Kale and hearty

Kale has become so pervasive in our culture it’s hard to remember a time when it wasn’t all over trendy menus and being juiced by the megalitre in smoothies. It’s hailed as a “superfood” and for once that overused epithet seems entirely justified.

Loaded with minerals, antioxidants and vitamins, including 4.5 times more vitamin C than Popeye’s vaunted spinach, kale is high in nutrients and low in calories, making it one of the most nutrient-dense foods on the planet. It can even lower cholesterol and reduce the risk of heart disease.

Yet it hasn’t always