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Lacinato Kale Delivery or Pickup
The Instacart guide to lacinato kale
About lacinato kale
Occupying a rarified spot as a nutritional "superfood," lacinato kale is a dark, leafy green that packs a delicious earthy flavor and vitamins for days with each bite.
Lacinato kale, also referred to as Tuscan kale, emerged in Italy in the late 18th century from its namesake region. Lacinato is a mainstay in Italian cooking, figuring prominently in minestrone soup and riboletta, Tuscan bread, and vegetable soup. Lacinato kale is a member of the kale family but has a very different look than its more commonly found cousin, curly kale. Lacinato kale has large dark green, almost blue, leaves with an embossed texture that explains why it is sometimes referred to as dinosaur kale for its resemblance to the leathery skin.
Lacinato kale grows upwards of three feet in height with large leaves that belie their sweet, delicate taste. This leafy vegetable holds a special place in gardeners' hearts for its unique size, hearty growth patterns, and relatively quick growth period. Historical records show that Thomas Jefferson was an early adopter of this heirloom kale variety, planting it in his gardens at Monticello in the late 18th century.
How to pick out lacinato kale
Lacinato kale is an especially durable green, meaning that it can stay fresh and useful longer than its smaller, more delicate relatives that wilt more quickly. Look for thick and crisp leaves, avoiding rubbery stems, which can indicate early wilting.
In the grocery store or farmers' market, look for leaves that are fleshy and devoid of significant discoloration or holes left by curious and hungry insects. Brown stem ends indicate older bunches and should be avoided. Once you get your kale home, it is best to keep it in the refrigerator in a tightly sealed plastic bag until you are ready to use it. Store it in the refrigerator crisper bin for best results, where it will stay fresh for about five to seven days.
Lacinato Kale Near Me
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FAQs about lacinato kale
No matter what type of dish or cuisine you are making, it is best first to blanch the leaves in boiling, salted water until it is soft. The thickness of the lacinato kale leaf lends itself to this kind of quick softening technique and will result in a more tender and delicious outcome.
Prior to blanching, wash the kale leaves and trim the stems. The easiest way to accomplish this is to take the leaves, lay them upside down on a cutting board, and run a paring knife between the stem and the leaf to separate them from one another. The stems can be used elsewhere and are particularly delicious when pickled. Once the leaves have been separated and blanched, they can be roughly chopped into large pieces, cut into thin strips for a chiffonade, or left whole, depending on the recipe's needs.
Lacinato kale can be eaten raw and makes an excellent base for a salad. Cut the leaves into small pieces or ribbons for best results, and rub the leaves with a bit of salt or lemon juice to soften them before adding them to your salad.
Lacinato kale can be mixed with vegetables like tomatoes, avocado, peppers, and mushrooms and plays nicely against dried fruits like cranberries, cherries, or apricots. Add blue cheese or goat cheese for an extra kick of protein and tang, and top with toasted pine nuts or sliced almonds for a nutty flavor that is a great balance to the earthy kale. Lacinato kale salad can happily become a satisfying dinner salad when it is topped with grilled chicken or shrimp, strips of tender marinated flank steak, or canned tuna.
Lacinato kale is absolutely packed with nutrients like potassium, calcium, and other antioxidants; it is one of the most nutrient-dense foods in the world. A single one-cup serving contains 100% of the recommended daily allowance of vitamin A, which helps eye and immune health. A cup of cooked lacinato kale packs 1000% more vitamin C than a cup of cooked spinach. To capture the full impact of lacinato kale's many health attributes, it is best to serve alongside a fat source like olive oil which aids in the body's absorption of these important nutrients.
When you are looking for a healthy and delicious addition to your vegetable repertoire, let Instacart help you make your shopping quick and easy! Pack your cart with lacinato kale and all the other items you need to make an exquisite and special meal that will please your family's stomachs as well as the rest of their bodies. Best of all, Instacart can have your groceries at your door in as little as 2 hours!