Kale with Browned Butter, Garlic and Pan-fried Walnuts
Before you go hanging that halo on me, you should know that this was followed by day-glo nachos at the hockey game. (Yes, I believe that actually going to the game calls for nachos, even a few days into a brand spanking-new year.)
Also, I need to brace myself for re-entry into a world where Toblerones are not considered an acceptable breakfast. And it appears hardly anyone drinks their coffee with Bailey’s in January.
I had a beautiful big bunch of kale, a hankering for walnuts, and the last of the garlic from the last of the CSA boxes last year (potent stuff – I’m good for keeping away Vampires until at least Halloween). It was inspired by this version, which I decided needed to be upgraded with a little browned butter. (Really, the butter browns as you toast the walnuts and garlic – but doesn’t it make it sound better?)
Kale with Browned Butter, Garlic and Pan-fried Walnuts

Tear kale into large pieces. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the kale for about 5 minutes, until tender. Pour into a colander and press with the back of a large spoon to remove excess liquid.
Meanwhile, heat the oil and butter in a large, heavy skillet (cast iron, if you have it) set over medium-high heat. Add the walnuts and cook, stirring, until golden and fragrant. Stir in the garlic. Remove the walnuts and set aside, and add the kale to the pan. Season with salt and pepper and cook until heated through.
Add the walnuts back to the pan and serve immediately.
Ingredients
Directions
Tear kale into large pieces. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the kale for about 5 minutes, until tender. Pour into a colander and press with the back of a large spoon to remove excess liquid.
Meanwhile, heat the oil and butter in a large, heavy skillet (cast iron, if you have it) set over medium-high heat. Add the walnuts and cook, stirring, until golden and fragrant. Stir in the garlic. Remove the walnuts and set aside, and add the kale to the pan. Season with salt and pepper and cook until heated through.
Add the walnuts back to the pan and serve immediately.
What an excellent dinner! I’ll have to try cooking kale with walnuts and browned butter. I’ve had it with onions and garlic, cooked in olive oil (my usual way of cooking chard and spinach) and sometimes with tomatoes and/or feta cheese, but this sounds like a whole new trick to try. Thank you.
😉
That looks yummy! I have registered this year with CSA and can’t wait to see what goodies will show up. I’ll be following you even more closely for inspiration!
P.S. I think Baileys in coffee is do-able on any Sunday morning : )
Cheers,
I drink Baileys any month of the year.
And I like kale, too.
When I was a kid hockey games always meant hot chocolate with an Aero bar dipped into it. First intermission. Now it means beer.
I seem to have a ton of walnuts in the door shelf of my freezer soooooo … guess what we are having tonight? … must run out and buy some kale! (I wonder if it will go well with the split pea and ham soup that I am making with our leftover ham – oh I’m sure it will!). Thanks again for another inspiration, Julie!
wonderful
bises from France
Delphine
I had my heart and tummy set on chili cheese fries at the game but refused to pay 6 bucks for a teeny tiny portion…so I had a pretzel instead! oh and stole my hubs’ popcorn!
The kale looks so green and glistening up there,yum!
Can’t wait to try this. We became big kale fans last year and I love adding it to our meals.
Kale is such a beautiful and flavourful green! I love the walnut addition to this it’s my new favourite ingredient in salads!
New Year’s res…make SOMETHING with kale! Dark, dark leafy green that’s way at the far end of my veg scale but you make it sound quite palatable.
How about steaming that kale for an even more virtuous meal! An excellent brain food dish!
I made this last night to go with duck, and even though duck is my second-favorite protein, this far outshone it! The walnuts tasted like the best part about movie theater popcorn–which, now that I think of it, is butter. Yes. The walnuts tasted like butter. (hanging my head in shame at stating the stupidly obvious.)
Love me some kale and this sounds yummy. btw, I’ll drink Bailey’s and coffee with you anytime. blessings on your day!
Julie: I just wondered if you have used or do use a pressure cooker. I bought one before Christmas and have used it a few times. I also bought a pressure cooker cook book but would appreciate any tips and recipes you might have. The meat dishes I have cooked (lamb and pork) and been so tender and tasty!!
Thank you
I had Bailey’s with my hot chocolate last night does that count?
and kale twice already this year. I balance the bad with the good 🙂