Kale Chips
By Maia Bhaumik
At about 4:30 pm, with classes finished, I’m exhausted from my day of learning. And I’m constantly left with one more mind-boggling decision; do I dig into a bag of chips, or painfully wait until dinner?
The dilemma: I love to snack.
It’s one of my favorite pastimes, and one of the best snacks are potato chips; nothing can quite beat the addicting saltiness paired with a satisfying crunch. However, potato chips are not the healthiest daily snack, so that leaves a hungry, health-conscious college student craving a salty treat. What is there to do? I introduce to you my homemade solution: kale chips! Now, I know that most people are not necessarily as much on the kale-train as I am, but these kale chips can satisfy anyone’s craving. It would be easy to write me off and say I'm just another crazy Californian obsessed with kale but don’t knock it till you try it. Whether it’s nutritional yeast or a sprinkle of sea salt these kale chips can be seasoned with anything to satisfy any desire. I've provided a few of my favorite seasoning mixes, but you can be as inventive as you want with these crunchy delicacies.
Photo by Ronit Shaked on Unsplash
Kale Chips
Ingredients:
1 bunch (7 oz) Kale
1 Tbsp. Olive Oil
1 Tsp. Salt*
1 Tbsp. prepared seasoning
Directions:
Preheat your oven to 325℉ and line a baking sheet with parchment paper**
With a knife or shears, remove the thick stems and tear the leaves into bite-size pieces. Wash and dry thoroughly. If the kale is not dry, the kale will not crisp well.
Put the kale onto the baking sheet, drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle salt.
Bake until the edges are brown for 7-15 minutes depending on the size of your pieces.
Pour chips into a bowl and pour in seasoning. Toss to coat evenly and enjoy!
Notes:
*If using the Takis or Sour Cream and Onion seasoning, omit the salt
**If you use a silpat, the kale will not dry out as well
Seasonings
All Dressed Ingredients:
½ Tsp. onion powder
½ Tsp. black pepper
1 Tsp. powder sugar
½ Tsp. Hidden Valley Ranch seasoning mix
¾ Tsp. vinegar powder (optional)
½ Tsp. kosher salt
½ Tsp. paprika
½ Tsp. chili powder
½ Tsp. cayenne
1 Tsp. mustard powder
Barbecue Ingredients:
¼ Tsp. salt
1 Tbsp. paprika
2 Tsp. kosher salt
1 Tsp. garlic powder
1 Tsp. onion powder
Takis Powder Ingredients:
1 Tbsp. Tajin
¾ Tsp. onion powder
1 Tsp. sugar
½ Tsp. cayenne powder
Cheese Ingredients:
1 Tbsp. parmesan cheese powder
1 Tsp. garlic powder
1 Tsp. onion powder
¾ Tsp. salt
½ Tsp. ground black pepper
Sour Cream and Onion
1 ½ Tsp. Hidden Valley Ranch seasoning mix
1 Tsp. garlic powder
1 Tsp. onion powder
1 Tsp. pepper