Weeknight Winner: Spicy Garlic Kale With Poached Eggs

By Nicole Perry

Updated on 5/18/2015 at 10:00 AM

POPSUGAR Photography | Nicole Perry
POPSUGAR Photography | Nicole Perry

Simple, spicy, and satisfying, this weeknight-friendly kale and egg dish is just the sort of fodder I eat on an average night in. Sure, it's fun to fuss around prepping a more involved meal whose effort is worth the while, but when it comes to everyday dinners, I, like many, prioritize speed, relative wholesomeness, and a large payoff for relatively little effort. This recipe ticks all three boxes.

POPSUGAR Photography | Nicole Perry

Even better, this versatile vegetarian option can serve dual duty. Here, gussied up with a couple poached eggs and a slab of hearty toast, it's a well-rounded meal in its own right. Omit the eggs and toast and it's a stellar side, perfect for pairing with roast chicken, steak, and the like.

Spicy Garlic Kale With Poached Eggs

YieldServes 1 with eggs and toast; 2 as a side dish without the add-ons

From Nicole Perry, POPSUGAR Food

INGREDIENTS

    • 1 tablespoon white vinegar
    • 2 large eggs
    • 1 thick slice of bread
    • Extra-virgin olive oil or room-temperature butter
    • 1 large or 2 small cloves of garlic, thinly sliced
    • 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
    • 1 bunch kale, center ribs removed, sliced into 1/2-inch-wide ribbons
    • Kosher salt
    • 1/2-3/4 teaspoon sherry vinegar

    INSTRUCTIONS

    1. Bring a large pot of water to boil; reduce the heat to a simmer. Add the white vinegar to the water, and poach the eggs; gently set the cooked eggs aside on a paper-towel-lined plate. Reserve the poaching water; keep it at a simmer.

    2. Brush the bread with olive oil, and toast in a toaster oven, or toast and then spread with butter.

    3. Add about 1 teaspoon olive oil to a Dutch oven or large straight-sided nonreactive skillet. Add the garlic and red pepper flakes, and cook over medium heat until the garlic is just barely golden-brown, 1-2 minutes. Add the kale, and cook until wilted, 2-3 minutes; season with sherry vinegar, to taste.

    4. Transfer the kale to a plate, and top with the poached eggs (reheat briefly in the water they were poached in, if necessary). Serve with toast.