Tag Archives | collard greens

Braised Greens and Radishes

By Amee Meghani on May 20, 2013 in DFW Local Box, Recipes, Side Dishes, Spring, Vegan

I’m no biology expert or anything, but I hear they don’t all make it to the egg.

Local Box Radishes!

Radishes are unruly little creatures! Maybe they they could use a little grooming assistance with a flat iron and some frizz-ease, but that’s no reason to turn down a radish. Radishes have always been the bench warmers of the root vegetable team, but now it’s time to play them. No better court than a skillet full of mustard or collard greens.

Braising is a fancy technical term which infers both Sauteeing and Steaming. So basically you brown something at a very high heat and then you add liquid and cover and allow the resulting steam to further cook. So I guess it’s like laying out in the sun with tanning oil, and then going into a sauna. :)

How to remove tough stems from Collard or Mustard Greens (or any greens!)

Stems removed

Nice Stems

Stir Quickly to Coat all of the greens in olive oil and then Cover immediately

Braised Collard Greens with Radishes

Put some lemon or orange zest on it!

Braised Greens with Radishes

Ingredients

2 Tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

1/2 small sweet onion, sliced in rings

2 cloves garlic, thinly sliced

1 bunch collard greens or mustard greens

1 cup coarsely chopped cabbage (loosely packed) (optional)

1 scant cup radishes

1/4 cup sherry vinegar

1 teaspoon lemon zest

salt and fresh ground pepper

Directions:

1. Trim the tough stems from the collard greens by folding each leaf lengthwise and then removing the stem in one simple angled cut. Stack all of the cut leaves together and cut into approximately one inch squares.

2. Remove the tops and the tails from the radishes.

3. Heat olive oil in a deep and wide skillet or saucepan on medium-high heat. Add onion and garlic slices and cook for 3 minutes. Stir frequently to keep them from burning. Add radishes and cook for 3 more minutes. Then add chopped greens, chopped cabbage, sherry, and 1/4 cup water. Stir quickly until greens are coated well and then cover immediately.

4. Cook for 5-7 minutes or until greens are wilted and very dark, stirring once or twice if needed. Uncover and season with salt, pepper, and lemon zest.

*Alternate option: You can serve a poached egg on top of the braised greens which make a nice presentation…

(Maybe the radishes make it to the egg after all!)

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Get Keen with Local Leafy Greens

By Aspen on February 22, 2012 in Greenling DFW, My Greenling

We are up to our elbows in green goodness here at Greenling DFW, and we couldn’t be happier! It’s a popular sentiment around here that dark leafy greens season is the best season (though once local blueberries and peaches start coming in, you might hear the same crew changing their tune) Either way, local leafy greens are in peak season right now, and they have so much more flavor than their non-local counterparts- which really cuts the groundwork out of convincing your family to eat ‘em.

Trying to choose just one favorite green is arduous, so we’re celebrating all of them. They are often interchangeable in recipes, but they do have unique qualities all their own too:

Collard greens, have thick, yet supple leaves and a propensity to taste amazing sauteed with bacon.
Mustard greens, their peppery cousin and Southern cooking staple, are perfect sauteed with just a little oil, chopped onion, and salt & pepper (Alright, they’re pretty good with bacon too)
Kale, with it’s chewy, curly leaves that soften delicately when cooked, is a great way to “sneak” nutrition into a non-veggie-centric meal like Shells & Cheese. It’s great raw in a salad too, just give it a little massage!
Swiss Chard, probably the green with the largest, most bountiful leaves, is soft, tender, and very versatile - saute the leaves and then use the ribs in a creamy pasta, or even use it as a pizza topping.
Spinach, the most widely accepted leafy green, can really be added into anything you can think of- stuff some local portabellas with it, make a warm salad, or use it in a lasagna- the possibilities are endless.

Whichever green you choose, you know you’ll be doing your body (and your brain) good- all of them are an absolute goldmine of nutrition, chock full of the most naturally occuring vitamins you’ll find in a food. So get your local greens on and please, share with us on Facebook if you discover an amazing recipe with your greens!

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Two Local Box Salads

By Kathryn on March 28, 2011 in Uncategorized

Salad with roasted beets, orange, cilantro, lettuce, and dandelion greens

The thermometer on my porch tells me that spring in Texas is over. The highs have been in the 80s all week, and I have been compulsively checking the weather forecast for some sign that the Texas summer isn’t really starting yet. Today’s overcast skies and cool breezes give me hope. And did you know that some parts of the country had a blizzard this week? There must be hope for a spring snow day in Austin, right??

I probably won’t hold my breath. One good thing about this season-straddling weather is the simultaneous availability of local avocados, tomatoes, cilantro, citrus, beets, spring greens and winter greens. Having so many beautiful veggies together in my fridge a sign from above to make salad.

This week I created two new salad recipes that each come together in about 10 minutes, no cooking required. (Roast the beets ahead of time!) Each recipe makes an easy vegan main dish for two, or the perfect starter for a dinner party for 6.

The first recipe uses winter flavors of roasted beet, orange segments, and bitter greens for oomph. The second recipe is a classic guacamole salad, with cumin, cayenne and green garlic for heat since jalapenos aren’t in season yet. The inspiration for both salad dressings came from Elise Bauer’s Orange and Beet Salad Recipe. Her dressing base of olive oil and wine vinegar is genius in that she adds a little powdered mustard to help the dressing emulsify. I added some local ingredients–like Round Rock honey and cilantro from Naegelin farms– to her dressing recipe to enhance the flavors of the veggies and help them shine in each salad. I also opted for Texas pecans and dandelion greens in my version of the beet salad. You can’t beat the nutty pecan flavor against the pucker of bitter dandelion greens.

Salad of Roasted Beets, Oranges, Dandelion Greens
1 head red leaf lettuce, washed and torn into bite sized pieces
1 bunch dandelion greens, washed and torn into bite sized pieces
3 beets, roasted and skins removed, chopped (Do this ahead of time so they are cool!!)
2 navel oranges, peeled and segmented
1/4 cup pecan halves
Dressing:
1/4 cup red wine vinegar
1/4 cup olive oil
1/4 teaspoon dried mustard
1/4 teaspoon paprika
2 tablespoons orange juice
1 tablespoon honey
salt and pepper to taste

Prepare all veggies and fruits and combine in a large bowl. Whiz the dressing ingredients together in a blender, or mix them together in a small jar. Pour the dressing over the salad and toss, serve immediately.

Salad of Avocado, Tomato, Cilantro and Green Onion
1 head green leaf lettuce, washed and torn into bite sized pieces

1 bunch cilantro, washed and chopped
1 bunch green onions, white part reserved, green parts chopped
1 bunch green garlic, white part reserved, green parts chopped
2 avocados, peeled with pits removed, chopped
3 tomatoes, cored and chopped
Dressing:
1/4 cup red wine vinegar
1/4 cup olive oil
white parts from one bunch green garlic
white parts from one bunch green onions
1/4 teaspoon dried mustard
1/4 teaspoon cumin
1/8 teaspoon cayenne
2 tablespoons orange juice
1 tablespoon honey
salt and pepper to taste

Prepare all veggies and combine in a large bowl, reserving the white stalks of the green garlic and green onions for use in the dressing. Combine stalks with remaining dressing ingredients in a blender and pulse until veggies are completely pureed and dressing emulsifies. Pour the dressing over the salad and toss, serve immediately.

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Local Box Meal Plan: March 14-18

By Stephanie on March 15, 2011 in Uncategorized

Happy Last Average Frost Day in Central Texas! We continue our march toward spring with more slicing tomatoes this week, along with some tasty cool weather produce.

Slicing Tomatoes – Gundermann
Lettuce Heads – Fruitful Farm
Spinach – Naegelin Farm
Mustard Greens – Gundermann
Shallot Scallions – Lund Produce
Navel Oranges OR Grapefruit – G&S Grove
Bok Choy OR Green Cabbage OR Collard Greens – Naegelin Farm
Green Garlic – Texas Daily Harvest
Multicolored Carrots OR Beets – Animal Farm

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jNWTDFKLnQ4]

Stuffed tomatoes – These are filled with a cheesy spinach mixture. I’ll add chopped shallot scallions or green garlic for more flavor.

Mustard greens with honey orange vinaigrette – Use grapefruit instead of oranges if you get them, and add sliced green garlic or shallot scallions.

Chicken lettuce wraps – If you’re looking for something to do with your lettuce besides make salad. You can leave out the carrots if you don’t get them, but I think it would be tasty to add some chopped collards, cabbage, or bok choy to the mix, whichever you get.

If you get beets, this honey-balsamic beet recipe looks awesome.

- Stephanie

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Local Box Meal Plan: March 7-11

By Stephanie on March 8, 2011 in Uncategorized

Didn’t you love the strawberries last week? I feel like doing some baking this week, so I dug up a recipe for strawberry bread. Yum.

Slicing Tomatoes – Gundermann
Bibb Lettuce – Bluebonnet Hydroponic
Spring Onions – Gundermann
Green Kale – Gundermann
Strawberries – Gundermann
Navel Oranges OR Grapefruit – G&S Grove
Collard Greens – Gundermann
Kohlrabi OR Radish – My Father’s Farm
Multicolored Carrots – Animal Farm
Mushrooms – Kitchen Pride

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oWn6MMhp6Z4]

Strawberry bread – Would be great toasted with some butter for breakfast.

Collard green slaw

Salads with Bibb lettuce, tomatoes, and roasted kohlrabi or radishes – Since I don’t know what we’re getting, I’m just planning to roast up either the kohlrabi or radishes and use in salads this week.

Smothered mushrooms and kale

I’m just going to eat the citrus as snacks this week.