I like to use lacinata or dinosaur kale and harvest them in fall when leaves are sweet tasting. Being a vegetarian, I've adapted Ellen's recipe, substituting soy-based vegetarian sausage for regular sausage and using vegetable stock instead of chicken stock. It still tastes great and is very warming on a cool fall evening!
Heat the oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the sausage and cook, stirring occasionally, until brown, about 5 minutes. Add the onion, red pepper, chili, and garlic, and cook until soft, about 5 minutes. Stir in the cumin and cook for 1 minute.
A handful at a time, add the kale, stirring each addition and letting it wilt before adding another handful. Add the stock and tomatoes and bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce the heat to medium low and partially cover the pot. Simmer for 30 minutes.
Add the rice and cook until it is tender, about 45 minutes. Season with salt and pepper, but use a light hand because the sausage may have provided enough seasoning. Serve hot.
Makes 6 servings
Recipe by Ellen Ecker Ogden from her book From the Cook's Garden (HarperCollins, 2003). Ellen is a garden writer and cookbook author based in Vermont.
Charlie Nardozzi is an award winning, nationally recognized garden writer, speaker, radio, and television personality. He has worked for more than 30 years bringing expert gardening information to home gardeners through radio, television, talks, tours, on-line, and the printed page. Charlie delights in making gardening information simple, easy, fun and accessible to everyone. He's the author of 6 books, has three radio shows in New England and a TV show. He leads Garden Tours around the world and consults with organizations and companies about gardening programs. See more about him at Gardening With Charlie.
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