What if I told you that Brussels sprouts and Kale got married and had a baby called Kalettes? Would you believe me? Well you are about to after you read this post! Learn how to prepare Kalettes.
📋 What's New In This Post (4/10/26) - Shared info on the current availability of Kalettes in 2026.
What If Kale and Brussels Sprouts Had a Baby?
Out of all the vegetables I never thought I would appreciate - the Brussels sprout is number one.
Television taught me that this vegetable was disgusting.
Maybe that has to do with a generation of cooks that boiled them to death, so that not only did it taste like death, but made the entire house smell like death. It wasn't eating one that turned me off to them as I had no memories whatsoever of even trying one (or maybe it was so bad, my mind blocked it out).
Kale is another vegetable on this list, mainly because of my lack of knowledge of its existence for most of my life.
So I could borrow a DeLorean from Doc Brown and travel back to meet my younger self and tell him that a day will come when I (or you) will be giddy with excitement for a vegetable that is a combination of kale and Brussel sprouts, my younger self would be completely confused.
Trust me, my present and future self will always be excited whenever Kalettes are on the table for dinner.
I sadly did not find any Kalettes for quite a long time, that is until earlier this year at the Oregon City Farmers Market. One of my favorite vendors, Farrah Farms. Each and every week I visit their table with excitement to see what beautiful vegetables will be adoring their table like it's a great work of art.
Let me share with you everything that I know about this veggie and how you can cook them if you spot them.
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❓ What is a Kalette?
A Kalette is a trademarked name for a cross between kale and Brussels sprouts. It is used by multiple growers/shippers. I have heard them called Kale sprouts, which is the term I most often use. I have also heard lollipop kale or flower sprouts in the UK.
They grow just like Brussels sprouts - on a stalk. Instead of producing tight little green balls, the plant produces open leaves that look just like baby kale.
What Does It Taste Like?
It has the tenderness you expect from a Brussel sprout yet with the flavor of kale without being too bitter. Kalettes are sweet and nutty. If you like either of these vegetables, then this is a must try for you.
Are Kalettes GMO?
They were created through cross-breeding. They were not genetically engineered in a laboratory, by doing something with the DNA of the plant. The majority of plants that people consider GMO are created to resist the application of a pesticide.
Kalettes were created through traditional breeding methods where you take one plant, cross it with another until you get the results you are looking for.
How to Cook Kalettes
I have been cooking these for many years now. Here are some of your cooking options.
Saute
One way to cook them is a simple saute.
- Heat some oil in the bottom of a large frying pan over medium high heat.
- Add the Kalettes.
- Cook until softened.
- You can add a little water to the bottom of the pan and cover them to help steam them a bit to make them more tender. Pull before their color starts to turn duller.
- They should be firm, but not crunchy. It only takes 5-8 minutes to cook them this way.
- I like to add a squirt of lemon juice at the end (would be best with Meyer lemons)
- You can saute them with some fresh garlic and freshly cracked black pepper as well.
Roast
Roasting them is another great option - this method will bring out the sweetness of the vegetable.
- Roast them at 450 degrees until tender, about 10 to 15 minutes.
- Drizzle them with oil and season with salt and pepper.
- They really don't need a lot of seasoning to be good.
Air Fryer
If you are a fan of kale chips, then you must try them in the air fryer. They get so incredibly crispy. Even my kids are loving them this way.
To air fry:
- Season the Kalettes with salt and lightly drizzle with oil. You do not need to cut them.
- Add them to the basket of your air fryer.
- Set to 400 degrees. Cook for 6-8 minutes until the Kalettes are brown and crispy.
- Enjoy once cool enough to eat.
Microwave
You may find them in a microwavable bag. I really don't like this method though. You can't caramelize them in a microwave. It is the quickest way to do it. You're better off having the patience to use one of the methods I mentioned above.
The microwave option would be for lunch break at work when you only have a microwave and want to make your co-workers jealous that you are eating the latest in vegetables.
Where to Buy Kalettes
Unfortunately it does not appear that Kalettes "made it". I have not seen them in a grocery store in a very long time. Several companies grew them such as 4Earth Farms, Mann Packing, Ocean Mist farms, Southern Specialties, and WP Rawl. I can't find any info on any that still do now. It seems it has become a vegetable that is only available at farmers markets. You can order your own seeds from companies like Territorial Seed Company and grow them yourself.
Where have you found them? Leave a comment below telling us where you buy Kalettes or Kale Sprouts.
Sautéed Kalettes
Ingredients
- 1 pound Kalettes
- 3 tablespoons butter or bacon fat
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- kosher salt and black pepper to taste
- maple syrup to taste optional
Instructions
- Start by melting butter over medium heat in a large non-stick frying pan.
- Add the Kalettes and garlic once the butter is melted.
- Cook for 3-5 minutes until the Kalettes have softened to your liking.
- Add salt and black pepper to taste.
- Remove from the heat and add a splash of maple syrup to taste.
Pete
They turned up in our organic veg box
Louise
I tossed mine with olive oil and some Costco no salt seasoning, a pinch of cayenne pepper and air fried them for a few minutes, our roasted them on a sheet pan with seasoned chickpeas. Ate them with jalapeño lime aioli from Costco. Yum!