This simple sautéed kale with garlic & sesame is widely loved in my house—it's one of my all-time favorite ways to enjoy curly kale. The toasted sesame oil gives it a savory depth of Asian-inspired flavor while the garlic, salt, and red pepper flakes give it a nice spicy kick. Add in some white or black sesame seeds for show (and also some added nutrients—like calcium), and voila! You've got a beautiful green side dish that's so good that even the kids will be begging for more.
Prep Time5 minutesmins
Cook Time10 minutesmins
Total Time15 minutesmins
Course: Side
Cuisine: asian
Servings: 4side servings
Calories: 33kcal
Author: Michelle Cehn
Ingredients
1tablespoontoasted sesame oil
2large bunchescurly kalerinsed, stems removed, and roughly chopped into bite-sized pieces.
¼teaspoongarlic powderor two large cloves of garlic, minced
¼teaspoonsaltadjust to personal taste
¼teaspoonred pepper flakes
¼teaspoonsesame seedswhite or black
Instructions
In a large sauté pan over medium heat, add the toasted sesame oil.
Once hot, add the chopped kale and toss it with the oil using a spatula.
Add the garlic powder (or fresh minced garlic), salt, and red pepper flakes and use the spatula to mix it evenly with the kale.
Continue to cook for about 5-7 minutes, regularly tossing with the spatula to prevent kale from burning. The kale should shrink in size drastically and become soft, bright green, and chewy.
Stir in sesame seeds, remove from heat, and enjoy!