Salt & Vinegar Kale Chips

if you can't beat 'em, join 'em...

Everyone is crazy for kale. I've tried to stay out of this "food fad" for as long as possible, but a few weeks ago I finally made kale chips. They were good. I just made simple chips with olive oil and salt. I wanted to see what the texture would be like, how long to cook them, etc. And then I thought, how can I make these better? What are my favorite chips? That was a simple answer - salt & vinegar. I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE salt and vinegar chips. Then I thought about kale and how good greens are with vinegar. I was sold!

These chips are salty and tangy, just what you would expect from a salt & vinegar potato chip. But, they melt in your mouth. Baking the kale draws out all of the liquid and leaves an airy "chip" behind. I marinate the greens in distilled white vinegar, allow that to dry on the chips, and then add oil and salt and bake. These are a great substitute for any meal served with chips. Try them with your dinner tonight, here's how...

Ingredients - Serves 4-6

1 Bunch Kale (Dinosaur or Curly okay)

1 C Distilled White Vinegar

Olive Oil Cooking Spray

1 tsp. Kosher Salt (Sea Salt okay)

Directions

Prepare 2 (or 3) large baking sheets with parchment paper. Put cooling racks on top of the baking sheets. Set aside.

Wash and dry the kale really well. Make sure no water is left on the leaves. Remove the tough stem from each leaf and tear the kale into 2 inch pieces. Pour the vinegar into a shallow dish and add the kale pieces. Toss to coat evenly. Allow the kale to marinate in the vinegar for 15-20 minutes, tossing halfway through.

Remove the kale to the prepared baking sheets, shaking off the excess vinegar. Be sure the kale is in a single layer. Allow the kale to dry completely. This will take about an hour. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees about 20 minutes before the kale is dry. Be sure to make room with your oven racks for 2-3 baking sheets.

Once the kale is dry, lightly spray with the olive oil cooking spray. Sprinkle the salt over the kale and then bake for 5 minutes. Remove from the oven, flip each chip over and rotate the baking sheets. Cook for another 3-4 minutes. Check these often and as soon as they are dry remove them to a bowl or plate. Some chips will take longer than others. Serve immediately and join the kale crazy!