Could You Be Throwing Out The Best Part Of Your Kale?

From kale salads and collard wraps to green smoothies, hearty greens are in the spotlight—and for good reason. Dark, leafy greens are nutrient powerhouses, packing in an array of vitamins, minerals, phytonutrients, and belly-filling fiber, all for very few calories. But, when eaten raw, or without a little love (trust us, your kale will benefit from a massaging), these greens can be bitter and downright hard to chew. And those thick stems don't help their cause, which is why many recipes recommend de-stemming before eating. But it's not because the stems are inedible. In fact, they offer the same nutrients as their beloved leaves. Just like massaging those kale leaves makes them more palatable (and tasty!) by releasing some of the bitterness and breaking down the tough-to-eat fiber, a few kitchen hacks will have you devouring those stems instead of trashing them.

A brief dip in simmering water will soften the stems and cut the bitterness. From there you can chop and add them to your salad, blend them into a pesto, or sauté them with garlic and olive oil.

Move over, cucumbers, there is a new pickle in town. Stems of any green can be added to a pickling brine of vinegar, sugar, and salt (with optional peppercorns, dill, or other herbs and spices of your choice). Place in an airtight container in the refrigerator for a few days, which will tenderize the stems and infuse them with a burst of flavor.

When adding greens to a smoothie there is no need to remove the stems. The blending process will break down some of the fiber and the mixture of ingredients, including fruit (particularly citrus), will cut through the bitterness.

Braising is a slower way of cooking the greens than sautéing, allowing the flavors to develop and the stems to tenderize. You can use water, white wine, broth, or another preferred cooking liquid, along with a little oil and garlic. Add the stems to the pot a few minutes before the leaves to give them a head start. Here's a little inspiration to get you started.

With your newfound stem game in the kitchen you'll no longer have to leave it to the leaves to get the most nutrition out of your greens.