Kale (vegetable)
- This is about the vegetable called kale. For other things called Kale, including the moon, please see Kale
Kale can grow in northern climates where more delicate members of the cabbage family cannot. The "Kailyard" school of Scottish writers, which included J. M. Barrie (author of "Peter Pan"), consisted of authors who wrote about traditional rural Scottish life (kailyard = kale field). Kale is one of the most primitive cabbages --- more sophisticated cabbage species have heads, and not just leaves. Until the end of the Middle Ages, kale was the common green vegetable in all of Europe.
Because kale can grow well into winter, one variety is called Hungry Gap --- named after that season in traditional agriculture when not even cabbage could be grown. Kale actually tastes sweeter and tastier after being exposed to a frost. Russian kale was introduced into Canada (and then into the U.S.) by Russian traders in the 19th century.
Tender kale greens can provide an intense addition to salads, particularly when combined with other such strongly-flavored ingredients such as dry-roasted peanuts, tamari-roasted almonds, or red pepper flakes.
A traditional Portuguese soup, caldo verde, combines mashed potatoes, sliced cooked spicy sausage, diced kale, olive oil, and broth. Kale freezes well.