So what is ‘it’ that is eating my kale?
For the last two years I have planted kale at the allotment. I have given up trying to grow from seed. It’s impossible without a greenhouse so I am ashamed to say that I get a batch of six from the garden centre. Almost before I have even left the plot they are being eaten. But what is it that’s eating away at my dinner?
My beautiful kale with little nibbles around the edges
When I come back to water the very next day, the plant is barely visible. Just the stalks protrude from the ground. This is a clue. Whatever it is does not or cannot gnaw at the thick stalks. Rather like me.
Anyway, I’ve plenty of crop even if it is nibbled on and doesn’t look as pretty as it should. So it gets blitzed. Of course. This is the perfect solution for the hole ridden leaves.
The blitz of choice is soup. I barely blanch the kale leaves to retain their goodness. Vitamins A and C in abundance and I read recently that despite the low fat content, the fat that it does contain is Omega 3 so that’s a bonus for me too. I’ve paired this one with coconut milk and added a baked potato I had in the fridge for a little thickener.
[recipe title=”Kale and Coconut Soup” servings=”4-8 depending on bowl size” time=”15 mins” difficulty=”Easy”]
Kale and Coconut Soup
You’ll need
- 400ml tin of coconut milk
- 175g – 200g kale (no stalk just leaves)
- 1 medium sized potato, cooked
- 1 tsp vegetable stock powder. I use Kallo stock powder.
- salt to taste
- sunflower seeds to decorate
- A power blender – I use a Froothie
To make it
- Put the kale into a colander and pour over some boiling water.
- Pour the whole tin of coconut milk into the Froothie/blender
- Fill the empty tin up again and then pour that in too.
- Add the potato, kale and stock powder.
- Blend for 2-3 minutes til well combined.
- Pour the soup out into a saucepan, season to your taste and then heat ’til simmering. You may wish to add more water. I like it rather thick.
- Pour into bowls and sprinkle over with sunflower seeds. Serve with crusty bread or on it’s own.
[/recipe]
How interesting… Our black kale also got nibbled last year but the curly kale was pristine (apart from the *&^%^$ing little white cabbage moths that settled into their nooks and crannies and then fluttered up out of the bag like a cloud as soon as you opened it, evading me for weeks on end in my own kitchen! The soup looks and sounds fab 🙂
Ah yes I asked my local organic farm about those moths. they use a very fine mesh net. So far I don’t have any so finger’s crossed!
It might be slugs or snails, or even birds. We had loads of trouble with ours so I used coffee grounds to deter the slugs and snails and netting to ward off the birds and something must have worked as the kale was fine after that. Gorgeous coloured soup, will have to give it a go with my Froothie 🙂
Great idea re coffee grounds. I have tonnes. Literally!
I haven’t really tried kale too much yet but I am very intruded by this soup. Love a soup in autumn!
It’s a good one. Nice with a few chilli flakes in top too
Wish I could help you with the nibbling visitor – Hope you get to the bottom of it soon. Soup looks divine! Pinned for later.
Thanks Helen. I’m down at the allotment again tomorrow so will be on the lookout!
Our cabbages are suffering the same fate but we did get a good crop, even though you have to peel away a lot of mankier bits on the outside. But still gorgeous. I think the caulis that went in were wholly eaten though, so no caulis for us to harvest.
My red cabbages are OK actually which is good. Keeping fingers crossed the thing doesn’t eat them too!
I am funny about kale, I like the flavour but not the tough texture so a soup would suit me better. Especially with coconut to soften what can be a harsh flavour. Looks lovely with the sunflower seed topping too!
I’m the same! I love the flavour but I do have to chop it well as it can be tough.
Oh how I love kale. Kind of obsessed actually. I made a similar soup the other day for the first time and I was really surprised at how well kale worked in soup.
Ooh I must look that up Dannii. It’s not a veg I find easily in the market so kinda hope “it” stops eating my crop!
Such a stunning soup and a great way to use up the kale before something else eats it!
Thank you 🙂