My obsession with kale chips is serious. When I travelled to the United States last December, I went to every health food shop in town, just to buy and taste-test kale chips. I would read the ingredients and then try to recreate the flavours at home. After a good 6 months of tinkering… I finally have the recipe down. So, today I’m going to show you how to bake Cheesy Kale Chips, using my favourite vegetarian and vegan-friendly Go Nuts “Cheese” Sauce – great in pasta, over veggies and as a dip!
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Now, it’s not that I don’t eat real cheese. I do, I love it. I just try not to eat a lot of it, so I like exploring alternatives. Plus, when baked over kale, this nut sauce has a great crunchy texture and flavour that is so delicious!
The “cheesy” flavour in the sauce comes from nutritional yeast – a cultured strain of yeast that is grown, then de-activated (killed) with heat. It has protein and vitamins and a unique flavour that works well re-creating cheesy dishes. Sounds like space food, I know, but it’s very similar to brewer’s yeast, which is often used for making bread, and all totally normal!
I use my new dehydrator to get perfectly cooked, crunchy kale chips. It’s a recent purchase and I love it. In the past, I used the oven with good results – it’s not as consistent as a dehydrator, and I burned a few batches – but with a careful eye the oven works fine.
enjoy!
Go Nuts “Cheese” Sauce
NOTE: the seasonings below are to taste – use these to start, then keep playing with it until it tastes good to you. To be honest, I’ve never really measured it out!
- 1 cup cashew nuts
- 1 cup red bell pepper
- 1/3 cup nutritional yeast
- 4 tablespoons olive oil
- squeeze lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon fresh thyme (if you have it on hand – adds a nice flavour, but not necessary)
- 1/4 to 1/2 cup water to get the right consistency (- thick but creamy)
Seasonings
- 2 tsp salt
- 2 tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp cayenne pepper
Toss all the ingredients into a blender and blend until smooth and creamy.
Add water until you get the consistency of a cheese sauce.
If you want to use this for kale chips, amp up the seasonings to really flavour the kale, more so than if you were to eat it on its own. Does that make sense? The flavour will get diluted over the kale, so don’t be scared to get generous with the seasoning.
Vegan "Cheesy" Kale Chips
- Go Nuts “Cheese” Sauce
- Kale
- tear the leaves off of the stems, make sure not to include the spine!
- wash the kale and dry thoroughly
- pour the Go Nuts “Cheese” Sauce over the kale until fully coated
- OVEN: place on a baking tray and bake at 135° C (275° F) for about 25 minutes – flipping over half way through.
- DEHYDRATOR: place on the rack and set to dry at 50° C (130° F) for about 10-12 hours or overnight.
If you liked this recipe, get 5 more kale chip recipes plus my tips to make perfect kale chips every time…
Click here to grab the download!
My Tools Of Choice
L’EQUIP Food Dehydrator LD 918H: Yes, the dehydrator takes a million years compared to a hot oven, but it produces a really good even crisp! I saw inconsistent results with the oven, so I’m loving the dehydrator for things like drying herbs, fruit and making sweet potato and kale chips. If you are considering buying one, here’s the one that I’m using, which is much more affordable than the Exalibur and works really well for me. If you are interested in knowing what else I use my dehydrator for, let me know and I’ll share more on that!
What I love too is that it has a filter and a fan, which is important for circulating clean air around the food. Plus, it has a timer so that you can set it to turn off automatically when it’s done. Most things take about 10 hours to fully dehydrate, so it’s perfect for setting before you go to bed.
Check it out:L’EQUIP Food Dehydrator LD 918H
Vitamix Blender:It costs a bomb and this machine is only for people who are serious about their tools and like to go for investment pieces. It’s for people who want the smoothest green shakes, the creamiest sauces and soups. I love this blender, I feel like a pro every time I use it. You can turn grains into flour, turn nuts into creamy nut butter and anything into a smoothie or soup! Again, it’s only for people who really love their high-quality kitchen appliances.
Check it out: Vitamix Blender
I buy my nutritional yeast from iHerb, which if you live in Singapore, I find to be a much more affordable price (including shipping)!
p.s. nutritional yeast is also amazing sprinkled over popcorn and avocado on toast! And if you are at all worried about candida (yeast) this product is inactive (dead), so there is no issue there. I know it sounds so strange – but I promise it’s totally normal food-stuff and very yummy! Click here to use my affiliate link to get $10 off!
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FAQs
Damp leaves make soggy kale chips. Use a light hand when you coat the dry kale leaves with olive oil. You don't want to drench them or they'll never crisp up. Use a large enough rimmed baking sheet so each kale leaf can lie flat in a single layer.
Do kale chips taste good? ›
Kale chips are great as a snack, of course — eat them anytime you'd reach for potato chips or pretzels. But they're also delicious served alongside eggs for breakfast, packed into a grain bowl for lunch, or served alongside a protein for dinner.
What is kale chips made from? ›
From the ruffly leaves of curly kale to the dark ridges of lacinato, any type of kale can be transformed into a kale chip! The one suggestion we have when choosing kale: go organic if possible. Nonorganic can have high pesticide residue that is difficult to wash off completely.
What happens if you eat too many kale chips? ›
Kale contains a large amount of fiber, which is great for digestion but can be dangerous if you eat too much. If you overeat on kale chips (or any food) then you may experience bloating, gas, and constipation due to the excessive intake of fiber.
Are kale chips actually healthy? ›
And unlike potato chips, kale retains its nutritional value when made into chips. Kale is high in fiber, antioxidants, vitamin A and calcium, as well as B vitamins, vitamin C and potassium. It's fat- and sodium-free, and the minuscule amounts of olive oil and salt used in my recipe barely bump up those amounts.
How do you keep kale chips crispy? ›
To keep them crispy, it is important to let them cool completely. Once cooled, they can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for 2-3 days. You could also try adding a few grains of raw rice or silica packs (like those found in store-bought kale chips) to the airtight container. & Perfect for snacking!
Why are my homemade kale chips bitter? ›
However what tends to happen at this temperature is that the thinner parts of the kale become brittle, brown and bitter while the thicker parts are either undercooked or chewy. To get perfectly uniform, crispy kale chips, the key is to bake them for longer, at a lower temperature.
Are kale chips junk food? ›
Kale chips can be an excellent source of vitamin K and vitamin A. Depending on how they are prepared, kale chips may also be a significant source of fat, but consumed in moderation, this snack can be a nutrient-rich addition to your diet.
Why are kale chips so expensive? ›
To top it off, kale chips are usually labeled as raw, which means in order to get them crispy they are dehydrated and that takes a looooong time. So we've got expensive ingredients + a long production process = $7 for a mini bag of kale chips!
Are kale chips anti inflammatory? ›
Kale Chips
Kale actually contains a phytochemical called beta carotene, which gets converted into vitamin A in the body. According to a 2021 study published in Frontiers in Nutrition, beta carotene displays antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that may protect the gut lining and reduce intestinal inflammation.
Curly Kale
These crinkly, ruffled leaves are found bunched together in nearly every supermarket in the United States. Curly kales are distinctively mild-flavored and easy to cook with. These types are most commonly used for chips, green smoothies, and pestos.
How do you make kale taste better? ›
Massaging Kale – massaging kale with a little oil and/or lemon juice for just a few minutes makes it more tender and easier to chew. Plus, it adds an extra boost of flavor.
Can dogs eat kale? ›
While dogs can eat kale cooked and raw, cooked kale is much easier for them to digest. When it comes to switching things up and adding more fibre to your dog's diet, it's a good idea to avoid making any sudden changes – unless, of course, they suffer with a food allergy or intolerance.
Do kale chips fill you up? ›
Kale chips have fewer calories than unhealthier snack alternatives like potato chips, particularly if they're not fried and are minimally seasoned. Plus, eating kale chips can make you feel more full than less-healthy snacks, which helps you consume fewer calories throughout the day.
How do you keep chips from getting soggy? ›
To begin with, Magda recommends cooling the leftover chips as soon as possible, putting them in the fridge with a "loose cover" to prevent bacteria growth. It is vital the chips are dry when you reheat them, this can be done by patting them with a kitchen towel or by using salt to draw out any excess moisture.
How do you keep kale crispy? ›
Here's how to store kale the Test Kitchen way:
- Using paper towels or a clean kitchen towel, pat the leaves dry. ...
- With a new, dry sheet of paper towels, wrap the fresh kale, then transfer it to a zip-top bag. ...
- Place the kale in your refrigerator's crisper drawer to help maintain the proper humidity.
Use the Oven:Preheat your oven to around 400°F (200°C). Place the soggy chips on a baking sheet in a single layer. Make sure they're not too crowded, allowing for proper air circulation. Bake the chips in the preheated oven for about 5-10 minutes, turning them over halfway through the baking time.
L’EQUIP Food Dehydrator LD 918H: Yes, the dehydrator takes a million years compared to a hot oven, but it produces a really good even crisp! I saw inconsistent results with the oven, so I’m loving the dehydrator for things like drying herbs, fruit and making sweet potato and kale chips. If you are considering buying one, here’s the one that I’m using, which is much more affordable than the Exalibur and works really well for me. If you are interested in knowing what else I use my dehydrator for, let me know and I’ll share more on that!
Vitamix Blender:It costs a bomb and this machine is only for people who are serious about their tools and like to go for investment pieces. It’s for people who want the smoothest green shakes, the creamiest sauces and soups. I love this blender, I feel like a pro every time I use it. You can turn grains into flour, turn nuts into creamy nut butter and anything into a smoothie or soup! Again, it’s only for people who really love their high-quality kitchen appliances.
I buy my nutritional yeast from iHerb, which if you live in Singapore, I find to be a much more affordable price (including shipping)!