Broccoli Greens Recipes

BROCCOLI AND GREEN BEANS

Steps:

• In a large pot, bring 6 quarts of salted water to a boil. Have ready a large bowl of ice water. Place broccoli into pot and cook for 2 minutes. You just want to parboil the broccoli at this point since you will saute it later on. Using a spider strainer, remove broccoli from pot and shock it in a bowl of ice water. When broccoli is completely cool, place it in a colander and allow to drain. Refresh the bowl of ice water. Bring the water back to a boil. Add green beans and cook for 4 minutes. Like the broccoli, you just want to parboil the green beans. Remove green beans from pot with spider strainer and add to ice water. When green beans are completely cool, add them to the colander and allow to drain.
• In a large saute pan, heat olive oil. When almost smoking, add the garlic and saute for about 45 seconds. When the garlic starts to brown, remove immediately and discard. Overcooking the garlic will impart a very bitter taste to the dish. Add the red pepper flakes, broccoli and green beans to the pan and cook for 5 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Serve immediately.

BROCCOLI GREENS

Steps:

• 1. In your cast iron skillet, caramelize the onion in the bacon grease. Meanwhile, stack and roll a handful of leaves, cut lengthwise once and then chop (1/2") crosswise.
• 2. Remove the onion to the side, dump all of your leaves into the skillet, stir until they begin to wilt, reduce heat, add 1/2-3/4 C of water and cover. Stir every two to three minutes. When they are tender enough for your liking, add the garlic, onion and steak seasoning (here in SET, we use TexJoy). Remove from heat.

BROCCOLI & GREEN BEANS WITH TOASTED HAZELNUT BUTTER

Steps:

• Bring a large pan of water to the boil. Add the beans and simmer for 1 min, add the broccoli and then cook for 3 mins more until tender. Drain.
• Meanwhile, heat a large frying pan and gently toast the hazelnuts until golden brown. Add the butter, let it melt and foam for just a few mins, but don't let it burn, then season well. Tip the drained vegetables into the frying pan and toss in the butter until everything is coated.

BROCCOLI-POTATO SOUP WITH GREENS

Steps:

• In large saucepan combine potatoes and broth. Bring to boiling; reduce heat. Simmer, covered, for 8 minutes. Mash slightly. Add broccoli and milk; bring just to simmering.
• In a medium bowl toss flour with the 2 cups cheese; gradually add to soup, stirring cheese until melted. Season to taste with pepper. Ladle soup into shallow serving bowls. Top with greens and additional cheese.

VERY GREEN BROCCOLI SOUP

Steps:

• Cut the broccoli florets from the stems. Peel the tough outer skin from the stems and trim off the fibrous ends. Cut the stems lengthwise into slices about 1/2-inch thick and then crosswise into 1/2-inch pieces.
• Heat the olive oil and butter in a soup pot over medium-high heat until hot. Add the garlic and cook until light brown. Add the onion and celery, lower the heat to medium, and season with salt and pepper. Cook the vegetables slowly until tender, about 10 minutes. Regulate the heat so the vegetables cook without taking on color.
• Add the thyme and stir. Add the broccoli stems, stock, and salt and pepper, to taste, and bring to a boil. Cook, uncovered, for about 3 minutes. Add the florets and continue to cook until very tender, about 5 minutes more.
• Puree the soup in a blender in small batches. Add some of the spinach and some of the lemon zest to each batch and then puree it. (The soup can be made to this point, covered, and refrigerated for up to 1 day or frozen for up to 1 month.)
• Return the soup to the pan and reheat over gentle heat. Stir in the cream. Taste and adjust the seasoning with salt and pepper. Keep warm.
• Chef's Note: When I plan on finishing a dish with the addition of a dairy product, as I do here with cream, I often add a dairy product early in the cooking, too, as I do with the butter in the initial cooking of the vegetables. It melds the flavors.