Monday, February 6, 2012

kale(and other)greens

This is possibly the simplest cooked format for greens I have. It works with kale, collards, chard, sorrel, mustard,spinach, broccoli and cauliflower leaves. Also, sweet potato leaves, so I hear) turnip but please mix turnip with something else because otherwise it gets unpleasant. Most of the time it's pretty close to free because it's february and the garden is still making kale. This stuff freezes well. It's tasty healthy and easy. It's good hot or cold. This means it's the one used most frequently on everything from bibimbap to serving it with BBQ Tofu and cornbread.

1 lb (usually 2 biggish heads) cooking greens (anything but cabbage). Rinse well
Rip leaves from veins using your hands and rip up smaller if very large Set these aside. Toss dry bits but save stalks. Chop the stalks.
Mince 4 cloves garlic
1/2 chopped onion (red or yellow but not white as we need the sweetness)

Heat 1 tb Oil (usually olive) in cast iron  The iron will change the flavour in a good way.  Add the onions and stalks from the greens and saute until the onions become translucent. Now add the garlic. If you added it earlier the flavour will be less strong and more bitter because the garlic probably burned.
Add the leaves now .
They should wilt and be about 1/3 smaller before you
Add 1 tb lemon juice ,
1/2  cup water

and either 1/2 TB bird chile powder or 1TB samabal oelek or 1/4 tsp cayenne and 1/2 TB ancho pepper powder.
1 TB soysauce or 1/4 tsp smoked salt
greens should turn vibrant and lightly chewy. If you like them less chewy or you picked older/ rougher greens (like collards or plantago for example) add an extra 1/2 c of water.
Stir occasionally until water evaporates. Serve.

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