- 1 ½ lbs. kale, stems removed
- 1 cup milk
- ½ cup whipping cream
- 2 cloves garlic, peeled and crushed
- ½ tsp. dried summer savory
- ½ cup fresh white bread crumbs
- 4 Tbs. (1/2 stick) unsalted butter
- 3 large eggs
- 1 egg yolk
- salt and pepper
- 1 shallot, peeled and minced
- 2 cups radishes, trimmed and thinly sliced
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter six small ramekins and set aside. Cook the kale in a pot of boiling salted water (1 Tbs. salt to one quart of water) until quite tender, about 8 minutes. Drain and rinse under cold water. Squeeze the kale to remove as much water as possible, chop finely and set aside. In a small saucepan, scald the milk and cream with the garlic and savory (do not let the milk boil). Remove the pan from the heat, cover, and set aside for 5 minutes. Discard the garlic. Add the bread crumbs to the milk and cream, stir, and set aside. In a large skillet, melt 2 Tbs. of the butter over medium-high heat. Add the chopped kale and cook until any liquid has evaporated, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat and set aside. In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs, egg yolk and the milk mixture. Stir in the kale and season to taste with the salt and pepper. Pour the mixture into the prepared ramekins. Place the ramekins in a baking dish, add enough boiling water to reach halfway up their sides, and bake until the custards are firm in the center, 25 to 30 minutes. Let sit for 5 minutes, then unmold onto the center of six warmed plates. Cover loosely with aluminum foil and keep warm in a low (200 degree) oven. Melt the remaining butter in the skillet. Add the shallot and cook until it begins to turn transparent. Add the radishes a sauté just until they are heated through. Remove from heat and season with salt and pepper. Arrange radish slices around the kale custards and serve immediately.
From Farmhouse Cookbook by Susan Herrmann Loomis.