Say hello to your new favourite kale recipe – it’s time to think beyond a salad!!
There’s an enormous amount of kale hidden in amongst all that buttery, garlicky rice…. This is a terrific two-in-one side dish that will pair with almost anything and keeps for days!
A kale recipe that’s totally scoff-able
Kale is one of the nutritious plant foods in the world, and this Garlic Butter Kale Rice is a fantastic way to incorporate a LOT of kale into a dish that’s so tasty, even kale haters love it.
Really. This kale recipe is that good. Read some of the reviews from people who have tried it!
Actually, I hadn’t planned to share this recipe. I didn’t think it would be of interest to readers, but it turns out that it’s possible the most requested recipe ever! People spied this Garlic Butter Rice with Kale on the side of a Baked Chicken Breast that I shared a couple of months ago. I didn’t even mention it in the post, it was just leftovers I had in the fridge that I added to the plate just to take this photo:
That single photo triggered so many messages via email, on Facebook and Instagram I could hardly believe it!
But you spoke, and I listened. Here it is. 🙂
Little trick to make kale even tastier!
It’s a real easy recipe. The one little trick I have to make this even better is that I marinate the kale before stirring it through the rice.
Just a drizzle of olive oil and tiny sprinkle of salt followed by a 30 second massage not only softens the kale, but also adds flavour.
This is the same technique I use in my Kale and Quinoa Salad which is almost like the salad version of this kale recipe. Marinating the kale truly makes all the difference when using raw kale.
Serve this Kale Garlic Butter Rice as a side dish – it’s a great two-in one, being a carb plus greens. And it’s an excellent way to dramatically boost the amount of nutrition you take in – in a delicious way!
It will go with cuisines, even with Asian dishes! I’ve popped a few suggestions below.
– Nagi x
Try this Kale recipe with:
Any seared protein, such as Juicy Baked Chicken Breast, Honey Garlic Chicken, Baked Pork Chops, Lemon Garlic Marinated Pork Chops (Just to offer a few suggestions!)
Why kale is good for you
Kale has gained it’s status as a super food for good reason – it’s one of the most nutritious plant foods in the world. Here are just some of the health benefits of kale:
- exceptionally high amount of Vitamins A, C and K
- high in antioxidants
- help lower cholesterol which can reduce the risk of heart disease
- it has cancer fighting substances
- an excellent source of minerals that many people don’t get enough of, including calcium, potassium and magnesium
So this kale recipe is an excellent delicious way to get more nutrition into your diet!
WATCH HOW TO MAKE IT
Hungry for more? Subscribe to my newsletter and follow along on Facebook, Pinterest and Instagram for all of the latest updates.
Garlic Butter Rice with Kale
Ingredients
Marinated Kale:
- 7 cups kale sliced leaves , tightly packed (1cm / 2/5″ slices) (Note 1)
- 2 tsp extra virgin olive oil
- Salt and pepper
Garlic Butter Rice:
- 2 tbsp (30g) unsalted butter
- 3 – 4 large garlic cloves , minced
- 1 1/2 cups uncooked white rice (Note 2)
- 2 1/4 cups chicken broth (or vegetable)
Finishing:
- 1 – 2 tbsp (15 – 30g) butter
- 1/3 cup chopped almonds (or other nuts / seeds of choice)
Instructions
- Place kale in a large bowl. Drizzle over oil, sprinkle with a small pinch of salt and pepper. Scrunch with hands for 30 seconds, set aside while rice cooks.
- Melt butter in a large pot over medium high heat. Add garlic and stir for 1 minute until just starting to turn golden and is incredibly fragrant.
- Add rice, stir for 10 seconds.
- Add broth, stir, then cover.
- Turn heat down to medium or medium low so the liquid is simmering very gently. Cook for 12 – 15 minutes until all liquid is absorbed (tilt pot to check).
- Quickly toss all the kale on top of the rice, put the lid back on then remove from heat.
- Rest for 10 to 15 minutes. Fluff rice with fork, stirring kale through.
- Lastly, stir through extra butter and add salt and pepper to taste.
- Serve and sprinkle over nuts (or stir nuts through rice).
Recipe Notes:
LIFE OF DOZER
And the hits just keep on coming…..
This is the inflatable cone I got after I shared the photo of Dozer looking extremely unhappy with the plastic cone, thanks to the suggestion of readers. He is definitely more comfortable…… and providing much amusement to everyone who sees him!!!
That pattern…. why? Why??!!! 😂 It looks like a pool floatie!!
I LOVE this recipe!! I’ve made it several times and usually serve it with your garlic honey chicken. The sauce from the chicken is DIVINE over this rice. I’m especially happy that my 14 month old loves it too. Thank you for this recipe!
What a win that your 14 month old loves it too! 🙌
We are trying to eat healthier so brought home some kale. Found this recipe and decided to try it. I can’t help tweaking things so I added a can of white beans. Had with baked halibut. Delicious!
Sounds divine Penny! I’ll have to give it a go!
Can you make this with frozen leaf spinach? If yes, what size pkg would be comparable?
I prefer fresh with this recipe, frozen is watery and not suited 🙂
I have made this recipe in the past. It was a labored recipe from an old family recipe from South America. It was good but required cooking the kale separate from the rice and cooking the soup stock down 3 times with tons of garlic. THIS recipe ROCKS! It takes 35 to 40 minutes total. There is plenty for everyone especially if you are making it for 2. I fixed a burger patty for my husband just because meat makes him very happy. I consider this my favorite comfort food and plan to make this much more often. The Old recipe doesn’t compare. The kale in this recipe is rich and green and tasty. I love it!
I kept eating spoonfuls of this rice before I plated… it’s just THAT good!
😆 Save some for the dinner table!
This looks like another great recipe. I will definetly try it and use Jasmine rice! My fav! Thanks for sharing.
I made this tonight. Hubbie and I enjoyed it very much. Lots of flavor. Definetly a keeper! Thanks!
Hope you get a chance to try it Barbara! N x
I have only one complaint About this amazing rice, can’t stop eating it!! It is so very yummy.
Your recipes are wonderful, have tried many with great results and empty plates around the table.
Thank you from Cold Toronto.
I understand! I can’t stop either. What a wonderful thing to be addicted to!
Can I use frozen spinach instead? I don’t like kale and I’m out of fresh spinach?
Love this kale rice as a side dish. Because this quantity is too much for two of us, what is left over I make a meal with adding some fried prawns, delicious!!
Have you tried this with veggie stock yourself? Does it alter the flavor too much?
All the time. I use veg off cuts and trimmings to make veg stock so I always have it on hand. It does alter the flavour slightly because veg stock does taste different from chicken stock but it is just as tasty 🙂 N x
Great! Trying this tonight. I’m spoiled by my rice cooker so here’s to hoping. 😉
(This may post twice, once with my full name, LOL. Can you not publish that one? Thanks!)
Deleted! 🙂 N x
Hi Nagi! I going to make this tonight with your Salmon in Lemon Cream Sauce I made that recipe tvice now. Delish. Anyway, going to make this right now but, I could not resist not saying something about that picture of Dozer posing and ready for the beach. I cracked up Thanks for posting such cute pictures of Dozer.
As always, Bonnie in Markleeville, CA
Glad you love the Dozer pics! I love sharing them!!
Hi Nagi! Just wondering if I can make this without the Kale? My dad says he’s allergic to leafy veg, so Im going to make a separate portion for him without the kale. Should I make any adjustments to the water or anything else?
P.S I live on your blog. Its probably the one site I spend the most time on- even more than Facebook I think. Thank you for making my dinners such a hit!
Is he REALLY allergic to leafy veg or does he just say that to get out of eating them?? 😂 Totally fine to leave it out, completely delicious!!
Hi Nagi,
I just wanted to say THANK YOU for this recipe and so many others. I love cooking your food and have passed them on to my husband since having our first baby back in May because he is the household’s main cook now! We cook from your website at least once a week and this rice is prepared so often because it’s healthy and delicious as opposed to plain rice. I love that your recipes can be made as is or tweaked to include more or less and the thorough notes for substitutions on each one. Love, love, love
Hi! I just want to say that RecipeTin Eats has become my go to recipe finder. I’m a mom of 4 boys and I need recipes that are simple, quick to prepare, and of course YUM, all while using minimal ingredients and/or regular pantry items! This garlic butter rice w/Kale was awesome! All the boys (who are old enough to eat solid foods) gobbled it down and asked me to make this every day lol. So easy to make and although I forgot to add the finishing butter and s&P, it really didn’t need it, in my opinion. Lots of flavor and a great way to ‘dress up’ rice. Thanks!
Nagi, tried this garlic, lemon kale rice yesterday, we have an abundance of kale growing this year and we never quite know what to make other than the odd salad, this was fantastic, cooked it on the side burner of the bbq, while cooking a “beer butt chicken”, The moist chicken with crispy skin was awesome on the kale/rice, thanks so much another great recipe!!!
Rich in Canada
Wow! Your boys are great with food if they are gobbling this down. All credit to YOU!! N xx
This is the most delicious recipe, I’ve made it 3 times now and passed it around to my friends – everyone loves it including my husband 😀
That’s terrific to hear Laina! Thanks for letting me know you enjoyed this – N x
This was delicious, had with the honey garlic chicken. Thanks for another great recipe!
Hi! I’m so excited to try this. However, my husband is not a fan of kale. Could this recipe work with spinach perhaps? Thank you!!
Absolutely! Just use the spinach in place of the kale, no need to do the marinating step 🙂 N x
I’ve made this 3x now and my kids request this for dinner and extras for school lunch the next day!!! Delicious!!!
LOVE hearing that Vanessa!! N xx
I’m going to have a hard time going back to eating regular, steamed jasmine rice after this. There are so many layers of flavors and the added texture from the kale is big bonus (I omitted the nuts because my partner hates them) that makes this dish all the more enjoyable.
Best part about it? No guilt from eating this as a side since it’s loaded with THAT much veg. You weren’t kidding when you said it goes with everything and keeps for days, I have a tub of this in the fridge at all times now for an easy and healthy carb + veg bonus for all my meals.
I wasn’t feeling like meat so I put this together from someone’s
s sweet and spicy cauliflower recipe and yummmmmm!
I hope you’re feeling better Mary! N x