Kale Substitutes
Out of kale? These are the swaps that actually work, with conversion ratios for any recipe size and notes on how each one changes the result.
Need to convert kale between cups, grams, or ounces first? Open the kale converter.
What to use instead of kale
Spinach
Produce swap
1:1 by cup
Works in smoothies, soups, and sautés. Spinach is milder and wilts faster; add it later in cooking and use around 20% more by volume to match kale's bulk.
Cabbage
Produce swap
1:1 by cup, shredded
Works in cooked dishes. Cabbage lacks kale's bitterness; Green or Savoy is the closest match.
Silverbeet
Produce swap
1:1 by cup
Works in soups and sautés. Silverbeet is milder and wilts faster; it lacks kale's bitterness.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What can I substitute for kale?
- There are 3 workable substitutes for kale, depending on what you have on hand and which property of kale matters most for your recipe. The closest swap is usually 1:1 by cup. Each option below lists the conversion ratio for any recipe size, plus notes on how the swap changes the texture, flavour, rise, or browning.
- Will substituting kale change how my recipe turns out?
- Yes, every swap trades one property for another: fat content, moisture, acidity, or protein. The notes on each substitute describe what changes in texture, flavour, rise, or browning, so you can choose the swap that matters least for your recipe. Open the kale converter
- How do I measure kale accurately?
- Weighing in grams is more reliable than scooping cups, especially when a substitute has a different density from what the recipe expects. The kale converter on this site converts between whole items, cups, US cups, grams, ounces, and pounds, so you can scale a recipe up or down without losing the ratio. Open the kale converter
Other ingredient and produce substitutes
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