This sautéed kale recipe with olives and feta cheese takes just five minutes to cook. You can serve it as a side dish or make it a light meal on its own.
Do you like kale? I do and I love simple sauteing it with a few things like this recipe with olives and feta. Sometimes, I add pine nuts and cranberries.
Kale is the most nutrient-dense food with the least number of calories. It's a powerful anti-oxidant, high in vitamin A and C, beta carotene. It also lowers cholesterol and has cancer-fighting properties. You can read more about the health benefits of kale here.
Ingredients and substitutes
- Kale - I am using a bunch of fresh tender kale. You and also use spinach or mustard greens for this recipe.
- Olives - I love using kalamata olives for this.
- Feta- the salty feta adds a lovely contrast to the tart olives and slightly bitter kale.
- Onion - If possible use Spanish red onions so they become sweet when cooked.
How to choose, clean, and store kale
- Choose small tender leaves they are less bitter and less tough so they cook faster and taste better.
- Kale can be washed before or after you chop the leaves. I personally prefer to wash first. But, washing after cutting the leave can take more of the bitterness off.
- To wash the kale
- Put the kale in a clean large pot of water. Stir it around to release the grit. Lift it out of the water. Drain water.
- Repeat the process one or two more times until you have no grit and the water is clean.
- To separate the leaves
- Hold the stem with one hand, then tear the leave in the opposite direction.
- Or simply fold the leaf and cut the leave with a knife. Roughly chop the leaves before cooking.
- Store the kale
- You can prepare the kale ahead of time and store it in the fridge for up to a week.
- Wash, drain, and chop the kale.
- Drain well in a colander, preferably a salad spinner, or pat dry with a paper towel.
- Then wrap it in a damp paper hand towel and store it in the fridge.
Step by step instructions (pin)
- Prepare Kale - Wash the kale in a clean large pot of water. Stir it around to release the grit. Lift it out of the water. Drain water. Repeat the process one or two more times until you have no grit and the water is clean. Chopped the Kale (not too big but not too small as well)
- Add oil to a skillet and saute the onions until translucent. Then add the garlic and kale.
- Season with salt, pepper, and add the lemon juice. Let the kale sweat. Cook for 5 minutes on medium-low heat until cooked.
- Add the olives and feta. Cook another 2 minutes.
- Transfer to a serving platter. Garnish with more olives and feta cheese (optional)
- Enjoy
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Sautéed Kale with Olives and Feta Cheese
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Ingredients
- 1 lb (450 g) Kale
- 1 tbsp Cooking oil
- ½ Red onion chopped fine
- 1 clove Garlic minced
- ¼ tsp Salt
- ¼ tsp Pepper
- 1 tbsp Lemon juice
- 8 Olives chopped in half
- ½ cup (75 g) Feta cheese cubed
Instructions
- Prepare Kale - Wash the kale in a clean large pot of water. Stir it around to release the grit. Lift it out of the water. Drain water. Repeat the process one or two more times until you have no grit and the water is clean. Chopped the Kale (not too big but not too small as well)
- Add oil to a skillet and saute the onions until translucent. Then add the garlic and kale.
- Season with salt, pepper, and add the lemon juice. Let the kale sweat. Cook for 5 minutes on medium-low heat until cooked.
- Add the olives and feta. Cook another 2 minutes.
- Transfer to a serving platter. Garnish with more olives and feta cheese (optional)
- Enjoy
Nutrition Information
The nutrition information and metric conversion are calculated automatically. I cannot guarantee its accuracy. If this data is important to you please verify with your trusted nutrition calculator. Thank you
Amelie van der Aa
This is exactly my kind of recipe. However, I always need to find ways to sneak in kale for my kids, because they really don't like the taste. So I'll keep this beauty to myself for home alone lunch or dinner.
Veena Azmanov
Thank you, Amelie - yeah my kids aren't big on leafy veggies unless I hide them in things like patties. They love other veggies just the green leaves not so much
Kristina
This looks delicious! I love kale but it can get boring sometimes, this take it to a whole new level and flavor. This is definitely going on my list!
Veena Azmanov
I hear ya! You will love this one Kristina. Thanks
Amy Nash
What a wonderful salad recipe! I love that you included pine nuts in this - they are one of my favorite ingredients and make me so happy, especially in salads!
Veena Azmanov
Thank you Amy, I love pine nuts too, wish I could use them more often in our diet - unfortunately, they are so expensive.
Matt Kearns
This kale looks so colorful, and well balanced with the pine nuts and feta. I love different textures and this dish does just that!
Veena Azmanov
Thank you Matt. Yes, it sure is balanced with the pine nuts and feta. Thanks
Stacey
This sounds so flavorful! My daughter has just started enjoying kale and I think she would love it this way, I can't wait to give it a try!
Veena Azmanov
I wish my kids ate kale as much - they are not so fond of leafy greens yet
Sues
So many of my favorite things in one salad! I'm all about kale and always welcome feta cheese and pine nuts into my life 🙂
Veena Azmanov
I feel the same Sue. Thanks
Carol Borchardt
I'm also always on the lookout for a new and tasty kale recipe. Looks like I found one to try very soon! The cranberries and feta together sound divine!
Veena Azmanov
Thank you Carol. You will surely love this one. Yes the cranberries add a bit of sweetness and the feta makes it creamy