The “superfood” kale seems to be making an appearance everywhere these days - added to juices and green smoothies, eaten raw in salads, stir fried, baked into chips, and now in my Kale and ‘Feta’ Pie.
Superfood is a term that is thrown around fairly freely, so where is the truth in these claims to health of this fibrous green?
Is it really any better than spinach or other green veg?
I have to admit, like a typical health food blogger, I do love kale but mostly for the taste and fibrousness of this dark green leafy.
A little research left me pleasantly surprised with the evidence behind the health claims.
Kale is a cruciferous veg (along with broccoli, cauliflower, brussels sprouts, cabbage).
There have been numerous studies revealing the health benefits of including cruciferous veggies in our diet to boost mood and help prevent cancer.
Kale is also a potent source of vitamin A (important for eye and skin health) as well as calcium, antioxidants and phytonutrients.
It has been shown to lower cholesterol and it’s high fibre content make kale one of the best bile-binding veggies (meaning that it combines with carcinogenic bile acids and helps remove them from the body).
Okay, so that is quite a list and certainly enough for me to jump on the kale bandwagon.
Personally, I’m not a fan of the term ‘superfood’ as I think it gives the illusion that these foods somehow possess super powers to dramatically improve one’s health when consuming them.
In reality, they are just slightly more nutrient dense foods that should be included in a balanced diet for optimal health, rather than relying on them to cure all ailments or to ‘balance out’ less healthy food choices.
I am always finding new ways to incorporate kale into my diet so today I want to share with you the most delicious kale and ‘feta’ pie with sweet potato crust.
This pie is reminiscent of a traditional spinach and feta pie but uses crumbled tofu, creamy tahini and nutritional yeast to replace the cheese.
The ever-so-slightly sweet pastry combines perfectly with the creamy kale filling and light and tangy avocado cream. This pie keeps really well and is extra delicious the next day served cold if you happen to make enough for leftovers.
It’s a great way to use up wilting greens so feel free to sub in spinach leaves or rocket as I’m sure you would have great results with these too.
Lets jump on the kale bandwagon and get cooking our Kale and ‘Feta’ Pie!
6 comments
Interesting