Creamed Kale
This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of The Frozen Food Foundation. All opinions are 100% mine.
This totally simple creamed kale is the perfect Thanksgiving side dish. Full of healthy kale, cream cheese and a sprinkling of Parmesan cheese. Hello delicious!
I have a lot of favorite vegetables but my favorite (made a little less healthy) vegetable has to be creamed spinach. Anytime I go to a steakhouse it’s the one side I’m sure order. Well, that and a big skillet of home fries. What a is a steak without greens and potatoes?
This creamed dish is obviously made with kale instead of spinach and I think I actually like that just a bit better. The kale is heartier so it holds up better and never gets overcooked. I like my greens with just a little bite.
The best part is that I used frozen kale to make this dish so it’s super simple and ready from start to finish in just 30 minutes! Do you use frozen vegetables a lot? My 2 biggest shortcuts are using fresh diced onions and sliced bell peppers. Cheaper and easier than chopping them up fresh. {Bonus, the frozen veggies are just as fresh!} And we all know eating a colorful diet is important for our health. They don’t tell you eat the rainbow for nothing.
Did you know that nearly 90% of people fail to consume the recommended amount of daily vegetabels? Not kidding. I do not want to fall into that 90%! So, buy some frozen vegetables and get dinner on the table even faster. I’m all about fast food. The good kind, not the kind with the golden arches.
You should also know that the University of California, Davis partnered up with the Frozen Food Foundation and found out that frozen fruits and vegetables are as rich in nutrients as fresh vegetables! Basically this means that by freezing all those vegetables you pause nature and help keep your ingredients fresh and delicious.
So, you want to know how I got this creamed spinach so creamy? Cream cheese. Sweet Baby J I love this stuff! It provides awesome flavor and a creamy sauce with no fear of breaking. Plus I like to think that because I have cut down on all that heavy cream it makes it a tiny bit healthier to eat in bulk.
Right?
Oh, and you don’t have to serve this with a steak. It goes great with turkey too. Cough, cough…Thanksgiving…
Creamed Kale
This totally simple creamed kale is the perfect Thanksgiving side dish. Full of healthy kale, cream cheese and a sprinkling of Parmesan cheese. Hello delicious!
Yield: 4 servings
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes
Ingredients:
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- 2 small shallots, minced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 8 ounces cream cheese
- 18 ounces frozen kale, lightly steamed and drained
- 1/3 cup Parmesan cheese
- 1/3 - 1/2 cup whole milk
- Kosher salt and pepper, to taste
Directions:
In a large skillet add butter and olive oil and set over medium heat.
Once melted add in shallots and garlic. Saute until soft and fragrant.
Add in cream cheese, break up with spatula and let melt into the pan. If it starts to burn turn down the heat.
Once mostly melted add in steamed drained kale and stir.
Stir in Parmesan cheese.
Pour in 1/3 cup whole milk, stir and add more milk if needed for creaminess and moisture.
Season with salt and pepper and serve hot.
Note: If you want to keep the dish lighter feel free to use milk instead of heavy cream.
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I can’t tell you how much I love kale!
I could faceplant (in a really good way) into that bowl Brandy!!
This is genius! Such an updated classic! Kale is the best! 🙂
This has officially been added to my Thankgiving menu!
Creamed spinach is a staple in my house. I love that you used kale. This looks wonderfully creamy and cheesy. Pinned.
Oh I love this Brandy! Cream cheese and I are best friends! Looks spectacular!
I want to marry this
I have never seen frozen kale before! This looks incredible, I would eat the whole thing 🙂
This is seriously happening this holiday season!! I have to admit I don’t like raw kale much at all but frozen we have for smoothies and soups! Thanks for the inspiration :))
Yum! We learned in one of my food science classes that in some cases, frozen vegetables can be MORE nutritious than fresh, if the fresh veggies were shipped from a long distance and sitting on the shelves for awhile. That’s why I freeze a lot of my own vegetables in the summer, right when I get them out of the garden/from the Farmers’ Market!
I didn’t know that frozen fruits and vegetables are as rich in nutrients as fresh vegetables! Makes sense. Damn, great post. . and totally looking for the Birds Eye frozen kale!
To tell you the truth, I didn’t even know that frozen kale was available. I need to buy some to have on hand. This looks like the perfect side dish!
What a great idea to make creamed kale. I didn’t know there was a freezer version of kale but I am very happy to know it now! Thanks!
So cream cheese is the secret ingredient here huh? Gotta try this!
With kale being trendy in the last couple of years I am happy to see kale reinvented here in this creamed version. A perfect side for Thanksgiving.
Well that looks scrumptious. A nice change from creamed spinach for sure! Can’t wait to try!
Adding this to my must-try soon list! So delicious!
My love for creamed spinach is unmeasurable, but I always feel so guilty after eating it. I will most definitely be trying this healthier version!
I never thought to do this with kale. And I am so behind the times, I didn’t even realize they had frozen kale!
I also adore creamed spinach and would eat it every single day! but this?! Woah. This looks amazing!
Leave it to you to come up with a brilliant recipe like this creamed kale. It’s so perfect for the holidays. I am definitely serving this dish at my family gathering!
So, I have tried Kale so many ways and haven’t liked it. I want to. And this looks so creamy, I imagine this is the winning recipe to turn my tastes to kale!
I love creamed spinach!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Wow, I never thought of using kale. I would think that would work just splendidly.
Love the idea of this for a side dish at Thanksgiving – utter brilliance! Will have to pick up some frozen kale as well for the freezer.
LOVE THIS! I love kale and I totally would get my daily veggie amount with this on my table!
This looks amazing Brandy! I think I like it even better than creamed spinach- more bite! I’ll definitely be looking for frozen kale next time I’m at the store 😉
I love frozen veggies and normally have my freezer stocked with them! I need to grab some frozen kale tomorrow night and make this for the weekend!
I haven’t tried frozen kale yet. I’ll have to pick some up next time I go shopping. This looks great!
This is fantastic. Who couldn’t use more kale in their diet. And when it’s as gorgeous as this it’s pretty hard to resist.
I’ve been drooling over this recipe ever since you posted it on facebook earlier this week. Will be making it very soon!
I am SO excited that this uses frozen kale!! One of my least favorite kitchen tasks is actually pulling the kale from the stems. And washing it. Done and done. And all creamy-licious.
Looks lusciously good! YUM. I adore kale.
Can this be made ahead of time? Or serve immediately? I have about an hour travel time for the holidays.
nutmegnanny replied: — November 17th, 2014 @ 8:57 pm
Hi Laurie! It will thicken up as it cools so if you make it and then travel you might find that it will be really thick. Simply warm with a few splashes of milk to help loosen it up. Hope this helps! 🙂
Cant wait to make this. Sorry if I missed it, but I didnt see info on how many people it serves? Also, how thoroughly do you drain the kale after steaming? I know other recipes have talked about draining it like you would crozennspinach, wringing it out, etc.
Thanks in advance!
nutmegnanny replied: — November 20th, 2017 @ 8:41 pm
Hi Regina! I hope you love the creamed kale! I steamed my kale and then drained out the water. You don’t have to totally squeeze it dry just drained is fine. It should serve around 4 as a side dish. I’m going to make a note on the serving size into the recipe. Thanks!