Creamed Tuscan Kale is delicious comfort food that’s loaded with healthy Tuscan Kale.
My husband Jack loves Tuscan kale – so much so that he decided to grow it in our backyard garden this summer.
As the leaves on the Tuscan kale plant grow to be about 12 inches in size on the stalk, he harvests them by cutting off the large leaves, leaving the smaller leaves to grow in behind.
So far, we’ve had three good-sized ‘harvests’ from each our 16 garden plantings – and this easy Creamed Tuscan Kale is our latest way to prepare this healthy and delicious green vegetable.
What is Tuscan kale?
Tuscan kale is also known as Lacinato, dinosaur, or black kale, and it has dark green, thick, ridged leaves with almost a curly appearance. It’s more tender than the curly green and red kale varieties, and we think it has a better flavor too.
You can actually eat Tuscan kale raw, so it’s a great addition to salads. But most of all, we enjoy it cooked until just tender, and this Creamed Tuscan Kale will make any person a fan of Tuscan kale.
How to you make Creamed Tuscan Kale?
After removing the leaves from the stems, coarsely chop your Tuscan kale into bite-sized pieces. Thoroughly rinse, then drain the kale.
In a large skillet, saute shallots, garlic and a pinch of red pepper flakes in oil. Then add the rinsed kale to the pan to wilt.
Next, add heavy cream, salt and pepper, plus little bit of freshly ground nutmeg and cover, then cook for a few more minutes. Remove the lid of the skillet and simmer for a few minutes more to thicken the cream sauce, then top off with some freshly grated Parmesan cheese.
This delicious, rich Creamed Tuscan Kale will make anyone a fan of Tuscan kale!
You make like these other Tuscan kale recipes:
- Lemon Basil Chicken with Tuscan Kale and Cauliflower Rice
- Tuscan Kale Pesto
- Garlicky Tuscan Kale
- Beef and Kale Skillet {Keto, Low-Carb}
- Zucchini Frittata with Tuscan Kale
Creamed Tuscan Kale
Creamed Tuscan Kale is delicious comfort food that’s loaded with healthy Tuscan Kale.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour
- Yield: 8 servings 1x
- Category: side dish
- Method: sauteed
- Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients
1 pound cleaned Tuscan kale leaves (start with two pounds to yield one pound cleaned)
3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
4 ounces shallots, trimmed and cut into half inch pieces
1 tablespoon minced garlic
Pinch red pepper flakes, optional
2 cups heavy cream
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground nutmeg
1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese, plus more for serving
Instructions
- Trim the leaves from the kale by grabbing the leaves starting on the thick stem end and pulling down gently. This will strip the leaves from the stem.
- Discard the stems and coarsely chop the leaves then place in a strainer and thoroughly rinse with cold water. Let the strainer sit over the sink while you prepare the other ingredients.
- In a very large skillet or saute pan, heat olive oil over medium and once hot, add the shallots, garlic and optional red pepper flakes. Saute for five minutes stirring often. The shallots should be soft but not browned.
- Add the wet kale and saute and toss with the cooked shallots, then cook to wilt the kale, about two minutes.
- Add the cream, salt, pepper and nutmeg, lower heat to medium low, cover and cook for three minutes.
- Uncover and cook for two more minutes then add the Parmesan cheese and remove from heat.
- Taste and serve with additional Parmesan cheese.
Very good recipe. I will make this all summer as long as my kale plants produce kale.
Thanks Lisa!
Excellent recipe. My garden fresh kale was a little tough so I cooked it a bit longer.
Thanks Angela!
I cut the salt in half and it was still a little salty for me.
Thanks for taking the time to share your feedback Renee. Wondering if you used table salt instead of kosher salt?
Love the simplicity of the recipe and very tasty. I didn’t have cream, and I didn’t want to use all the fat in that, so I used a can of evaporated milk. Came our great!
Great side dish!!
Thanks Mary!
Yummmmmmm. I love the texture and flavors! Definitely a go to for kale, which stumps me! Perfect for low carb also. Bravo!
Thanks Amanda! (Kale stumps me too, but Jack loves it!) 🙂
It says prep time is 30 mins and cook time is 30 minutes. Does it really take that long? The recipe seems simple enough, so I’m not sure what takes so long — unless I’m reading it wrong
It’s probably a little overstated Ginger – most of our readers complain that we UNDER estimate the times we list in our recipe!
Do you think that this can be made ahead of time and frozen?
Hi Lisa – You can, but sometimes cream sauces separate after being frozen and thawed. If you are looking to cut out some time, I’d suggest making the recipe up to the point where you add the cream – then once the cooked kale is thawed, add the cream and finish the recipe from that step.
Excellent 👍
Thanks Mary!
This is the only way I can eat Kale.
Thank you for the recipe<3
You’re very welcome Benja! 🙂