Tangy Wilted Kale and Bacon – Simple Wilted Kale Recipe
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Pairing nutritious kale and tasty bacon makes this Tangy Wilted Kale and Bacon the perfect side dish. It is a great way to use that huge bag of kale from the farmers’ market or the grocery store.
Tangy Wilted Kale and Bacon
Sometimes, we get intimidated by greens, like kale and Swiss chard. This wilted kale recipe is easy to make and delicious to eat.
Barbara often makes a big batch of this on the weekend and takes it to work for her lunch during the week. We aren’t sure whether to call it a salad or a side dish, either way it is worth adding to your weekly meal plan!
One of the reasons Barbara likes this recipe so much is that it reminds her of our grandma’s wilted salad greens fresh from the garden. The second the vinegar and sugar hits the hot pan, the smell takes her right back to the glorious summer lunches with our grandparents.
We use a small white onion in this dish, but you could definitely use a red onion if you prefer. Just be sure to cook until tender.
Ingredient List
- Bacon
- Sliced Onion
- White Sugar
- White Vinegar
- Kale leaves, torn into pieces with stems removed
- Salt
- Black Pepper
How to Make Wilted Kale with Bacon
Step By Step Instructions
- Cut bacon into small pieces; cook bacon until crisp in a large skillet. Remove bacon onto a paper towel lined plate. Keep the bacon drippings in the skillet. Save the bacon for later.
- Heat bacon grease in a skillet over medium heat and add onion. Cook until translucent.
- Add sugar and vinegar stirring until sugar dissolves.
- Stir in kale and sauté until wilted.
- Season with salt and pepper and top with bacon.
Storage Instructions
Let leftovers cool completely. Transfer to an airtight container and store in the fridge for up to a week. Rewarm in the microwave or in a skillet on the stovetop.
Full instructions for wilted kale are below in the recipe card.
Recipe Variations
- Omit bacon, and just use leftover bacon grease, if desired.
- Substitute apple cider vinegar for white vinegar.
- Top with toasted walnuts, chopped apples or dried cranberries for a whole new recipe.
- Use any type of onion you have on hand.
- Add minced garlic with the bacon drippings.
Recipe FAQs
- I prefer to discard the woody kale stems. To do this, hold the leaves, folded over the stem. With the stem on the right, use your left to hold down the leaves. Use your right hand to pull the stem so it separates from the leaves.
- This is the perfect side dish for any grilled meat such as Grill Pork Steak or Marinated Beef Steak.
What to do with wilted kale?
If your kale has started to go limp in the refrigerator, then it’s past time to use it up. Salvage the wilted kale by making wilted kale, no pun intended. Saute onions in bacon grease. Add sugar and vinegar to make a bacon vinaigrette; then cook the kale in the dressing. Serve hot.
Tangy Wilted Kale and Bacon
Ingredients
- 4 slices bacon fried crisp, excess fat drained and reserved
- 1 small onion diced
- 1 Tablespoon sugar heaping
- 1/3 cup vinegar
- Salt and Pepper to taste
- 1 large bunch of curly kale stemmed and coarsely chopped
Instructions
- Heat 3 Tablespoons of the reserved bacon grease in a medium skillet over medium low heat.
- Add onion, cooking until translucent, approximately 6-8 minutes.
- Add sugar and vinegar, stirring constantly until sugar is dissolved, approximately 30 seconds.
- Add kale, and stir constantly until wilted, around 1 minute.
- Season generously with salt and black pepper.
- Serve garnished with chopped bacon.
Notes
- I prefer to discard the woody kale stems. To do this, hold the leaves, folded over the stem. With the stem on the right, use your left to hold down the leaves. Use your right hand to pull the stem so it separates from the leaves.
- This is the perfect side dish for any grilled meat such as Grill Pork Steak or Marinated Beef Steak.
