Pizza Kale Chips

With the warmer weather settling in we’re craving lighter snacks, and these vegan Pizza Kale Chips from Practically Raw by Amber Shea Crawley hit the spot. If you’re still unsure about the current kale chip trend, these chips will surely win you over. In addition to their awesome taste and addictive crunch, kale chips are one of our favorite ways to increase our greens intake. Since kale is packed with powerful antioxidants, calcium, and vitamins A, C, and K (plus fiber, omega-3 fatty acids, potassium, and more), that’s a beautiful thing.

 

Ingredients:

  • 1/4 cup sunflower seeds, soaked for 2 to 4 hours and drained
  • 1/4 cup hempseeds
  • 1/4 cup nutritional yeast
  • 1/4 cup sundried tomatoes, soaked for 30 minutes and drained
  • 1/2 large red bell pepper, seeded and chopped
  • 1 clove garlic, peeled
  • 2 tablespoons lemon juice
  • 2 tablespoons filtered water
  • 
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1/2 teaspoon fennel seeds
  • 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper (optional)
  • 1 bunch kale, tough stems removed, roughly chopped (6 to 8 cups)

 

Instructions:

Combine all ingredients except the kale in a high-speed blender and blend until smooth, adding a splash of water if needed to blend.

In a large bowl, combine the kale and the pizza sauce. Use your hands to massage the sauce all over the kale, making sure it’s coated completely.

 

Make It Raw: Arrange the kale in a single layer on aTeflex-lined dehydrator tray. Dehydrate for 8 hours or overnight, until crisp.

 

Make It Baked: Preheat the oven to 300°F and grease a baking sheet with coconut oil. Arrange the kale in a single layer on the baking sheet and bake for about 15 minutes. Remove the pan from the oven and use a fork or spatula to carefully flip the kale chips over (it’s ok if you miss a few). Bake for 5 to 10 more minutes, watching carefully to make sure the kale doesn’t burn, then remove from the oven and let cool completely.

 

Substitutions:

  • Hempseeds: additional sunflower seeds or cashews
  • 
Red bell pepper: 1 medium ripe tomato, cored, seeded, and chopped

 

 

Yield: 4 Servings

 

 
From Practically Raw by Amber Shea Crawley. ©2012 Amber Shea Crawley. Used by permission from Vegan Heritage Press.