Garlicky Kale Crostini Recipes

CROSTINI WITH KALE AND PARMESAN

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Arrange bread slices on a rimmed baking sheet. Brush with 1 tablespoon oil and season with salt and pepper. Bake until light golden brown, 8 to 10 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
• In a large skillet, heat 2 tablespoons oil and garlic over medium-high until garlic is fragrant. Add kale and cook until wilted, about 5 minutes. Season with salt and pepper and add 1 cup water; cover and reduce heat to medium. Cook until almost all liquid has evaporated, 12 minutes. Uncover and cook until liquid is evaporated, 3 to 5 minutes. Toss with lemon juice.
• Top crostini with kale. With a vegetable peeler, shave Parmesan onto top.

TUSCAN PESTO-DRESSED PENNE WITH CRISPY KALE WITH GARLIC AND BROILED TOMATO CROSTINI

Steps:

• Place a rack in the center of the oven. Preheat the broiler.
• Cook the pasta in boiling salted water to al dente, 8 to 10 minutes. Heads up: reserve a mugful or about 1 1/2 cups starchy cooking water just before draining.
• Arrange the kale on a cooling rack over a baking sheet. Dress the kale lightly with EVOO and season with salt, pepper and a little nutmeg. Broil until crisp and charred at the edges, 3 to 5 minutes. Remove from the oven and reserve.
• Toast the nuts in a small skillet over medium heat until fragrant.
• Place the herbs in food processor and add the nuts. Then grate in the garlic, season with salt and pepper, and add cheeses and 1/2 cup EVOO. Pulse into a thick pesto sauce and adjust the seasoning. Transfer to a large serving bowl.
• Add 1 cup of the starchy water to the pesto. Toss the pasta and sauce to combine. If the pasta is dry, add the remaining 1/2 starchy water. Fold in half of the crispy kale and garnish with the remainder. Serve with Broiled Tomato Crostini.
• Heat the broiler.
• Arrange the tomatoes on a baking sheet and dress with the thyme, salt and pepper and drizzle with EVOO. Broil until charred at the edges, 10 minutes. Chop the tomatoes and reserve.
• Just before serving, char the toasts on each side, rub with the cut garlic, drizzle with EVOO and top the toast with the chopped, broiled tomatoes.

BRAISED KALE CROSTINI

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375°F. Brush bread slices with 2 tablespoons olive oil; arrange bread on baking sheet. Bake until beginning to color, about 6 minutes. Rub toasts with halved garlic.
• Heat 4 tablespoons olive oil in heavy large pot over medium-high heat. Add minced garlic and dried red pepper and stir 30 seconds. Add kale and broth and bring to boil. Reduce heat, cover and simmer 15 minutes. Uncover and continue to simmer until kale is tender and broth has evaporated, stirring often, about 15 minutes. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Top toasts with kale. Drizzle with remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil and serve.

CANNELLINI BEAN SOUP WITH KALE AND GARLIC-OLIVE OIL CROSTINI

Steps:

• Heat oil in a large pot. Add garlic and oregano and cook no more than a minute. Add tomato paste and vinegar, and cook another minute. Add beans and stock and bring to a simmer. Season with salt and pepper. Add kale and simmer, partially covered, for 1 hour. Season, to taste, again with salt and pepper before serving.
• Slice baguette on a heavy angle to create long slices. Toast in a toaster or in the conventional oven. Rub once or twice with half a garlic clove. Season a shallow plate of extra-virgin olive oil with salt and dip each side of bread into the oil. Serve as accompaniment to the soup.