To store Kale, wrap the leaves in a loose bundle with a paper towel or a thin cotton kitchen towel, place them in a large, sealable bag, and refrigerate in the crisper drawer for up to a week.

When harvested young, the tender Purple kale greens are a great intense addition to mixed green salads. They are great carriers for peanuts, almonds, tamari, chilies and other Asian ingredients like sesame oil and ginger. The fully mature leaves lose some color when cooked, but may be steamed, braised, stewed, fried, sautéed, and even baked like a chip. They are great in hardy soups which contain smoked meats, potatoes, beans or barley. Other flavor affinities include, bay leaf, oregano, thyme, red pepper flake, nutmeg, shallots, onion, tomato, sweet potatoes, cheddar cheese, Parmesan, cream, roasted meats, chorizo sausage, pancetta and chicken.

Kale is rich in antioxidants, and packed with vitamins A, E, K, and B, especially folate. It has a fair amount of protein and iron, and has more vitamin C than other leafy greens. It’s also high in fiber, and has more calcium, gram for gram, than a cup