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    Home » Seasons » Fall

    Braised Kale with Apple Cider Vinegar

    Published: Mar 8, 2018 · Modified: Oct 11, 2022 · 10 Comments

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe Save Recipe Saved!

    This Braised Kale with Apple Cider Vinegar is a quick and EASY vegan side dish that’s ready in about 10 minutes!

    Braised kale with apple cider vinegar in a large saute pan

    One of my favorite things about spring is that the ground comes back to life.

    Gardens start bursting with produce again, sometimes faster than it can be eaten.

    I especially love when this happens to my friend’s gardens, and they start giving away veggies.

    Last spring, I was gifted a jumbo, overflowing bag of delicious curly green kale.

    Thanks friend!

    There are, of course, tons of ways to fix kale, including blending it up in smoothies, juicing it, and eating it raw in a salad.

    One of my favorite kale recipes, however, is this warm Braised Kale with Apple Cider Vinegar.  This incredibly fresh and nutrient-packed side dish is warmed in a sauté pan, and tossed with apple cider vinegar and lemon juice.

    Eat More: Love green veggies?  Try this easy Green Bean Salad with Almonds!

    A large bunch of kale

    Making Braised Kale with Apple Cider Vinegar

    This braised kale recipe is EASY, takes about 10 minutes, and only uses a few ingredients (one of which, obviously, is fresh kale).

    I use a big bunch of kale– way more than I’d think I could eat– because it cooks down to what seems like an impossibly small amount.

    In fact, normally I use a large sauté pan or wok, fill it to the top so that the lid barely fits, and when it cooks down there’s about enough left for four sides of kale (depending on how much each person takes).

    If you need more than 4 servings of kale, you could always add more kale to your pan as it begins to shrink.  Braised kale also reheats well in the next day or two, so if you make too much you can always eat it later.

    Start by prepping your kale– rinse it, cut off the big stems (they’re kind of tough), and then tear it into small pieces.

    Heat a little oil in your big pan, then add garlic.

    Let the garlic cook for about a minute, then add all your kale (unless it won’t all fit- then add as much as you can and add more as the kale in the pan cooks down).

    Then, pour your lemon juice and vinegar over the kale, toss it, and cover everything with a lid.

    Watch your kale– you want to take it off the heat after it’s cooked down but before it starts to go from dark green to a darker brownish green (although it’s still okay to eat if some gets darker).

    Everything should all cook down pretty quickly and be ready to eat within just a few minutes.

    Serve it as is, or add a little more apple cider vinegar.

    Enjoy this tasty and healthful veggie as a side dish for whatever else you’re eating, or by itself as a delicious and healthy snack.

    Pouring vinegar over the kale

    Want more VEGGIE SIDE DISHES for spring and fall?  Try these:

    • Oven-Roasted Asparagus with Charred Lemon
    • Roasted Acorn Squash with Cranberry Sauce
    • Green Bean Salad with Almonds
    Braised kale with apple cider vinegar in a large saute pan
    Print Recipe Save Recipe Saved!
    5 from 7 votes

    Braised Kale with Apple Cider Vinegar

    This Braised Kale with Apple Cider Vinegar is a quick and EASY vegan side dish that’s ready in about 10 minutes! 
    Author: Sarah Trenalone
    Prep Time5 mins
    Cook Time5 mins
    Total Time10 mins
    Course: Side Dish
    Cuisine: American
    Diet: Gluten Free, Vegan, Vegetarian
    Servings: 4 people
    Calories: 50kcal
    Freezer Friendly?

    No

    Will It Keep?

    No

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    Ingredients

    • 1 large bunch kale, washed and torn into small pieces with large stems removed
    • 1 tablespoon olive oil
    • 2 garlic cloves, finely sliced
    • 1 lemon (juiced)
    • 2 tablespoon apple cider vinegar, plus more to serve
    • ¼ teaspoon sea salt

    Instructions

    • Heat oil on medium in a large pan or wok, until oil begins to ripple. Add garlic and saute 1-2 minutes. (Be careful not to burn the garlic.)
    • Add kale and lower heat to medium-low. Drizzle lemon juice and cider over kale and toss the kale.
    • Cover with a lid and allow kale to wilt for about 4-5 minutes. Kale should wilt but not turn brown. Sprinkle with salt.  
    • Serve warm, with extra vinegar if desired.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 50kcal (3%) | Carbohydrates: 4g (1%) | Protein: 1g (2%) | Fat: 4g (6%) | Saturated Fat: 1g (6%) | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Sodium: 152mg (7%) | Potassium: 119mg (3%) | Fiber: 1g (4%) | Sugar: 1g (1%) | Vitamin A: 1430IU (29%) | Vitamin C: 32mg (39%) | Calcium: 32mg (3%) | Iron: 1mg (6%)
    Tried this recipe?Leave a comment and rating below!
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    About Sarah Trenalone

    Sarah is the primary creator at Champagne Tastes. She's a photographer, food writer and traveler, and is certified in Backcountry Kitchen and Backcountry Navigation from the Colorado Outward Bound School and Identifying Wild Plants from Backpacker.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    All commentsI made this
    1. Dawn

      May 16, 2016 at 8:39 am

      5 stars
      Lucky you to be gifted with fresh kale! I love this time of year too and I absolutely LOVE kale…it has to be up there with one of my favourite veggies. Simple recipes like this with so few ingredients are the best and they really allow for the ingredients to pop. This sounds perfect and the lemon and vinegar adds such a nice touch.

      Reply
      • champagne-tastes

        May 16, 2016 at 12:42 pm

        Yes!! It was fantastic- a huge back of it!!

        Reply
    2. Regina

      May 16, 2016 at 11:59 pm

      5 stars
      Big yes to sharing homegrown vegetables! We are about to housesit for my parents and I am already looking forward to all their garden fresh vegetables.
      I’ve rarely used kale in things other than smoothies, this braised kale recipe looks like a great intro to new uses.

      Reply
      • champagne-tastes

        May 17, 2016 at 6:17 am

        I love kale in smoothies too! Haha – I love snatching up my parents wild blackberries in the summer

        Reply
    3. Megan @ Meg is Well

      May 17, 2016 at 10:56 am

      I want somebody to give me a big bunch of kale, you have good friends! I love the zingy apple cider vinegar addition.

      Reply
      • champagne-tastes

        May 17, 2016 at 10:58 am

        Yup.. The best friends come with food. Lol

        Reply
    4. Liz @ Ready to Yumble

      May 18, 2016 at 5:30 pm

      5 stars
      So many ways to eat kale! We all need a friend who hands us a bag! This sounds like a perfect side for, well, anything….nice change from my usual kale salad!

      Reply
      • champagne-tastes

        May 18, 2016 at 7:52 pm

        Yes! All friends should come with kale. Lol

        Reply
    5. Cheryl R

      March 20, 2018 at 12:13 pm

      5 stars
      This is the only vegetable my husband will eat besides green beans. I made this recipe and it turned out so tasty. The vinegar really gives it the pop it needs.

      Reply
      • champagne-tastes

        March 21, 2018 at 9:22 am

        Yay! I’m so glad he liked it!

        Reply

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    Hi, I'm Sarah! I'm a traveler who loves to eat.   Follow along to join me on my next adventure-- in food or on the road.

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