Earthy Indian Kale Casserole | Cook With Haley

This Winter is proving to be something of a bust here in Austin. I saw a post of a picture of a bluebonnet already blooming out on Facebook yesterday and we’re only half way through February!!

Graneros Hey I’m not complaining. I love the warm weather and I’m totally fine with having a hot Summer. That just means an extra long harvest season and more time out on the lake. What’s not to love about Texas? (I won’t mention the scorpions, diamond backs, and coral snakes in this post.)

cheap alternative to cenforce While I may be sitting at a balmy 75 degree high on this day after Valentine’s Day, our friends in the North are suffering one of their most brutal Winters. I’ve concocted this healthy, hearty, body warming Earthy Indian Kale Casserole as a tribute to my friends above Dallas, but you will definitely enjoy this dinner no matter where you live!

Mind reading is one of my special skills, so I can hear you thinking “What’s so healthy, hearty, and warming about this casserole, anyway, Haley?” Let me tell you a little about kale. All you hipsters out there know that kale is a super food. It’s imprinted in your brain, and you were eating kale way before everyone else anyway. But do you know why it’s so super?

Sweet potatoes, butternut squash, and kale!

Kale is considered to be a nutrient dense vegetable. According to Paul Pitchford in his book Healing with Whole Foods – Oriental Traditions and Modern Nutrition, kale has a very low calorie count, but is very high in protein, fiber, and many essential vitamins and minerals, such as provitamin A, vitamin C, calcium, and omega-3 fatty acid in the form of alpha-linolenic acid (among other awesome stuff).

Beef stock and coconut milk = great combo. Sub vegetable stock or all coconut milk and remove ground beef for vegetarian.

Pitchford also explains kale is a “warming” vegetable and can help combat coldness during winter months.  Additionally, because kale is a leafy green vegetable it is very high in chlorophyll which can stop the spread of bacteria while promoting the growth of beneficial flora in the gut which can fight against stomach troubles as well as chest congestion.

All in all, kale is a wonderful vegetable to add to your diet at any time of the year, but especially during the winter months when it has it’s sweetest flavor following a touch of frost.

Corn starch is awesome as a gluten free sauce thickener!

To add to the warmth of this dish I’ve included Garam Masala, an Indian spice combination known for it’s warming effects. In Hindi Garam means “hot” and Masala means “a mixture of spices.” Garam Masala can be found in the spice section of most grocery stores and contains black pepper, cloves, cardamom, cinnamon, nutmeg, bay leaf, and cumin. While the name means “hot” you won’t find this dish to be overly spicy, but garam masala will add an earthy warmth to the meal.

I hope you enjoy and stay warm!

Serve this dish with Jasmine rice cooked in unsweetened coconut milk.

Prep Time: 30 minutes Cook Time: 45 minutes

Serves: 4