• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Simple Vegan Recipes
menu icon
go to homepage
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • Vegan Recipes
  • Get the vegan starter guide!
  • YouTube
  • Podcast
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • ×
    Home » Simple Vegan Recipes » Vegan Sides

    Ginger Sesame Kale

    Published: May 18, 2023 by Becky Striepe · This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Recipe Print
    sesame kale in a serving bowl on a peach tea towel
    image collage showing adding the kale to the pan, adding the soy sauce and sriracha after cooking, and tossing with lemon and sesame seeds in the serving bowl
    sesame kale in a serving bowl on a peach tea towel, text overlay

    Sesame kale packs a flavor punch! Aromatic ginger and garlic bring a touch of heat, and sesame seeds add protein and crunch to this easy plant-based side dish.

    sesame kale in a serving bowl on a peach tea towel
    Jump to:
    • Ingredients and substitutions
    • How to make sesame kale
    • Helpful tips
    • Serving and storage directions
    • Frequently asked questions
    • More easy kale recipes
    • 📖 Recipe

    Y'all, I love kale. I love a kale salad, I love kale in my green smoothies, and I love a sesame kale stir fry as the base for an easy meal.

    This recipe is so versatile! You can serve it up as a side dish with crispy tofu. It works great in a rice or quinoa bowl. You can even stuff it into a sushi roll for a nutritional and flavor boost.

    And the best part is: sesame kale only takes about 15 minutes to make, from chop to finish!

    kale, sesame seeds, sesame oil, and seasonings on a white table

    Ingredients and substitutions

    • toasted sesame oil - To saute. It also deepens the sesame flavor of this easy kale recipe.
    • kale - If you like, you can use other dark, leafy greens like collards or Swiss chard.
    • garlic and ginger - These aromatics make this dish taste amazing!
    • low-sodium soy sauce - You can use gluten-free tamari instead, if needed.
    • sriracha - Adds a touch of sweet heat. You can omit it, if needed. You can also use gochujang instead, if you prefer.
    • lemon juice - A little bit of acid brings out the sesame and other flavors. Lime juice or rice vinegar will work instead, if needed.
    • sesame seeds - Add protein, crunch, and flavor. Toasted or untoasted, black or white sesame seeds are all fine to use.

    How to make sesame kale

    Heat the toasted sesame oil in a frying pan on medium-high heat.

    Add the kale, garlic, and ginger, and cook, stirring constantly, until the kale turns bright green. Add the soy sauce and Sriracha and cook for a few more minutes.

    Transfer to your serving bowl and toss with the lemon juice and sesame seeds. Season to taste with more lemon juice, if you like, before serving.

    image collage showing adding the kale to the pan, adding the soy sauce and sriracha after cooking, and tossing with lemon and sesame seeds in the serving bowl

    Helpful tips

    • You can remove or leave in the kale stems for this recipe. If you do leave the stems in, just make sure you cook until the stems become tender.
    • Don't cook the kale fully before adding the soy sauce and sriracha! You just want it to wilt before you add the sauces, then let it finish cooking tossed in the sauces.
    • You can use toasted or untoasted sesame seeds to make sesame kale. Toasted will give you a bit of a deeper flavor.

    Serving and storage directions

    There are so many ways to serve sesame kale! Here are a few ideas to get you started:

    • as a side dish. Try it with my Baked Tofu with Peanut Sauce or Crispy Baked Tofu.
    • in a grain salad. This is a lovely addition to a grain salad! Pile it over a bed of quinoa, rice, or your favorite whole grain. Then, add cooked chickpeas and sliced avocado. Top it with your favorite sauce or salad dressing.
    • in sushi. Kale sushi might sound weird, but it's such a treat! Add it to your sushi rolls, sushi burritos, or air fryer sushi.

    If you do have leftovers, store them in an airtight container. They'll keep for three to four days. You can serve leftovers hot or cold. I like to warm this up in the microwave.

    Frequently asked questions

    How do you spruce up kale?

    Making kale taste amazing is all about massaging or cooking it and about seasoning. Sesame kale is packed with flavors that really help this cruciferous veggie shine!

    Can I use other greens?

    Yes! Feel free to use collard greens, Swiss chard, spinach, etc. The cooking time will vary depending on what greens you use.

    More easy kale recipes

    • butternut squash kale salad in a white bowl
      Butternut squash kale salad
    • Chocolate Shake Green Smoothie
    • bowl of air fryer kale chips with ranch seasoning
      Air fryer kale chips (with plenty of flavor variations!)

    📖 Recipe

    sesame kale in a serving bowl on a peach tea towel

    Sesame Kale

    Sesame kale packs a flavor punch! Aromatic ginger and garlic bring a touch of heat, and sesame seeds add protein and crunch to this easy plant-based side dish.
    Prevent your screen from going dark
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Side Dish
    Cuisine: Vegan
    Keyword: kale stir fry
    Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 5 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 15 minutes minutes
    Servings: 4
    Calories: 99kcal
    Author: Becky Striepe

    Ingredients

    • 1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil
    • 6 cups kale - chopped into bite-sized pieces
    • 3 cloves garlic - minced
    • 1 tablespoon minced fresh ginger
    • 1 tablespoon low-sodium soy sauce
    • 1 teaspoon sriracha sauce - or to taste
    • 1 teaspoon lemon juice
    • 2 tablespoons sesame seeds - toasted or untoasted is fine
    US Customary - Metric

    Instructions

    • Heat the oil in a frying pan on medium-high heat.
    • Add the kale, garlic, and ginger, and cook, stirring constantly, until the kale turns bright green. Add the soy sauce and Sriracha and cook for a few more minutes.
    • Transfer to your serving bowl and toss with the lemon juice and sesame seeds. Season to taste with more lemon juice, if you like.

    Notes

    In step two, you do not want to cook the the kale until fully wilted. You just want to cook it for a minute or two. It will quickly finish cooking when you add the liquid in the next step.

    Nutrition

    Nutrition Facts
    Sesame Kale
    Amount per Serving
    Calories
    99
    % Daily Value*
    Fat
     
    8
    g
    12
    %
    Saturated Fat
     
    1
    g
    5
    %
    Polyunsaturated Fat
     
    3
    g
    Monounsaturated Fat
     
    3
    g
    Sodium
     
    224
    mg
    9
    %
    Potassium
     
    388
    mg
    11
    %
    Carbohydrates
     
    6
    g
    2
    %
    Fiber
     
    5
    g
    20
    %
    Sugar
     
    1
    g
    1
    %
    Protein
     
    4
    g
    8
    %
    Vitamin A
     
    10042
    IU
    201
    %
    Vitamin C
     
    96
    mg
    116
    %
    Calcium
     
    296
    mg
    30
    %
    Iron
     
    2
    mg
    11
    %
    * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
    Tried this recipe? Share your photo!Mention @GlueAndGlitter on Instagram or Twitter!

    About Becky Striepe

    Headshot of Becky Striepe in front of a teal wall

    Hi there! I'm Becky Striepe (rhymes with sleepy), and I love using gadgets and shortcuts to create easy vegan comfort food recipes for busy people. Whether you love your Instant Pot, your air fryer, or just love delicious plant-based meals, stick around. You'll like it here.

    Learn more about me >>>

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

      Got a question? Tried this recipe? Leave a reply! Cancel reply

      Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

      Recipe Rating




    1. Kate & Milka

      December 03, 2020 at 10:34 pm

      5 stars
      Paired this with your peanut tofu recipe and some brown rice. SLAM. DUNK.

      Reply
      • Becky Striepe

        December 04, 2020 at 8:38 am

        Ooh that sounds fabulous. Thank you for coming back to leave a rating and a comment!

        Reply
    2. Rebekah

      March 04, 2019 at 12:42 pm

      How long will this keep in the fridge?

      Reply
      • Becky Striepe

        March 04, 2019 at 1:21 pm

        I'd say about 3 days.

        Reply
    3. Michelle

      November 18, 2014 at 4:19 am

      I love kale. I have all of these ingredients in the kitchen. I think I will try tonight.

      Reply
      • Becky Striepe

        November 18, 2014 at 7:31 am

        Enjoy it!

        Reply
    4. Becky Striepe

      October 02, 2012 at 4:22 pm

      Thanks, you guys! I am super excited about kale season!!

      Reply
    5. Jes

      October 02, 2012 at 11:12 am

      Kale & sesame ginger in a salad? Yes please! Love that it can be either hot or cold!

      Reply
    6. Laura

      October 01, 2012 at 2:00 pm

      I love kale, and also all things sesame-ginger. This sounds delicious.

      Reply

    Primary Sidebar

    About Me

    photo of Becky Striepe
    Hi! My name is Becky Striepe (rhymes with “sleepy”). I love using gadgets and shortcuts to create easy vegan comfort food recipes for busy people. Whether you love your Instant Pot, your air fryer, or just love delicious plant-based meals, stick around. You'll like it here. → READ MORE

    Footer

    ^ back to top

    As Seen On: Buzzfeed, How Stuff Works, Parade Magazine, Follow Your Kind Podcast, Peta, Curiously Veg Radio, Shape Magazine

    About

    • About Becky Striepe
    • Privacy Policy
    • About the Ads
    • Video Blogging FAQ

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates

    Trending now

    • glass jar of soy yogurt on a blue table with the Instant Pot in the background
    • photo of vegan spinach artichoke dip in the baking pan. A hand is dipping a cracker into the pan.
    • overhead photo of air fryer tofu in a blue bowl with green onions sprinkled on top

    Copyright Notice

    All content Copyright © Glue & Glitter/Cattington Inc. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. You may post a short excerpt and/or one photo, as long as you provide clear credit and a link back to the original recipe or tutorial post at glueandglitter.com. Please do not repost recipes in full without my express permission.

    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2022 Glue & Glitter