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| Crispy and full of flavor, these make such a great snack! |
Making these is a little bit of a production, but it's worth every minute. Really it's only 3 steps:
- Prep the greens
- Blend the sauce
- Mix well and load into dehydrator
I love a recipe that accommodates improvisation well, and this one really does. If a recipe is too picky, I have a hard time because I really like to use what I have on hand. I have made dozens of batches of these chips, with all varieties of sauce, and they always turn out so good.
The Kale:
Using a whole bunch of clean, dry kale, remove stems (which are too tough and fibrous for dehydrating nicely) and cut or tear into chip size pieces. My kids enjoy the long skinny pieces; make them whatever shape works for you. I like to use dinosaur kale, also called Lacinato, but red kale and curly kale work fine. In my experience, the red Russian kale is too tender for dehydrating, it becomes very brittle. I have tried other greens, such as collards, and they just don't hold up in the dehydrator as well.
Place prepped kale in a large bowl.
The Sauce:
1 cubed sweet potato
1/4 c agave or honey (optional)
2 Tb raw coconut oil
1/4 c apple cider vinegar
2 t sea salt
3 cloves garlic
1/2-1 onion
1/4 c nutritional yeast
1/2 c water (more if needed to blend to creamy sauce)
A high speed blender is perfect for making this creamy sauce, but a having some chunks in there is totally fine, they will become very small in the dehydrator, so a standard blender will work as well. Blend all ingredients until creamy; pour over kale.
Coat & Dehydrate:
With a clean hand, mix the kale with the sauce until both sides of every piece are fairly well coated, then lay them in a single layer on mesh dehydrator trays. I dehydrate them overnight at 105°. They can be done in as little as six hours. They are done when completely crisp, and will keep in a sealed container for a few weeks as long as they stay dry. If they become a bit soft or stale, they can be crisped up again with a short stint back in the dehydrator.
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| My kids enjoying kale chips fresh off the dehydrator tray! Interested in upgrading to a high speed blender? I don't go a day without using my Blendtec, often twice. Once you try a truly powerful blender, you will never go back! I'm posting the ad link below to my beloved Blendtec, as well as the other leading brand, Vitamix, for comparison. Please check it out if you're interested. Every purchase through my ad link helps provide us with a little bit of income. |
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How To Make Raw Kale Chips
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Mellow
55 comments
Write commentsThe yeast in the sweet potato sauce -- I assume this is nutritional yeast, not baking yeast?
ReplyYes, sorry I didn't specify, but I've updated the post.
ReplyAhhh these look yummy! I want to try, but I don't have a dehydrator...do you think it would work to bake them?
ReplyDefinitely! Everyone else seems to make baked kale chips. Just put the oven as low as it goes, and flip them when they seem dry on top. It will go much quicker than in the dehydrator, but I don't know how long they will take.
ReplyWe love kale chips! I have wanted a dehydrator for years!!! I just bake my kale chips... I guess I could make these in the oven since I don't have a dehydrator? Would love for you to share these with us at Kids in the Kitchen:http://younglivingoillady.com/home/kids-in-the-kitchen-link-up-week-16/
ReplyHope to see you there! :)
cooked sweet potato or raw? they look yummy!
ReplyI use raw, though I suppose cooked would work as well! If you don't have a high speed blender, cooking the sweet potato first would actually be a good way to still get a nice creamy sauce.
ReplyOh man that looks good! hmmm. I've got sweet potatoes that need used up and I need to go get kale out of the garden.
ReplyThanks for stopping by and linking this up at The Carnival of Home Preserving today!
This is a really great idea. Do you think the recipe would work if I left the honey out? My mom sent me a recipe for greens chips a while back, so I guess I better get with the program and give it a try!
ReplyThis would totally work without honey. The honey is in there just to help bring out the flavor of the sweet potato. I might try it without honey next time too, since we're trying to eliminate added sweeteners wherever we can, even honey!
ReplyThose chips look really good!
ReplyWow, this is totally cool! I've seen baked chips, but not dehydrated or using a sauce like yours. Thanks so much for sharing this with us at the TGP!
ReplySomeone just posted a link to this recipe on a Facebook group. I'm so glad they did! I found "those" chips in the health food store and couldn't believe the price! I did go ahead and buy a package just to see if it was something I would like. I found them to be far too heavily seasoned but I liked the idea. I haven't been able to find a recipe so I was happy to find yours!
ReplyI'll be trying this recipe tomorrow once all the zucchini chips are done. I'm wondering if you've ever tried a ranch flavor coating? I think I could get the SAD grandkids to at least try that. I have a recipe for ranch dressing...may give it a try.
Yes, I like the ranch flavor as well, but this one has definitely been the biggest hit. You can call it "nacho cheese flavor" so your grandkids will try it ;)
ReplyNacho Cheese.....good idea!
ReplyI went to the salvage grocery store today to get a sweet potato and try these. They had all kinds of wonderful stuff (even found organic heirloom tomatoes there for $0.29/lb) but no sweet potatoes!
Then I remembered that I have a can of pumpkin puree.....wondering if that might work. Add a little cinnamon, some nutmeg....OH MY!
Canned pumpkin sounds like the perfect replacement! What a deal on tomatoes! I don't think you can go wrong with these chips. I get very experimental, using whatever I have, and they always turn out good. Of course, they need the right amount of salt, and I forgot that essential ingredient in my last batch! My kids still gobbled them up, but not quite as quickly...
ReplyI absolutely LOVE that the kids eat them with gusto! Great recipe and this may even tempt me to a dehydrator! Found you through Amee's Fit & Fabulous Fridays and so glad that I did!
ReplyThank you! I have heard of people making kale chips in a low oven, but I like that the dehydrated version keeps all these healthy ingredients raw.
ReplyI am featuring this incredible tasty and healthy snack this week on Allergy-Free Wednesdays :)
ReplyThanks Laura! It's great to be featured ;)
ReplyI wish my kids were scarfing down kale! Next thing on my want list: a dehydrator!
Reply-- Laura @ Frugal Follies
I'm about to bring home my mom's dehydrator (she is getting rid of it!) this recipe is perfect timing!
ReplyLucky you! We've got my mother in law's on long-term loan ;)
ReplySweet potato in the sauce! I bet that adds to the sweetness of this. Very cool idea. Thanks for sharing at this week's Sugar Free Sunday!
ReplyThey look happy! I like kale chips, but have never tried your version!
ReplyMy kids seriously go crazy for these things. I usually don't make recipes that take this much work, but it's worth it for a healthy snack that we'd be spending top dollar on at the store!
ReplyThese look really good and nutritious, I bet. Great recipe. :)
ReplyYUM, I would love to snack on these! Thanks for linking up at our Gluten Free Fridays party! I have tweeted and pinned your entry to our Gluten Free Fridays board on Pinterest! :)
ReplyWe have a great collection of recipes going to get us ready for menu planning! Hope to see you this Thursday for another Gluten Free Fridays link up! It will be live at 7:05 eastern US time. Cindy from vegetarianmamma.com
Thanks for sharing this great recipe! I was looking for new was to dress up my kale chips! I will pin this and try it as soon as I can get some nutritional yeast.
ReplyThanks for sharing on Natural Living Monday! I am excited to see what you have to share this week :)
These look and sound so delicious! I'm going to pin this so I can find it later. I think I have to add a dehydrator to my Christmas list now :)
ReplyVisiting from the Hearth & Soul Hop.
Tammy
ourneckofthewoods.net
Dehydrators are very useful! And they can be very affordable if you're not going for the top of the line ;)
ReplyWow these look really good! We love our dehydrator! Might have to try this!
ReplyNot long ago I saw a recipe for kale using a dehydrator, which sounds easier than using the oven to me. I like the flavor you add to it with the sauce -- YUM! Thanks for sharing on Hearth & Soul Hop. :)
ReplyI do think it's easier to dehydrate them. It takes more time, but I know I'd burn them in the oven ;) Plus, they stay healthy and raw!
ReplyThis looks delicious! We love kale chips and we love sweet potatoes - sounds like a great combination!
ReplyMy kids love kale in soup, but I've never tried anything like this. Maybe I'll give it a try. Thanks for linking up at One Creative Weekend! Enjoy your weekend.
ReplyYum, I've got to start putting kale in soups too!
ReplyWhat an amazing recipe! Sound delicious! Thanks so much for sharing at Wednesday's Adorned From Above Blog Hop.
ReplyDebi and Charly @ Adorned From Above
Bethany @ Whistle and Ivy
I've seen a bunch of people post kale chips and I was leary, but I would love to try them with sweet potato!
ReplyI know they sound so weird! But kale chips, crispy and salty, are great no matter what sauce you use. And this sauce is really good, so it's a total win. Hope you like them too!
ReplyMellow, these chips and the suace look so delicious! We love kale chips too and I can't wiat to try your sauce! Always delighted you pop by Seasonal Celebration Wednesday! Rebecca @Natural Mothers Network x
ReplyFabulous - will have to try on low in the oven as I don't have a dehydrator. Thanks! I found you at Townsend House Linky Party.
ReplyOh yum! We love oven fried kale chips (coconout oil and sea salt). I bet these are great! Thanks for sharing with us at Eco-Kids Tuesday! Hope you join us again today! http://likemamalikedaughter.blogspot.com/2013/03/flip-trainer-review-at-eco-kids-tuesday.html
ReplyYUM! Talk about saving money! You are so right. Purchasing kale chips is crazy expensive. Can't wait to pop these into my dehydrator. Thanks for an other great Fabulously Frugal Thursday post.
ReplyOh yum! I love the ones I make in the Oven and these must be even better -sure beats the big $$$ they are charging for a bag of Kale chips in the stores!
ReplyYeah as long as you don't over cook them in the oven (if you don't have a dehydrator) they are really good! DH was really surprised -he initially wondered if I had gone crazy serving them to him lol!
ReplyWhat a great snack! Your recipe is fabulous and thank you so much for sharing with Full Plate Thursday. Have a great weekend and come back soon!
ReplyMiz Helen
I'll have to try this recpie. I have tried the baked kale with just olive oil and sea salt - it was okay but not my favorite - a bit bitter. Hopefully this recipe will be better! Thanks for the information!
ReplyWhat kind of dehydrator do you have? Thanks for sharing on Tuesday Greens!
ReplyWe used to have a (borrowed!) old round one from the '70s, but we just took the plunge recently and bought a "factory defect" Excalibur dehydrator. There is nothing visibly wrong with it, and it works great, but somehow it was discounted, so not quite as expensive as they can be!
ReplySounds delicious! I have to stop myself from buying kale chips because of the price. I need to invest in a dehydrator one of these days!
ReplyOh gosh I so have to get a dehydrator, this looks amazing, pinning to my healthy eating board. Consider sharing on Real Food Fridays Link Up.
Replyhttp://yourlife7.blogspot.com/2013/09/real-food-fridays-6-link-up.html
Thank you so much for sharing this recipe on my Meatless Monday Link Up. We love to eat fresh kale with our dinners, but we've never tried to make them crispy!
Replywww.LittlestSweetPea.com
Looks really good! Just one question, do you need to use nutritional yeast? I cannot find any where I live. Can you substitue anything for it or would it be okay if it was omitted from the recipe.
ReplyWell, the nutritional yeast gives such a nice, rich flavor. Have you tried ordering it? Many companies will deliver. However, you can certainly still make a great kale chip with just a cashew/onion/salt cream sauce. Feel free to experiment- I don't think it will turn out bad. You can add some herbs and make it like a cool ranch flavor.
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