How to Make Kale and Potato Augratin

Kale is a rarely used, but extremely healthy leafy dark green vegetable. While seen mainly as decoration on trays of appetizers, it has a more nutritional value and fewer calories than most other food. Incorporating it into your diet is an easy task as the growing season is long and kale tends to taste sweeter after being exposed to cold temperatures. Combined with potatoes, this delicious dish will become a family favorite.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• 1 large bunch of kale (about 1 pound) washed, and torn
• 1 small onion
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 tablespoon butter
• 3 large potatoes, peeled and sliced into ¼ inch thick slices
• 2 tablespoons butter (sliced into pats)
• 1 tsp. garlic powder
• 1 tsp. salt
• ½ tsp. pepper
• 1/2 cup shredded cheese (Colby-jack or cheddar)
• 2 tablespoons flour
• 2 tablespoons of butter
• 3/4 cup milk

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter or spray a 2-quart baking dish.
2. Kale is a terrific, little known vegetable rich in vitamins Remove kale leaves from stalks, tearing into pieces and wash. Set aside to drain.
3. Sautee onions and kale until just wilted. In skillet, heat olive oil and butter. Sautee onions until almost done. Add kale to pan and cover, stirring occasionally, until kale is wilted. Remove from pan and let cool.
4. Stirring constantly, the shredded cheese melts into the sauce. In same skillet, melt 2 tablespoons of butter over medium low heat. Sift in flour, stirring constantly until smooth. Slowly add milk, stirring constantly. Once milk starts to thicken, add salt, garlic powder and pepper, stirring constantly. Add shredded cheese and stir until cheese has melted. Set aside.
5. Start with potatoes as the bottom layer. Layer potatoes and kale mixture in baking dish, making sure you start and end with the potatoes.
6. Put pats of butter on each layer. Place pats of butter on each kale layer.
7. Pour cheese sauce over entire dish Once layers are complete. Pour sauce mixture over entire dish.
8. Cover and bake at least 45 minutes or until potatoes are done.

Tips & Warnings

• To make this into a main dish, add diced ham or chicken to the layers.
• Add additional vegetables to the kale section. Zucchini, squash and tomatoes all add excellent flavor.