Kale Flowers

I've found something better than kale - kale flowers.

The cute guy insists on calling this new food broccoli, but it's not. It's kale before it's gone to seed, before the flowers have had a chance to bloom. And it's baby kale leaves on tender stems; perfect to eat raw. Which is what I did, chopped into a salad with coins of carrots, greens and avocado.

The stems provided a satisfying crunch, the baby leaves a taste of living on a farm (my constant dream) and the scatter of kale buds simply looked pretty. Which is precisely why I bought the kale flowers to begin with. The taste is a cracker jack surprise.

To the tell the truth I thought I was buying broccoli with a purple green mixed in. The stems are identical to young off shoots and without glasses the leaves looked the same too. Thankfully another shopper asked the grower what it was. I would have simply called it, that funny broccoli.

Now that I know though, I will enjoy kale primarily as a means to get to this sweet time of the blossoms.

7 comments:

Kelly said...

you lnow. our farmers markets here are nothing like yours, mor like intensive croppers do markets. nobody sells speciality produce , well rarely. i love california for it!!! and as for kale, well i think you know im an addict. mines about 10 inches now and i cant wait and now i know its tasty enen as its on its last legs. thanks for the tip!

Kelly said...

aggh. im typing with no ligh...spelling suffering...

Anonymous said...

I discovered kale flowers last spring. They bolt much later up here, in May and sometimes even June. It was the classic purchase due to good looks, and I loved their flavor and how tender they were with a tiny bit of cooking.

Kale for Sale said...

Kel - Isn't it wonderful that the last legs are the part that's special.

audrey - I saw some bolted, as you say (I love that), kale last week that was nearly five feet. I stopped and stared as I'd never seen it that tall. I honestly thought it was a weed.

Anonymous said...

I thought those same kale buds looked so much like broccoli in my garden, I had to give them a try. To my surprise, they were the best part! The leaves on kale won't turn bitter right away when they bolt, which means the whole plant is edible right up to the end. What an awesome veggie.

Lemongrass said...

Never had kale flowers before, cause I would never let them go to seed. After reading your post I will now. I loverbitter tasting things and would sometimes eat leaves from bolted lettuce, cilantro, arugula and parsley. I enjoy reading your blog, great job, thank you.

Kale for Sale said...

Lemongrass - You won't be disappointed with your kale bolting to seed and ending up in your salad. Given your comment I even promise it. Thanks for the comment.