Lentils and Bitter Greens...

[cristeen]

This is what I have to make dinner with tonight. Anyone have any brilliant suggestions? I have lentils (green or red) and bitter greens (2 bunches chard, 2 bunches kale, 1 bunch beet greens). Plus whatever random basics on hand.

I have no idea what to do with it.

[hildare]

do you have sweet potatoes? http://www.365daysofkale.com/2009/02...et-potato.html
mmmm (love this blog!)

[cparkly]

Yum!

I love to braise greens. Here is a simple recipe:

1-2 tablespoons olive oil
Fresh greens, washed and coarsely chopped. This could include a mixture of Asian greens, or mustard, collards, turnip greens, beet greens, kale - any toothy substantial green will do.
1-2 cloves garlic, chopped
1/8 cup water or vegetable broth
Salt to taste
Optional flavorings: Sesame oil,tamari
Optional toppings: Sesame seeds, chopped almonds or walnuts, toasted pumpkin seeds, and nut or seed really

1. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat and add greens and garlic, stirring to coat with oil. Stir occasionally until greens are barely wilted, just a few minutes.

2. Add vegetable broth or water and stir, allowing greens to steam until barely tender. Salt to taste.

3. Add flavorings and toppings as desired and serve.

Here is an excellent lentil burger recipe. She suggests black lentil, but I have used red and green combined and loved the results.

This is a nice dish, too but the greens are not the same and there is feta.

Have an excellent meal! Can I ask why you must use these particular ingredients tonight? Is it an observance of some kind?

[Magelet]

I know it's way after dinner, so I'm curious what you made.

I like curried red lentil soup with greens. particularly a peanut butter curry.

[ursusarctos]

I would also probably have gone for a curry lentil soup with greens in it. Mmmmm fresh greens that aren't cabbage... Can't wait for spring...

[possum]

How about some variation on this dal and spinach recipe? It's been a while since I've cooked it, but I make something along these lines but way more simple: cook lentils and some rice in chicken stock. Add butter, greens (whatever I have), salt, and spices near the end of cooking.
It's so warm and filling and very easy.

Melinda

[cristeen]

Originally Posted by Magelet

I know it's way after dinner, so I'm curious what you made.

Well, it turned out I only thought I had lentils. But I did have some cooked white beans in the freezer. I added some tortellini I had languishing in the pantry, caramelized onions and mushrooms, braised 1 bunch of each type of greens with some white wine, and then tossed it all together and drizzled it with olive oil and a touch of balsamic, topped with some fresh shredded romano. It was excellent. But we both thought it could have used more greens... which is funny because we've had trouble finding ways to cook the greens that we'd eat them, but apparently I found something that works. Next time I'll use 4 bunches of greens and a plain pasta instead of the tortellini.