Leafy Greens Cooking Tips and Savory Recipes - The Holistic Chef (2024)

HOW TO COOK LEAFY GREENS

Our leafy green vegetables that need a little extra cooking to remove their bitterness and sometimes improve the texture are:

  • Collards
  • Kale
  • Swiss Chard (when its not in season)
  • Dandelion
  • Mustard

The foods that help reduce bitterness are:

  • Salt while cooking and/or while eating (like on bitter salad greens)
  • Sweet or Spicy
  • Sour or Acids like lemon or vinegar
  • Long cooking like braising (think southern collard greens that are cooked for hours)
  • Blanch first

Cooking Styles I most often see:

  • Saute with some fat and a little sausage or bacon
  • Saute with onions and garlic
  • Saute with fruit, nuts and vinegar

My suggestion for when you encounter a really bitter green that you are not ready to eat just sauteed:

  • Blanch in boiling water – this helps to remove the bitterness and soften the greens,
  • Blanch THEN saute with bacon and onions, etc
  • Massage with oil (best with kale for salads and baked chips) if you are going to eat it as a salad

Many recipes just have you chopping the greens and adding them to the frying pan with a little bacon and fat. If those greens are REALLY bitter and tough, that is not enough to help make those greens taste good. So, blanching in a little hot water for 30 seconds to 1 minute can really help.

Recipes to get you inspired in the kitchen:

These are both sauteed with bacon

foodandwine.com – sauteed-spring-greens-bacon-and-mustard-seeds

nomnompaleo.com – quick-and-simple-stir-fried-kale-and-bacon

Longer Cooking Method with liquid to soften the greens

allrecipes.com – kickin-collard-greens

foodnetwork.com – ginas-best-collard-greens-recipe

This recipe shows you how to Blanch

Leafy Greens Cooking Tips and Savory Recipes - The Holistic Chef (1)

Blanched, Squeezed then Frozen Greens to use anytime you need them

How to Massage Kale

fitfoodiefinds.com – how-to-massage-kale

Even MORE Recipes

TONS of kale recipes from Epicurious

Never get bored with Swiss Chard with these recipes from Epicurious

More Wahls recipes and resources from my website:

How to blanch your broccoli so you can have plenty left over for meals

A recipe for Chicken Liver Dip that uses lots of onions and mushrooms to help you get used to the flavor at your own pace

Enter your info in the box to the right —-> to subscribe to my newsletter and get notified whenever I publish a new recipe.

Tags:

Wahls

Leafy Greens Cooking Tips and Savory Recipes - The Holistic Chef (2024)

FAQs

What is the best cooking method for green leafy vegetables? ›

Research has shown that sautéing vegetables in olive oil, including leafy greens, is recommended over boiling or deep frying to preserve nutrients in vegetables without adding too many calories.

What leafy greens are good cooked? ›

You can use any hardy leafy green (brussels greens, chard, callaloo, kale, collards, dandelion, or even spinach). Cooking time may vary, just try to remove from heat once the leaves turn a vibrant dark green, as overcooking can lead to an undesirable bitterness.

What kills the bitterness of greens? ›

Sautéing greens in oil with lots of garlic and/or onions works well to counteract the bitterness of mildly bitter greens. Counterbalancing with acid, salt and strong flavors. A bitter salad green like arugula (rocket, rucola) demands a rather strong tasting dressing.

What can I add to greens to make it taste better? ›

12 Ways to Make Greens Powder Taste Better, According to a...
  1. Shake (with Ice), Don't Stir.
  2. Blend It Up in a Smoothie.
  3. Mix with Your Favorite Sweeter Beverage.
  4. Try Some Bubbles (and a Splash of Juice)
  5. Make Popsicles.
  6. Add It to an Energy Bite Recipe.
  7. Combine it with Your Go-to Warm Beverage.
Apr 22, 2024

How long do you cook green leafy vegetables? ›

Leafy greens (kailan, bok choy, kale) can be tricky because their stems take longer to cook than their leaves. We would recommend splitting the two, and steaming the stems first for 2-3 minutes before adding the leaves and steaming for another 3 minutes.

How long to boil leafy vegetables? ›

3-5 minutes for leafy vegetables, e.g. bok choy, cabbage, kale, spinach, silverbeet. 8-10 minutes for firmer vegetables, e.g. broccoli, beans, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, leeks, peas, sweet corn. 12-15 minutes for harder vegetables, e.g. carrots, parsnips, pumpkin, turnips, yams.

What are the best 3 leafy greens? ›

Some of the most nutritious greens include spinach, kale, romaine, watercress, and arugula (see "Salad greens by the numbers"). They are rich in a combination of vitamins A, C, and K; several B vitamins (including folate); and potassium. But some greens aren't nutrient powerhouses.

What is the best green vegetable to eat raw? ›

The best greens to eat raw include:
  • Salad greens (like romaine lettuce and arugula)
  • Baby greens (like spinach and Swiss chard)
  • Herbs.
  • Broccoli.
  • Green bell peppers.
  • Cucumbers.
  • Peas.
Oct 30, 2023

Which greens take the longest to cook? ›

Cook the Greens

Chard and beet greens will take 8 to 10 minutes; kale, mustard, turnip, and collard greens will take 15 to 20 minutes. Drain the greens well in a colander, pressing to remove excess liquid. If desired, toss with 1 tablespoon of butter or olive oil. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

How do you make can greens taste good? ›

Seasoning is key to elevating canned collard greens. A combination of smoked paprika, a little sugar, and black pepper works wonders. For an extra layer of flavor, consider adding a smoked turkey leg or bacon bits while they simmer. This method infuses the greens with a rich, smoky essence that's hard to resist.

How do you make greens not taste bad? ›

For example, blending a scoop of greens powder with yogurt, ice, and bananas, or mixing it with orange juice or papaya juice can cut the bitterness. Acidic ingredients such as lemon help minimize that bitter taste, too.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Francesca Jacobs Ret

Last Updated:

Views: 5960

Rating: 4.8 / 5 (68 voted)

Reviews: 83% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Francesca Jacobs Ret

Birthday: 1996-12-09

Address: Apt. 141 1406 Mitch Summit, New Teganshire, UT 82655-0699

Phone: +2296092334654

Job: Technology Architect

Hobby: Snowboarding, Scouting, Foreign language learning, Dowsing, Baton twirling, Sculpting, Cabaret

Introduction: My name is Francesca Jacobs Ret, I am a innocent, super, beautiful, charming, lucky, gentle, clever person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.