= Serves: 4
= Active time: 5 minutes
= Total time: 10 minutes
Try to eat greens every day. Broccoli rabe, mustard greens, beet tops, escarole, spinach, it’s all green. Any greens can be cooked this way. (It’s actually a great way to use them up if they are starting to wilt or you just have too much.)
Ingredients
2 large bunches greens, about 1 pound
About 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
3 cloves garlic, peeled and minced, chopped, or sliced
Salt
STEP 1: Clean the greens by filling a clean sink or a large bowl with water and soaking the leaves to loosen any sand or dirt. Drain. Put the greens in a salad spinner to remove any excess moisture or blot them with a clean dish towel or paper towels.
STEP 2: Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the garlic and sauté until it is just beginning to brown, about 1 minute.
STEP 3: Add the greens to the skillet, packing them down with your hand a bit if you need to. Use a couple spatulas to lift the greens and turn them over in the skillet so that you coat more of them with the olive oil and garlic. Do this a couple of times. Cover the skillet and cook for 1 minute. Uncover the skillet and turn the greens over again. Cover the skillet and cook for an additional minute. (I often find it helpful to cook greens in batches so that the leaves don't go overboard.)
STEP 4: After 2 minutes of cooking covered, the greens should be completely wilted. Remove them from the heat. Drain any excess moisture from the skillet. Add a little more olive oil and sprinkle with salt to taste. Serve immediately.
VARIATIONS:
• Use chard, mustard greens, spinach, escarole, beet tops.
• Chop the stems of the greens, sauté these first, then remove them. Proceed with recipe and add the stems at the end. (Don’t do this with kale, though.)
• For kale, remove the stems, use the leaves only; the stems are bitter.
• Use a different oil, flavored, or a nut oil.
• Throw cooked Italian sausage or barley or farro on top, or red chili peppers, to make a whole meal.
GOES WELL WITH:
• Anything
Per serving: Calories 80, Calories from Fat 50, Total Fat 5g (8% DV), Saturated Fat 1g (5% DV), Trans Fat 0g, Cholesterol 0mg (0% DV), Sodium 130mg (5% DV), Carbohydrates 7g (2% DV), Dietary Fiber 4g (16% DV), Sugars < 1g, Added Sugars: 0g, Protein 5g, Vitamin A 300%, Vitamin C 80%, Calcium 15%, Iron 25%.