive addiction if you have to buy your kale chips pre-made (usually between $4 and 5 for a small bag), but my favorite kale chips are homemade. It never fails to start a conversation in the grocery aisle when I buy 3 or 4 bunches of kale at a time! I usually get a blank look after I explain what I’m doing with them.

Kale chips are super easy to make. You just have to have a little patience to let them dry out either in the oven, on low, or in the dehydrator.

I like to use curly kale to make my chips. I’ve heard dinosaur kale is a little thicker and makes the best kale chips, so I’m planning to plant some in my garden this spring to check it out.

Here is what you need to make a simple batch of kale chips:

• 1 bunch of kale
• 1-2 tablespoons of good quality organic extra virgin olive oil
• a pinch of sea salt
• 1-2 teaspoons of garlic powder (optional)
• 3 tablespoons of Nutritional Yeast (optional~ I use KAL Nutritional Yeast Flakes)

1. Wash and dry your kale, then tear the kale into “chip size” pieces into a large mixing bowl, and remove the large center stems.
2. Drizzle the olive oil over the top, then work it in with your hands.
3. Sprinkle on the sea salt as you’re working in the olive oil and a pinch of sea salt.
4. If you want to add more seasoning (or if you’re a big garlic fan like I am), sprinkle on a teaspoon or so of garlic powder and work it in.
5. You can also add a couple tablespoons of Nutritional Yeast and work it in to give the kale chips a cheesy flavor, but this is completely optional. If you don’t have Nutritional Yeast, don’t let it stop you from making the chips, they’re still awesome without it!
6. Place the kale chips single layer in the dehydrator and dehydrate them at about 120`F for about 6 to 8 hours, check periodically to see if they’re done since dehydrators will vary. You can also set your oven on the lowest temperature setting and bake the chips for a couple hours. Again check them for doneness since ovens vary.

I usually can’t wait for the chips to dry in the dehydrator, so many times I bake them in the oven. Then I still can’t wait, so I’m eating partially dried kale chips.

Kale chips are my new night time snack since I gave up most other chips and pre packaged snacks. I really do crave them, and have withdrawal if I haven’t had any kale chips for a couple days!

This recipe was added to Fabulous Food Friday.