Easy "Cheesy" Kale Chips

Here's a snack that I've been meaning to share on the blog for some time.  It's one of our absolute favorites (especially Brian's) and when we made it again the other night, I made sure to snap some photos before they were only crumbs remaining.

  
There are a lot of recipes out there for kale chips and this isn't some new rocket science way to make them.  Basically most of the baking times and temperatures are about the same.  Some recipes use parchment paper and some use either olive oil or nonstick spray.  I've tried both and find that the parchment paper is a little more trouble than it's worth (personal opinion - some people swear by it).  I find the results are just as good with a good baking sheet and a little bit of non-stick spray.

There are also lots of packaged kale chips out there but they are awfully expensive.  I bought a massive bunch of kale last week at the farmers market for $2 (it made two recipes worth of kale chips!) and you can buy nutritional yeast at a bulk foods store for pretty cheap.  So not only are these quick and easy to make, but they are also cheap!

Easy "Cheesy" Kale Chips

(printable recipe)

Ingredients:

1 bunch kale

1/4 cup nutritional yeast (plus additional to taste)

3/4 tsp. chili powder

1/8 tsp. finely ground sea salt

Olive oil spray

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 450 degrees F.

2. Tear leaves into bite-sized pieces, rinse and dry very well.  I use my salad spinner and then pat it dry with a paper towel to remove any extra moisture.  You want the leaves as dry as possible.

3. Put the leaves in a large bowl.  Spritz lightly with olive oil spray and sprinkle with nutritional yeast, chili powder, and sea salt.  Toss to coat. 

4. Lay kale on 2 baking sheets lightly lined with olive oil spray.  For additional cheesy goodness, give another light spritz with the olive oil and sprinkle on more nutritional yeast, to taste.

5. Bake for 10-15 minutes, until they are crisp, watching closely so they don't burn (I rotate the pans after 10 because my oven doesn't bake evenly).  Serve immediately.

Makes 2 servings.