Stewed kale is yet another nordic traditional dish which is served around christmas. It can be prepared in many variations but the most common is a regular white roux with minced kale and seasoned with salt and pepper and is served with a variation of pork. In my childhood (the 1980s) it was a popular, easy and cheap dish, but I (Ann) don’t remember that we had it that often, but I definitely remember that I hated it 🙂 Chris on the other hand, grew up in Atlanta GA so when I talked about renewing an old enemy into something delicious and fresh, he did not know who the enemy was 😉

This modern interpretation of an old and boring enemy from my childhood have ended up being one of my own winter favorites and both Chris, the remaining family and our friend has giving it thumbs up, and several people have asked for the recipe – so friend, here it is 🙂

Hope that you will try it and leave a comment with your thoughts about it 🙂

Ingredients (4 servings)

3 pounds fresh kale

2 large red onions

1 lemon, zest and juice

2 tbsp. butter

2 tbsp. flour

1 cup vegetable stock

2 cups whole milk

1/3 cup parmesan cheese, grated

Salt & pepper

1/3 cup cashew nuts, roasted

Rinse the kale carefully in cold water and remove the stem. Bring a large sauce pan to a broil, turn the heat down to the lowest point and add 1/3 of the rinsed kale. Let steam for 4-5 minutes in the hot water before transferring to a bowl with cold water. This step will ensures that the kale keeps the beautiful green color. Repeat process with the remaining 2/3 of the kale.
Twist all the water out of the kale when cooled and place on a chopping board and chop it roughly (bite-sized – not to large, not to small)

Divide the onions in two and chop them in thin slices.
Melt the butter in a large sauce pan and sauté the onions and lemon zest for 3-4 minutes or until the onion slices begin to get transparent. Add flour and stir to combine. Add 1/5 cup vegetable stock, stir until combined and thickened and repeat with the remaining stock and all the milk. Make sure that the liquid is incorporated into the roux before adding more – otherwise you will end up with a thin and indifferent sauce.

Add parmesan cheese and season with salt and pepper – taste and season more if necessary. Add the steamed and chopped kale, stir and let cook at low heat for 10-15 minutes.

Arrange on a plate or in a dish and garnish with roasted chopped cashew nuts. On the picture for this post it was served with pulled pork in whisky bbq sauce, but we also served it for this years family christmas dinner together with turkey, mashed potatoes, roasted sweet potatoes, stuffing and cranberry sauce 🙂

Bon Appétit friends!

Ingredients (4 servings)

1400 g fresh kale

2 large red onions

1 lemon, zest and juice

25 g butter

2 tbsp. flour

2.5 dl vegetable stock

5 dl whole milk

0.8 dl parmesan cheese, grated

Salt & pepper

0.8 dl cashew nuts, roasted