greens

[asakiyume]

A guy I follow on Twitter is doing a couple of polls about greens (the things you eat, not the members of the political party... I mean if you're a cannibal that distinction might not be valid but I suspect for most of you it is, plus--no capitalization!)

Here is a link.

For those of you as click-averse as I am, there are two groups of greens:

First group:

chard
collards
kale
spinach

Second group:

beet greens
cress
mustard greens
turnip greens

You have to choose your favorite for cooking in each group. (You can go vote if you want--it will add a new dimension to his polling base.)

So .... do you all have favorites? Opinions? Beloved recipes? I cook spinach, kale, and beet greens; I have cooked mustard greens now and then, and sometimes chard. I did not know you could *eat* turnip greens--it's an exciting new piece of information.

Comments

[asakiyume]

I like kale because of its body--it's got a good pushback when you're chewing. And I cook a lot of spinach, using a very simple recipe I learned in Japan. Chard I used to cook when I grew it myself. In the second group, I cook most often beet greens; I like them a whole lot. But mustard greens are a good second, and I like this idea of curried mustard greens and kidney beans--must try that! And a friend over on the LJ side of things had a good idea for cooking turnip greens.

[kore]

Ooh, what recipe?

I like using kale in place of spinach in some recipes, because it holds up longer and doesn't get slimy or mushy.

[asakiyume]

very simple: boil water and pour this water over fresh spinach in a sieve or colander. That's all the cooking. Then squeeze the extra water out of the spinach. It'll be hot, so use a towel or something. Then chop it up, then sprinkle soy sauce and a dash of hot pepper on it, then top with sesame oil and, if you're feeling fancy, some sesame seeds. So delicious.

[kore]

Thank you! Wow, that sounds simple and super tasty.

[pameladean]

Thanks from me too! It's like a dish I often get at Japanese restaurants if I don't think there are enough vegetables in my dinner.

P.

[asakiyume]

My pleasure!

[larryhammer]

Yum.

[pameladean]

Yes, you're right about kale -- it's got body but it's seldom tough.

Beet greens are expensive hereabouts, for whatever reason, which is why I default to mustard. But I like them too; I like their bite.

P.

[asakiyume]

Yes, I like that about mustard greens too!