BBQ Kale Chips... in the Air Fryer!

I am a serious snack-a-holic. Especially if it’s something crunchy! And then add in BBQ flavor… I’m in food heaven! One of my serious weaknesses are chips! I’ve always loved them but have been trying to find a healthier alternative. Kale chips are at nearly all grocery stores nowadays. But they cost $4 or more per bag...yikes! So in classic Renata fashion, I set out to make my own kale chips. And for cheap! At my local grocery store, they sell jumbo bags of washed and chopped organic kale leaves for about $4. It’s basically impossible to used up all the kale in these bags since it’s such a large bag! Just kidding! But seriously, you could make at least 10 batches of kale chips with one bag of kale and a little effort to cook them. Now that is saving money! Kale has so many benefits. It is full of iron, folate, vitamin A, vitamin C and calcium. It also contains antioxidants and is high in fiber. Having said that, some people really don’t like the flavor of kale. One of those people is my husband. BUT even he liked this kale chip recipe! I was actually taking photos of the kale chips and he kept eating them! The key tool to these kale chips is the air fryer. An air fryer is basically like a mini oven with a fan that forces the hot air around the food. This creates a super crispy exterior to the food in a short amount of time. That’s what makes these kale chips so good! They are super crispy and they are ready in 5 mins. When you want a snack, the hardest part is waiting for it to be ready! You could also make kale chips in the oven but I haven’t tried this so am not sure how those kale chips compare.There are a few tips to making these kale chips. First, make sure you use kale leaf pieces that are slightly larger than bite size. If your pieces are too small, they will fly around the air fryer and burn pretty quickly without cooking all the way through. Also, the leaves shrink a little as they cook. Second, do not use any stems. The stems are pretty tough and they will definitely not cook in 5 mins. Lastly, make sure you toss the kale with the oil and seasonings very well to ensure that all the kale leaves are coated evenly.These kale chips are best eaten right away but after they have cooled to the touch. They don’t keep very well since they will lose their crispness when you try to store them in either an airtight container or a resealable bag. But don’t worry - these kale chips won’t last long!Please give these kale chips a try and let me know what you think. If you post a photo on Instagram, tag me @nourish_with_renata and #nourishwithrenata on Instagram! I would love to see what you make!

BBQ Kale Chips... in the Air Fryer!

A super quick superfood chip, made tastier with a hint of BBQ!

Ingredients:

• 4 cups of loosely packed kale leaves (no stems)
• 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
• 1 heaping tsp of your favorite BBQ seasoning (mine has salt, pepper, brown sugar, ancho chile, paprika, chipotle pepper and cayenne)

Instructions:

1. In a large bowl, combine all ingredients and toss very well till all the leaves are coated evenly.
2. Transfer seasoned kale to the basket of the air fryer.
3. Insert the basket into the air fryer. Set the temperature to 350 deg F and cook time to 5 mins. Turn on the air fryer.
4. After about 3 mins, open the air fryer basket and give the kale leaves a good shake. Re-insert the basket into the air fryer and turn the air fryer on, if it doesn’t do it automatically.
5. Allow kale to cook for remaining 2 mins. If you smell burning, take the basket out of the air fryer early and shake the basket to redistribute the kale leaves or remove the kale if it is to the desired crispness.

TIPS:

• Use kale leaves larger than bite size to prevent burnt chips. 
• Do not use stems since they will not get cooked or crispy. 
• Ensure kale leaves are tossed very well with the oil and seasonings.