5 Delicious Ways to Appreciate the Awesomeness of Kale

You don't have to be an Internet-surfing cook to realize that kale is everywhere these days. It's the new rockstar of superfoods, literally brimming with life-giving, body-repairing health. 

Called by some "the new beef" (because of its high protein content), and the "queen of greens" by others, kale, ounce for ounce, is one of the healthiest things you can put in your body.

It's the perfect green ingredient in your morning smoothie, it's delicious as a side dish sauteed with a little oil and garlic, and salt and pepper, and it can be chopped up raw and used as the base green in your salad.

But the inexpensive, widely available green is also a versatile ingredient that can be used in a plethora of healthy, succulent and hearty dinners. And, because it's a cold-hardy green, you can enjoy fresh kale almost any time of the year.

Here are five of the top-ranked kale recipes for you to try, straight from allrecipes.com.

1. Kale, quinoa, and avocado salad with lemon-dijon vinaigrette

2. Super summer kale salad

3. Sauteed rice with kale

4. Ohio sausage with kale soup

5. Rustic tuscan soup with kale

Got a favorite kale dish? Share it here with Patch.