Leafy green veg

[LaTrucha]

Like, how?

I love leafy green veg. We're supposed to eat more, but when I try and engineer them in in the name of health, I lose interest, inspiration and I don't cook them.

Whenever I eat them, I really enjoy them. I eat them seldom though. I think this is because when I eat them they're usually a side dish with something else, or stirred into something else, like savoy cabbage in minestrone, or spinach in a chick pea curry. This makes them a once or twice a week thing, really.

How do I cook and eat more without feeling like I'm doing duty?

i like:

kale lightly fried (not too much oil) with sea salt and garlic
love cabbage any way it comes! lovely steamed with butter and a bit of black pepper
spinach (esp baby spinach) is easy to chuck into risottos and stuff, just add it at the end and leave the lid on while it wilts down a bit
also spinach and stuff in salads

A current favourite of mine is squash and spinach soup (with fresh ginger and garlic).

Also spinach and cheese sauce with pasta is popular with DH and DS.

We recently discovered kale chips as well which are delicious (a bit like Chinese takeaway crispy seaweed) - but feel like they might not be all that healthy.

I'd forgotten I usd to mke a pasta sauce with spinach because DCs can't stand sauc made with hot milky things . Might try it again. some good tips. Thanks! Dh has come home, but wiil be back later..

I don't struggle to eat green leafy veg, but they work better if you match them well to what you're eating. Broccoli, Spring Greens & pointed cabbage are all delicious with chinese. Spinach or cauliflower (not strictly green!) work really well with curry. They feel far less like just a side when the flavours and textures complement what you're eating.

Thanks. That's true, although I hadn't thought of it like that before. I suppose I was wondering if there were meals in which they played the starring role. I used to cook a poussin with savoy cababge fried with lardons. Anyone know anything like that?

Eggs Florentine is quick and easy and you can substitute spinach for kale greens etc recipe here but I'd ditch the cream and lighten up on the cheese. Nice served with noodles, linguine or spaghetti too.

I just found this recipe for Savoy cabbage-chestnuts-shallots-and-bacon. Sounds delish and we have a free bumper harvest of sweet chestnuts this year.

Try 'Spinach & Potato Omelette'. Fry off some leftover potatoes with a little oniion in a good non-stick pan. Wilt down lots of spinach on top (helps if you pop on a lid). Then stir in lots of eggs, sprinkle on some cheese, allow to set and finish off under the grill.

Also... Stir-fried Greens with Pancetta. Remove the tough stalks from spring greens, shred finely and rinse. Heat some oil and butter in a non-stick wok with a lid and quickly add some finely chopped garlic, pine-nuts and some shredded pancetta or smoked bacon. Get that lot reasonably toasted, stir in the shredded greens, season with pepper, pop on the lid and allow to steam for about three minutes. Works with lots of things.

Bubble & squeak - made with cabbage/kale/leeks/spinach is a big comfort food favourite.
Pasta with leeks, kale, peas, green beans, courgettes & creme fraiche - fry the leeks & kale in a little oil, cook pasta & the rest of the greens in water, drain & toss together with creme fraiche & you can add a little grated parmesan & black pepper if you want more kick.
Spiced lamb with Spinach is good - lamb mince fried with onion, cinnamon, mushrooms. Finely chop spinach and mix through for last minute of frying.
Serve with feta cheese in pita bread.
Spinach with roast butternut squash & chorizo. Roast peeled cubed BS in oven with olive oil & cubes of chorizo, mix with cooked giant couscous and toasted pumpkin seeds serve on a plain bed of uncooked baby spinach. The oils from the roasted chorizo & BS make a good dressing but the spinach keeps it from being cloying and the pumpkin seeds give a crunch. Bit of a seasonal favourite ATM.

Add chopped spinach or parsley into the mix for savoury crepes. Stuff the crepes with other veggies/pulses, sprinkle cheese on the rolls and grill to melt it. Heaven.

ratatouille works with green leaf veg. Brocolli, courgette and cauliflower are great in tempura batter. Pureed cauliflower is good served with fish, stir fried brocolli, cabbage and sprouts are amazing when done with soy sauce and sesame oil then topped with toasted sesame seeds.

Some lovely looking things there. I'm going tohave a browse tonight and try something new for tea .

Steamed Broccoli with a chilli and garlic oil, topped with fresh Parmesan.
Savoy cabbage with extra virgin olive oil and lemon juice.
Coleslaw - endless recipes available for this one - I like to mix in chipotle paste.
Explore varieties of cabbage - some like the savoy and very sweet and lovely just with some melted butter.