Got some kale and not sure how to use it? This helpful plant-based guide will show you the best ingredients to combine with this leafy green. Read on to learn what herbs, spices, veggies and more go best with kale.
Table of Contents
Kale is a nutrient-dense leafy green. It's a cruciferous vegetable related to cabbage and Brussels sprouts.
Taste-wise, kale can have bitter notes, so combining it with spicy, sweet or acidic elements, such as vinegar, lemon or red wine, can counteract and balance the mild bitterness.
Salt is also an important ingredient when cooking with kale. When making a kale salad, we massage the kale with a small amount of salt which helps to draw out the moisture and to mellow the flavour.
Now, let's take a look at some of the most popular ingredient combinations for kale...
Popular combinations
These tried and tested combinations are a great base for a kale salad or stir fry.
Kale + apple or beetroot + vinegar + walnuts
Kale + garlic + lemon + olive oil
Kale + garlic + soy sauce (also great with mushrooms or sesame oil and sesame seeds)
In this list, you will find the best plant-based ingredients to pair with kale. Items marked in bold are particularly good matches, and CAPITALISED items are the best.
So how can you use this list to be a more creative cook?
Do you want to try something new in a kale smoothie? Choose a couple of fruits that go well with kale and experiment with adding them to your favourite recipe.
If you are making a kale salad, first take a look at the vegetables that go well with kale to use as the base of your salad, add a fruit for sweetness, choose from the nut and seeds list to add crunch, and finally make a dressing based on the condiments that go well with kale.
If you want to know what to serve with kale, then head to the grains, pulses and plant proteins for the best ideas!
They're hundreds of delicious ways to use kale just waiting to be discovered...
Vegetables
- arugula/rocket
- beets/beetroot
- bell peppers
- Brussels sprouts
- butternut squash (Try this yummy pairing in our Butternut Squash and Kale Curry)
- cabbage
- carrot
- cauliflower
- celery
- chard
- CHILLIES
- GARLIC
- ginger
- leeks
- MUSHROOMS
- ONIONS
- POTATOES
- scallions/spring onions
- spinach
- sweet potatoes
- tomatoes
Fruits
- APPLES (we love this match in our Kale Apple Salad)
- avocado
- blueberries
- cranberries (dried)
- grapefruit
- LEMON
- lime
- mango
- melon
- olives
- oranges
- papaya
- pineapple
- raisins
Herbs
- basil
- dill
- mint
- savory
Spices
- black pepper
- caraway seeds (these are really nice added to sauteed kale)
- chilli flakes/red pepper flakes
- curry powder
- cumin
- SALT
Plant-based alternatives to dairy
- coconut milk and cream - great in curries
- nutritional yeast
- vegan feta
- vegan parmesan
Pulses and other plant-based proteins
- garbanzo beans/chickpeas
- kidney beans
- lentils (we especially like black lentils with kale)
- soy mince / TVP
- tofu (particularly smoked tofu or our tofu bacon)
- vegan bacon
- vegan sausages (such as our Vegan Chorizo)
- white beans (like in our yummy white bean kale soup!)
Nuts and seeds
- almonds
- cashews
- hemp seeds
- peanuts
- pecans
- pine nuts
- sesame seeds
- walnuts
Grains
- barley
- breadcrumbs
- pasta
- RICE, especially with brown rice or risottos
- quinoa
Pantry items and condiments
- dijon mustard
- maple syrup
- miso paste
- OLIVE OIL
- sesame oil
- SOY SAUCE (this is one of our favourite kale seasonings and we love it in our Kale and Mushroom Pasta)
- tahini
We hope you've enjoyed this guide and discovered some new ingredients that go great with kale! We like kale best in dishes such as salads, soups, curries and pasta. Be sure to check out our list of Easy & Nourishing Vegan Kale Recipes.
You may also like our other vegan guides:
What are your favourite ways to enjoy kale? Please leave a comment below...
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