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Epicurious

Braised Kale with Anchovies and Garlic

Green leafy vegetables like kale are extremely healthy, and kale is one of our favorites. The key to this recipe is cooking the anchovies and garlic until they are falling apart, almost melting into the dish. If you have an aversion to anchovies, feel free to leave them out. Just add a pinch more salt. Serve alongside Mediterranean Lamb Balls (page 24)

Recipe information

  • Yield

    Serves 4 to 6

Ingredients

2 bunches kale, tough stems removed, leaves and tender stems cut into bite-size pieces
2 tablespoons olive oil
4 garlic cloves, minced
4 anchovy fillets packed in oil
2 teaspoons salt
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
1/4 cup tomato paste

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Submerge the kale in the boiling water and cook, stirring once or twice, for 4 minutes. Drain and set aside.

    Step 2

    Heat the olive oil in a large pot over very low heat. Add the garlic, anchovies, salt, and red pepper flakes. Cook, stirring frequently, until the anchovies have disintegrated and the garlic is just beginning to brown, about 10 minutes. Add the tomato paste and continue cooking, stirring constantly, until the tomato paste has turned a deep, brick-red color, about 10 minutes.

    Step 3

    Add the kale and 1/4 cup water to the pot and continue to cook, stirring constantly, until the kale and the tomato mixture have fully combined, all of the water has evaporated, and the kale is fully tender, about 10 minutes. If the water evaporates too quickly, add a few extra tablespoons so that the kale has time to cook fully. Serve immediately.

Reprinted with permission from The Meatball Shop Cookbook by Daniel Holzman and Michael Chernow with Lauren Deen. Copyright © 2011 by Daniel Holzman and Michael Chernow; photographs copyright © 2011 by John Kernick. Published by Ballantine Books, an imprint of The Random House Publishing Group. All Rights Reserved. Daniel Holzman is executive chef at The Meatball Shop. He is an alum of Le Bernadin, San Francisco's Fifth Floor, and Aqua, among other highly acclaimed restaurants. He attended the Culinary Institute of America, where he received a full scholarship from the James Beard Foundation. Michael Chernow runs the front-of-house operations and the beverage program at The Meatball Shop. He has worked extensively in restaurants in New York and Los Angeles. He is a graduate of the French Culinary Institute, where he earned degrees in culinary arts and restaurant management. He and Holzman met as teenagers when they worked together as delivery boys at the New York vegan restaurant Candle Café. Needless to say, the vegan thing didn't really stick. Lauren Deen is the author of the New York Times bestselling Cook Yourself Thin series and Kitchen Playdates. She is an Emmy award—and James Beard award— winning television producer and director. She is currently executive producer of food(ography) on the Cooking Channel.
TagsKaleLeafy GreensVegetableSideLunchDinnerNut FreeDairy FreeGluten FreeKetoEasyBraiseCookbooks
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