Sauteed Balsamic Kale with Dried Cranberries

This Sauteed Kale with Balsamic Vinegar and Dried Cranberries is a recipe I have been making for the better part of a decade, and it is always a great addition to our healthy plate. It happens to be vegan, paleo and gluten-free, but that’s not all it has going for it. It also happens to be sweet and tart and a delicious way to enjoy fresh kale!

I originally shared this recipe on October 29th, 2013. I have updated the text, images, added a video (see below) today.  

About This Super Easy Kale Side-dish

I originally started making this Sauteed Kale with Dried Cranberries and Balsamic Vinegar about 7 years ago when I was just home from vacation and really craved something whole and fresh. So I went out to our row of kale in the garden and harvested all the fresh kale I had left for the season.

After I removed the ribs from the kale, I chopped it up. Then I sauteed it with some onions from the CSA, some apple juice-sweetened organic dried cranberries from the cabinet and a drizzle of really good balsamic. It was pure magic!

I have been making it ever since. I almost always have the ingredients on hand and it provides a nutritious and delicious counterpart to so many dinner combinations.

I love the way the sweet and sour flavors work with the slightly bitter kale. It is such a simple recipe, after trying it once, you’ll be able to do it over and over again without even measuring!!

I have noticed that sometimes it is the most simple recipes (like this green beans with walnuts and balsamic or this lemon garlic broccoli) that resonate the most with busy families. So I really hope you enjoy it too.

How to Make Balsamic Kale with Cranberries

• Shopping Notes: You can use green, purple or lacinato (dinosaur) kale to make this recipe. Also, dried cranberries are most commonly sweetened with sugar. If you are following a paleo diet, look for cranberries sweetened with fruit juice. I find them near the bulk department at our local health food store.
• Kale cooks down a lot when you cook it, so you’ll need to start with a full head of kale. Since the size of bunches of kale varies, if your market or CSA has smaller bunches, grab two. Remove the ribs, chop the kale and wash it. You’ll want 8 cups of chopped raw kale to make this recipe. If you use lacinato, you’ll want to cut the leaves more finely.
• Next you’ll need a diced onion. If you missed my post earlier this week, please check out the proper way to dice an onion. It is part of my new series of cooking basics called “In The Kitchen.” I use whatever kind of onion I have on hand, but I think sweet onion is really nice to naturally boost the sweet flavor of this kale recipe.
• Sauté the onion in olive oil until it is brown. (See the video for a visual of that.)
• After that add on the kale, salt, cranberries and water. Quickly cover the skillet to capture the steam from the evaporating water, and let the kale wilt. I usually stir it once or twice, to help it wilt down evenly.
• To keep an ever so slightly crunchy texture and brighter color, err on the side of not over-cooking the kale. But if you prefer soft and tender greens, feel free to continue cooking it to your preference. If you do so, you’ll likely need a splash or two of water as the skillet goes dry.
• Finish the dish off with some really good quality balsamic vinegar. It will really brighten up the flavors. It balances the bitter of the kale and the sourness balances the salt.

More Easy Side Dishes To Try

• This Massaged Kale Salad with Apples and Avocado is another great recipe to try, and a great way to enjoy raw kale! 
• My Simple Steamed Cauliflower is an easy family-friendly way to prepare cauliflower on the stovetop.
• If you haven’t tried Roasted Parsnips, you’re missing out! They are so sweet!
• Roasting veggies is a fantastic hands-free way of getting veggies on the table. These Brussels Sprouts with Balsamic and Thyme are a great entry-level Brussels sprouts recipe to try.
• These Garlicky Mushrooms from Lexi look incredible!! 
• These Sweet Potatoes with Citrus Dressing are so flavorful and have lush creamy texture.
• A basic variation of today’s sauteed kale is this recipe for Kale with Cider Vinegar.
• For a peppy side try this recipe for Hot Moroccan Carrots.
• A summer favorite is this recipe for Pickled Beets.
• One of our most loved recipes is this Simple Skillet Green Beans.
• For more greens try this Simple Sautéed Swiss Chard.

Thanks so much for reading. If you make this recipe, please come back and leave a star rating and review. I would love to hear what you think!

Happy Cooking!

~Katie

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