After I get dwelling from the farmers market—weighed down with baggage brimming with yardstick-length leeks, carrot tops wafting within the wind, and bunches of Swiss chard the scale of shrubs—I in most cases salvage myself taking half in an clarify sport of Tetris attempting to suit the total lot into my fridge. But one trick that helps me every time is setting all of the hearty greens apart, wilting them, and marinating them flippantly before they ever proceed the fridge door threshold. No longer simplest does it drastically decrease the quantity of real property they eradicate up, nonetheless it arms me with the predominant constructing block for the leisure of the week’s cooking.
Right here’s how it works. Neat and de-stem a pair of pound (in most cases 2 or 3 bunches) of “hearty greens” love kale, used spinach, Swiss chard, or collards. Then, run the leaves into manageable objects and cook dinner them down till they’re mushy. This will likely be accomplished by fleet sautéing them with a splash of oil in a huge skillet or Dutch oven, or by steaming them over a dinky bit little bit of simmering water in a pot. The greens ought to serene be wilted and soft but serene vibrantly green. Once they’re correct simply, use tongs to transfer them onto a cutting board to frigid, then select them by fistfuls and squeeze out all of the excess liquid over the sink, which retains them from tasting waterlogged (extra considerable whenever you steamed them). Uncover them assist onto the cutting board for a gruesome prick, and then it’s time to marinate: Dress the greens with several glugs of olive oil and a few pinches of salt to taste. You desire them to taste grand, but do now not omit that these marinated greens are more of a constructing block than a standalone recipe. Packed up in an airtight container, they’ll withhold for a minimal of a week, ready to be deployed at a moment’s detect.
Once chances are high you’ll maybe possess the primary belief down, you’ll heed correct how flexible this trend is. It’s a grand components to fleet contain use of furry beet, turnip, and kohlrabi greens, and genuinely whatever leafy thing you’ve got mendacity round. (Correct do now not omit that every green has a varied cooking time, so be definite to cook dinner every one by one before combining and seasoning them.) As for the marinade, chances are high you’ll maybe perchance also add as mighty persona as you’d love: lemon or orange zest, a drizzle of toasted sesame oil, total spices love cumin or coriander, a splash of rice vinegar, or dried chile flakes will all add pizzazz. I have a tendency to protect it easy, though, due to that permits me essentially the most flexibility in a while within the week—chances are high you’ll maybe perchance also repeatedly add flavorings to your marinated greens, but chances are high you’ll maybe perchance also’t eradicate them away. And whilst you’ve packed them away into the fridge, you’ll salvage that there are unending fleet programs to comprise them into your weeknight meals. Listed right here are a few of my favorites.
Sandwiches, Tacos, and Crostini
These marinated greens contain a ravishing and gigantic sandwich filling; pair them with nut butter and sriracha, or fontina and roasted mushrooms for a grilled cheese. Or add them to tacos or tostadas alongside with cooked beans, salty cheese, shredded cabbage, and spritzes of lime juice. Whenever you happen to’ve got marinated greens, you additionally possess a transient appetizer at the ready—smear a crouton or crostini alongside with your favorite creamy cheese, pile on some greens, and top it all with a bathe of lemon zest.
Omelets and Scrambles
A dinner-mighty omelet comes collectively in minutes whilst you happen to can possess marinated greens to have confidence them with; add a dollop of yogurt or bitter cream and a sprinkling of chiles and also you’re all put. Or just fold them into your scrambled eggs or tofu scrambles alongside with whatever bits of leftovers chances are high you’ll maybe possess inserting out within the fridge.
Bowls, Soups, and More
In any “modular” trend meal—the assign constructing blocks love cooked grains, roasted vegetables or tofu, poached or boiled eggs, brothy beans, toasted nuts, and pickles come collectively considerably spontaneously—these marinated greens are your very best friend. They contain a pure addition to a grain bowl, or might maybe perchance also simply additionally be folded into cooked grains alongside with your favorite French dressing for a transient, contain-forward salad. Throw some correct into a soup to add extra heartiness and nutrition, or dash-fry with pasta or rice noodles. Once you explore correct how huge the prospect is, you’ll commence to feel lost with out a container of marinated greens obtainable.
Sliding that neat, dense dinky container of probability into my fridge—all those greens, a half their normal size—repeatedly brings me grand pride. But the payoff repeatedly comes a few days later, after I get to thank my past self for making all those sustaining, on-the-waft meals doable.
Throw some into this frittata, why don’t ya?
