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
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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’m not a huge fan of kale, but this recipe will make me eat it! I’m going to add a few pieces of my Whiskey Brown Sugar Grilled chicken to it! Oh yum! Poor Dozer. But glad that he’s feeling a little better. We have a “Dozer” too. But he’s a big orange tiger cat that honestly, thinks he’s a dog!
A Dozer CAT!!! I LOVE IT!!!
You will forgive me if I trash this recipe and any like it. Eating something that looks and smells like it was scraped from the bottom of a lawn mower is not my idea of high cuisine. My culinary skills have not suffered so badly that I need to resort to using “vegetables ” I have avoided for the last fifty years. The current rage is to convince people that these are healthy, misunderstood, veggies that got a bad rap.There is a good reason fo these vegetables have been boycotted all these years.They are unappealing and bad tasting. There is not enough butter, bacon grease, OR garlic to make them desirable. With your considerable repertoire, you have no need even feel responsible to sing their praises. I on the other hand will shout for their extinction. Along with several other green “vegetables” now trending I will continue to avoid. BK
Hi Barbara, I’m sorry you feel that way about kale. I know when not prepared properly it is REALLY distasteful!!! I find when prepared properly, kale is wonderful 🙂 N xx
Kale isn’t a “vegetable” it’s a vegetable. Feel free not to eat it. Also feel free not to tell the rest of us why you’re not eating it. Nagi does an AMAZING job of providing FREE content of a consistently high standard and this just seems like a pointless rant – take your tantrum somewhere else. Am off to enjoy my rice with kale – which was completely delish btw.
Did you not read the post?! Nagi explained that she had added some of this leftover kale rice to a plate of baked chicken breast for a photograph and she got more requests for the recipe for the kale rice than any other recipe she has ever posted!!! Nagi does more than any food blogger I know to please her readers! Go crawl back under your rock, please!
As a doctor and nutritionist may I humbly suggest you might feel somewhat less aggro and act more courteously if you had your obvious problems sorted out by one of my colleagues. If so uptight reading this why subject yourself to a possible cardiac complication?
I didn’t know you were a nutritionist too!!! Kale = super power food, SO GLAD it has become cheaper nowadays. OMG I remember paying $5 for a bunch 5 years ago!!!
Have studied at facilities here and overseas since the mid-nineties . . . don’t make a living out of it but read hours every week and teach and write when I can . . . .sad people do not realize so much of their health is in their own hands . . . did not realize kale had been so expensive here . . .
“You will forgive me if I trash this recipe and any like it.”
I really couldn’t care less if you trash the recipe but I WILL NOT FORGIVE YOU for writing this comment!
Why on earth do you think that anybody has any interest in your likes/dis-likes or opinions? I feel thatI it only amounts to an ego-driven desire to try to overcome your inferiority complex. As has been written before, “You don’t have an inferiority complex; you are inferior!”
See … we can all be nasty , unkind and offensive … so scroll away, troll.
Wow – I am really shocked to read such a vitriolic tirade.
We all have different tastes and anyone is quite free to make substitutions, leave out an ingredient or, maybe, just ignore recipes we don’t like and keep scrolling, rather than post a comment like this which could be construed as trolling.
As someone once said, a recipe is an invitation, not an edict.
Wow! Relax already. No one is forc8ng you to eat kale or other such deplorable vegetables
Genius recipe!! Dozer looks so regal! He can wear anything, ha! He should get royalties from Kong for the worldwide free advertising they are getting!
Ha ha ha!! Can you imagine – Dozer. The Poster Boy for KONG!!!😂
No wonder Dozer doesn’t look too happy – they shaved off half of his fur coat!!! It’s a matter of pride. I totally get him 🙂
Also, I find that sushi/risotto/paella rice are the same in terms of starch content to it’s interesting that you differ between them…!
Really! Risotto and paella work out ok for you cooked this way???
I’m not a huge kale fan, but you might get me to give this a try. It looks yummy.
Dozer, those plastic “Cones of Shame” are so humiliating. Your Kong cone is much more attractive. And, I bet it keeps your head above water when you doing hydro therapy in the pool.
OMG total life raft for him…
Hi Nagi, Can this be done with frozen spinach, or frozen kale?
Yes! Thaw, drizzle with olive oil, salt and pepper then use per recipe! N x
Finally, perhaps a kale recipe that will have me “scarfing it down” lustily! All previous good intents have seen the kale eventually go yellow, pungent and get thrown out…it is almost like I feel the bunch eyeing me in wretched disapproval. May you now be known as the Joan of Arc of Kale.
The regal Dozer! Doesn’t matter what outfit or accessory he is sporting, he always looks noble (and long-suffering). That pool floaty was just the ticket. He looks great in aqua-blue!
I promise this is a really tasty way with kale Vivian!!! 🙂 N xx
I have to admit, I’m not a huge kale fan but gosh, butter, garlic and rice mixed in and I’m all about it! 🙂 Poor Dozer, still doesn’t look too thrilled with his situation. Much love to him-and you too, Nagi!
Let’s not feel tooooo sorry for him… his life is pretty darn good! 😂
Nagi, I actually love kale and grow it in my garden so always love recipes I can use it in. The rice is something I am going to make for sure. Love the picture of Dozer. He is so adorable!
I’m jealous, I want home grown kale!!
Looks yum! Nagi, if I make the butter/garlic bit separately, do you think I could finish the rest of the recipe in a large rice cooker?
Yes absolutely! Use the ratios you normally use 🙂
I have made a “plain” garlic butter rice (I think based on another recipe from Nagi) by cooking the rice in chicken broth in a rice cooker, then frying off some garlic in butter in a small pan and stirring it through at the end. Quick and super easy. And absolutely delicious.
❤️