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Topic: Greens - help!  (Read 1125 times)

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Greens - help!
« on: February 10, 2008, 08:01:46 PM »
I love them, but have only ever had them at restaurants.  I don't even really know what it is, as far as vegetables go.
I saw them this past year at Morrisons and when they are available again, I want to try and make them at home. 
Anyone have any good recipes they'd like to share?


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Re: Greens - help!
« Reply #1 on: February 10, 2008, 09:10:52 PM »
Do you mean like Spring Greens? When I buy them I cook them really simply. I wash them and cut them up (I love the stems so keep them in there) I take a big dutch oven kind of pan (with a top) I leave the greens quite wet. I saute up some chopped garlic in the pan with some olive oil, throw the wet greens in, saute them around for a minute or two, pop the top on the pan and let them steam. Making sure that you don't let them burn. Thats my favorite way to make them!! Good Luck!


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Re: Greens - help!
« Reply #2 on: February 10, 2008, 10:18:24 PM »
Yes, to be honest, we just wash well, cut into strips (we do cut the larger stems out), and boil until just tender. I serve them with a tiny dollop of butter and sometimes a bit of lemon juice.

If I'm not mistaken, spring greens are the early leaves of some of the brassicas:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spring_green

However, that entry seems to indicate they can be quite bitter and I find spring greens rather mild.
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Re: Greens - help!
« Reply #3 on: February 10, 2008, 10:22:27 PM »
Collard greens and mustard greens are good too.  I'd treat them all the same way, much as racheeee said.  Saute, olive oil, salt, pepper, garlic.  Tasty!
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Re: Greens - help!
« Reply #4 on: February 11, 2008, 09:27:14 AM »
I've got a really nice recipe for salmon and spring greens. I'll do my best to remember to dig it out tonight and post it.


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Re: Greens - help!
« Reply #5 on: February 11, 2008, 09:55:34 AM »
Spring greens also work well with white beans. A favorite recipe of mine starts with some finely diced carrots and onions, seasoned with dried oregano and a bay leaf, to which the greens and beans are added along with some of the cooking liquid from the beans. Simmer until the greens are done and top with shaved Parmesan. It sounds simple, but it's very flavorful.


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Re: Greens - help!
« Reply #6 on: February 11, 2008, 10:17:18 AM »
The best-smelling cooked greens I've encountered were cooked with bacon.  (So I didn't try them.)  I've steamed them and added a bit of sesame oil and a sprinkling of toasted sesame seeds, that was good.


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Re: Greens - help!
« Reply #7 on: February 11, 2008, 10:21:56 AM »
The best-smelling cooked greens I've encountered were cooked with bacon.  (So I didn't try them.)  I've steamed them and added a bit of sesame oil and a sprinkling of toasted sesame seeds, that was good.

That's why I've never had greens! The greens in my mind are the kind they make in the South - always with some sort of pig in them!  :P
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Re: Greens - help!
« Reply #8 on: February 11, 2008, 10:38:56 AM »
To be honest, I just boil them like spinach (I know, very lazy!) and then serve with a little salt.  They would probably be good with maybe some butter or lemon juice, too.  If I had a steamer, I would probably opt for this.
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Re: Greens - help!
« Reply #9 on: February 11, 2008, 10:49:48 AM »
The greens in my mind are the kind they make in the South - always with some sort of pig in them!  :P

Mmmm-mmmm, that's good eatin'! ;D

Steve has fried them up before with some soy sauce & sesame oil - that was good! :)
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Re: Greens - help!
« Reply #10 on: February 11, 2008, 11:24:08 AM »
I find fresher is better with any greens.  Old greens taste old, IMO, much more so than other veggies.  I don't boil mine.  I usually make Swiss Chard rather than other greens though so YMMV.

Swiss Chard's nice with tomatoes, almost any sort of oil, butter, parm, pine nuts.  You can get really creative with it.


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Re: Greens - help!
« Reply #11 on: February 11, 2008, 02:31:21 PM »
The best-smelling cooked greens I've encountered were cooked with bacon.  (So I didn't try them.)  I've steamed them and added a bit of sesame oil and a sprinkling of toasted sesame seeds, that was good.


I make Beet Tops like that, add a touch of vinegar and a touch of sugar. Lovely.
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Re: Greens - help!
« Reply #12 on: February 11, 2008, 04:00:25 PM »
Thanks guys, I knew people on here would be able to help.  When I've had them in the past, it was at an Italian restaurant, without bacon.
I've done fresh spinach with garlic and olive oil, but wasn't sure about doing spring greens the same way as I know it is a tougher leaf.
I think I'll have to stop on my way home for some curly kale and give it a go.




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