Spicy Tahini Kale Chips- These are without a doubt the best kale chips you will ever try. Make them at home and try not to eat them all up at once!
Have you tried kale chips yet? Did you think they were “just ok” but didn’t get the hype? That’s probably because you didn’t have these.
All too often I see recipes for kale chips that include nothing more than “olive oil, salt, pepper and an optional seasoning of your choice.” No. That’s boring. I tried simple kale chips and was thoroughly underwhelmed. In the end, kale just isn’t that exciting until you jazz it up a bit. Don’t get me wrong, I love kale and eat it almost every day. But I need some ZING in my snacks. Let me tell you now: these chips have zing.
Tahini adds a thick creaminess, lime juice provides that perfect acidity, nutritional yeast creates mouth-watering cheesiness and the red pepper flakes add heat. You don’t need salty processed chips to give you that savoriness we all crave. You need these. Try not to eat them all at once, though.
I use a dehydrator when I make these spicy tahini kale chips. Mine is pretty cheap and it works perfectly well for veggie and fruit chip snacks. But I mostly use it for kale chips and it has been worth every penny. I prep them before I go to bed and the next morning I wake up with ready-to-go snacks. I realize that most of you don’t have dehydrators sitting around so I’ve included oven directions here.
Spicy Tahini Kale Chips
Ingredients
- 1 large bunch of kale, inner ribs removed
- 2 tablespoons lime juice
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 4 tablespoons tahini
- 1 teaspoon nutritional yeast
- 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 200 degrees F (or plug in your dehydrator). Line a baking sheet with foil or parchment.
- Wash and thoroughly dry the kale, then remove the leaves from the tough inner stem. Slice or rip into large pieces. Remember- they'll shrink as they dehydrate so don't go too small. Place in a large bowl.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the remaining ingredients. Pour over the kale and coat each leaf thoroughly. It's messy, but the best way to do this is with your hands.
- Spread the chips in a single layer on the baking sheet or in the dehydrator. The dehydrator should take approximately 8 hours. The oven will take up to an hour (start checking on them after 30 minutes. They're ready when the seasonings are completely dry and the kale is crispy.
Notes
Please read my full post for additional recipe notes, tips, and serving suggestions!
Nutrition
Recipe Troubleshooting
For immediate help troubleshooting a recipe, please email me using the form on my contact page. I’ll try to respond to urgent questions as quickly as possible! For all general questions, please leave a comment here :)
I totally want to make these, but what is “nutritional yeast” and do I need it in this recipe?
You can omit the nutritional yeast but I recommend trying it! The kale chips won’t be as good without it. You can buy it at most grocery stores these days and places like Whole Foods and organic markets. It has a cheesy salty flavor.
Love this recipe! Will be linking back to this in my upcoming post :)
Thank you! It’s one of my favorite snacks :)
what is nutritional yeast?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nutritional_yeast
These are absolutely wonderful! I am making them now for the second time and will be making them for many more times. :) Wonderful flavor and ohhhh…so tastey!!
I am so happy you like them! They’re one of my favorite snacks.
Wow, those look wonderful. What a great photo too.
Thanks Greg!
I have a dehydrator but the temperature only goes upto 75 degrees Celsius. What setting/temperature should I be using?
My dehydrator only has an on/off switch. Try 75 degrees celsius, that sounds like it will work fine.
Sounds so very easy and looks so very delicious! Beautiful recipe!!!
I’m so glad you posted these on Google+. I saw the dehydrator bit and thought awwww, then the oven instructions, yay!
I just made and tried these and they are out of this world. I found some in Whole Foods that were absolutely delicious, but outrageously expensive. These taste just as good and are inexpensive to make. Thanks so much!
I’m so happy to hear you liked them!!
I realise this is an older post but I just have to say that these are really dangerous.
I am totally addicted to them, been making at least 2 batches every week. Sometimes I start eating them before they are even ready.
Help!!
I’m so happy to hear! I have a hard time not eating the entire batch all at once myself. Have you tried my cashew and roasted red pepper kale chips? I love them just as much!
These are amazingly tasty and delicious!
By far the best . I’ve tweeked the recipe just a bit. I put everything in my vitamix , it gives it a smooth mix .
I am making them every other weekend. Yummt
Thanks Again
QUITE GOOD!!!
Ridiculously simple and tasty! Thank you (from my entire family). I added a tablespoon of white vinegar powder and I bit more salt and made salty, cheesy, vinegary deliciousness!
I’ve made this a few times. It is hands down my favorite kale chip recipe. Thanks for sharing this!
Thanks so much for commenting and leaving a rating! That always makes my day :) You should check out my cashew and roasted red pepper kale chips as well. I go back and forth between the two.
I love this recipe! I spent a few weeks experimenting with kale chip recipes a few years ago, and this really is the best one.
I was just asked to bring finger food to a party and I am excited to get back to these! I miss them.
(I came up with my own too, based partly on this one — less tahini, more nooch, and some red pepper.)