Discover the deliciousness of sautéed kale with this easy sesame kale recipe. Perfect as a healthy side, this flavorful dish only takes minutes to make!

If you’re looking for a simple, healthy and delicious way to eat kale then you’ll want to try this sesame kale. It’s an easy and flavorful side that only takes minutes to make.
While I love kale in a salad or smoothie, it also makes a fantastic side when sautéed with a little garlic and sesame. If you’ve never sautéed kale before, you’ll be surprised at how fast and easy it is to do, all you need is a big pan, a bunch of kale and a few seasonings.

Tips for Preparing Kale:
- Remove the stems – Kale stems are tough and won’t cook at the same rate as the leaves so make sure to strip the leaves off the stalks before chopping. Unfortunately a lot of the pre-packaged bags of chopped kale you’ll find at the store will still have the stems attached so it’s best to just buy a bunch and remove the stems yourself (rip them out by running you fingers along both sides of the stem). It only takes a minute and the results are worth the effort.
- Don’t dry the kale - After you wash your kale skip the spinner and leave the water on the leaves. This will help to create some steam in the pan as the kale cooks keeping it nice and tender.
Ingredient Notes:
(Here are a few notes about the ingredients you’ll need for this recipe. As always find the full list of ingredients and directions in the recipe card at the bottom of the post.)
- Kale – I like Lacinato (also called Tuscan) kale the best for sautéing because it’s the most tender but you can use other varieties as well.
- Olive Oil – Use your favorite olive oil for cooking.
- Red Pepper – A few red pepper flakes brings some heat.
- Coconut Aminos – I like to use coconut aminos as a soy sauce replacement but you can also use gluten-free tamari.
- Garlic – A little grated garlic kicks up the flavor.
- Sesame Oil – You’ll need toasted sesame oil for this sesame kale.
- Sesame Seeds – You’ll need lightly toasted sesame seeds. You can purchase toasted sesame seeds or toast them quickly yourself in a hot dry pan.

How to Make Sesame Kale:
(Here are the basic steps and some helpful tips on how to make the recipe. Find the full directions in the recipe card at the bottom of the post.)
- You’ll start by heating the oil and red pepper in a large skillet or sauté pan. Add the leaves and cook tossing the kale with tongs occasionally until tender.
- Now you’ll add the coconut aminos, garlic, and toasted sesame oil and give everything a good toss to coat. Sprinkle with the sesame seeds and you’re ready to serve!
Serve it as a side by itself or add it to noodles or a rice bowl. Enjoy!
More Kale Recipes:

Sesame Kale
Ingredients
- 1 Tablespoon/15ml coconut aminos (or gluten-free tamari).
- 1 teaspoon/5ml toasted sesame oil
- 1 clove garlic, finely grated
- One bunch Lacinato kale (or any variety), stems removed and coarsely chopped
- 1 Tablespoon/15ml olive oil
- ⅛th teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 1 teaspoon/5g toasted sesame seeds
Instructions
- Combine coconut aminos, toasted sesame oil and garlic in a small bowl and set aside.
- Rinse and drain but do not dry kale.
- Heat olive oil and red pepper in a large sauté pan over medium heat until shimmering.
- Add in the kale, tossing with tongs as it starts to wilt (pan will be full). Cook, continuing to toss with tongs until the kale is tender (about 5-7 minutes). Stir in coconut amino mixture and toss for an additional minute until liquid is absorbed.
- Sprinkle with sesame seeds and serve warm.
Notes
Dietary Info:
Gluten-Free, Grain-Free, Vegetarian, Vegan, Dairy-Free, Egg-Free, Nut-Free, Paleo
Recommended Products
As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.
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Kevala Organic Toasted Sesame Seeds 1Lb
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La Tourangelle, Toasted Sesame Oil, Great for Cooking, Add to Noodles, Stir-Fry, Vegetables, Vinaigrettes, and Marinades, 8.45 Fl Oz
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Coconut Secret Coconut Aminos - 8 fl oz - Low Sodium Soy Sauce Alternative, Low-Glycemic - Organic, Vegan, Non-GMO, Gluten-Free, Kosher - Keto, Paleo, Whole 30 - 48 Servings
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
4Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 68Total Fat: 5gSaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 4gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 80mgCarbohydrates: 5gFiber: 1gSugar: 1gProtein: 1g
Nutritional information for recipes contained on this website, such as calories, fat, carbs, etc. are only estimates and are not guaranteed to be accurate.

Sylvie Shirazi is the recipe developer and food photographer behind Gourmande in the Kitchen. For the last 10 years she's been making eating more healthfully easy and accessible with gluten-free, grain-free, paleo and vegan recipes that are free from processed ingredients.
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