Saturday, March 16, 2013

Inspired by the Isle


This Ireland-inspired menu highlights the two key ingredients in the traditional Irish Colcannon...potatoes and kale.

First a quick rundown of the many flavors and colors of kale for anyone new to the current kale craze...
Kale: Description from The World's Healthiest Foods
"The beautiful leaves of the kale plant provide an earthy flavor and more nutritional value for fewer calories than almost any other food around. Although it can be found in markets throughout the year, it is in season from the middle of winter through the beginning of spring when it has a sweeter taste and is more widely available.
Kale is a leafy green vegetable that belongs to the Brassica family, a group of vegetables including cabbage, collards, and Brussels sprouts that have gained recent widespread attention due to their health-promoting, sulfur-containing phytonutrients. It is easy to grow and can grow in colder temperatures where a light frost will produce especially sweet kale leaves. There are several varieties of kale; these include curly kale, ornamental kale, and dinosaur (or Lacinato or Tuscan) kale, all of which differ in taste, texture, and appearance. The scientific name for kale is Brassica oleracea.
Curly kale has ruffled leaves and a fibrous stalk and is usually deep green in color. It has a lively pungent flavor with delicious bitter peppery qualities.
Ornamental kale is a more recently cultivated species that is oftentimes referred to as salad savoy. Its leaves may either be green, white, or purple and its stalks coalesce to form a loosely knit head. Ornamental kale has a more mellow flavor and tender texture.
Dinosaur kale is the common name for the kale variety known as Lacinato or Tuscan kale. It features dark blue-green leaves that have an embossed texture. It has a slightly sweeter and more delicate taste than curly kale."

Cultivars of Kale from Johnny's Selected Seeds

And an answer to the question

Now let's see how some creative cooks have interpreted that Irish combo the vegan way!

from Vegan Richa

Food Love: How to Cook Kale
from Outpost Natural Foods
Emerald Sesame Kale
from Outpost Natural Foods
Potato Kale Cakes
from Sharon at The Vegan Tummy
Potato Kale Cakes aka Aloo Kale Tikkis
from Mythreyi at Yum! Yum! Yum!
Calming Kale, Carrot, Sweet Potato and Bean Soup
from Dawn at Florida Coastal Cooking
Colcannon Puffs
from Susan at FatFree Vegan Kitchen
Black Quinoa, Sweet Potato Kale Cakes
from Heather at YumUniverse
Sweet Potato-Lentil Burgers and Kale Pesto
from Alanna at The Model House Wife
Healthy Hash Brown Casserole
from Susan at FatFree Vegan Kitchen
Chocolate Almond Kale Crunchers
from Heather at YumUniverse
Chocolate Kale Chips
from Sonnet at For the Love of Food

And finally, a round-up of recipe round-ups for a vegan-tastic St. Patrick's Day!
Crave-able Recipe Round-Up – Vegan St. Patrick’s Day
from Gretchen of Chic Vegan
St. Patrick's Day Round Up
from Jo and Sue
Celebrate St.Patrick’s Day with The Shannons & Dewey McNiff
from Meet The Shannons
St. Patrick's Day Menu Ideas
from PETA
Green Meal Ideas for St. Patrick's Day
from PETA
5 Necessary St. Patrick's Day Recipes
from PETA
St Patrick's Day
from The Guardian
How to Throw a Festive Vegan St. Patty’s Party
from VegNews
The Ultimate Vegan St. Patricks Day Guide
from Your Daily Vegan

Cheers!

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