One to Please Vegetarians, Kale Chips with Lemon and Ginger from Salty Snacks

Going green with this second helping from Salty Snacks a how to 'make your own chips, crisps, crackers, pretzels, dips, and other savory bites' (Ten Speed Press, September 2012) paperback cookbook by Cynthia Nims .

After the multiple potential flavors of Taralli, here's one to please vegetarians.

Kale Chips with Lemon and Ginger

Makes 4 to 6 servings

1 bunch (about 7 ounces) kale, rinsed and well dried
1 tablespoon olive oil, plus more if needed
1 teaspoon finely grated lemon zest
1 teaspoon finely grated fresh ginger
3/4 teaspoon kosher salt or flaky or coarse sea salt

Preheat the oven to 300°F. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats. Set 2 oven racks at the centermost positions.

Trim the tough stems from the kale leaves. Cut larger leaves crosswise into 3- to 4-inch portions; smaller leaves can be baked as is. Put the kale in a large bowl, drizzle 1 tablespoon of the olive oil over the leaves, and toss well with your hands to evenly coat the leaves with oil. The curlier them, the more you’ll want to use your fingers to rub a bit of oil into the nooks and crannies. Just a light gloss of oil is the goal; drizzle another teaspoon or two over if needed, but avoid excessive oil. Arrange the kale pieces on the prepared baking sheets, the leaves touching each other as little as possible.

Combine the lemon zest, ginger, and salt in a small bowl and use your fingers to rub the ingredients together well. (Be sure to do this at the last minute.) Sprinkle the salt mixture over the kale leaves.
Bake for 10 minutes. Switch the baking sheets and continue baking until the leaves are dry and rigid but not browned, 10 to 12 minutes longer. If some leaves at the outer edges of the baking sheets are ready earlier, transfer them to a wire rack and continue baking the remaining leaves for a few minutes.

Use a metal spatula to transfer the leaves to a wire rack to cool. Serve on a platter or in a broad shallow bowl. The kale chips are best on the day they are made but can be stored for up to 1 day in an airtight container.

(*Reprinted with permission from Salty Snacks: Make Your Own Chips, Crisps, Crackers, Pretzels, Dips, and Other Savory Bitesby Cynthia Nims, copyright © 2012. Published by Ten Speed Press, an imprint of the Crown Publishing Group. Photo Credit:Jennifer Martiné)