Spicy Greens Recipes

SPICY COLLARD GREENS

Steps:

• Use a knife to cut on either side of the large rib running up each collard green leaf. Remove it and discard it. You don't need to go all the way up the leaf, just remove the thickest part. For smaller leaves, just remove the stem. Stack about 4 to 5 leaves, roll them up, and cut into 1/2-inch strips. Repeat with remaining leaves.
• Cook bacon in a large pot over medium heat until crisp. Remove with a slotted spoon to a paper towel lined plate.
• Add onion to bacon fat and cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until softened.
• Add broth, vinegar, sugar, red pepper flakes, and tabasco sauce to pot. Stir to combine.
• Add collard greens and use tongs to turn and mix them until they reduce in size some. Cover, turn heat to low and cook for 1 hour, stirring occasionally.
• Before serving, sprinkle bacon on top and season to taste with salt and pepper.

SPICY PORK BOWLS WITH GREENS

Steps:

• Freeze tenderloin until firm around the edges, 30-45 minutes, if time permits.
• Combine sambal oelek, brown sugar, ginger, garlic, 2 Tbsp. soy sauce, and 2 tsp. sesame oil in a resealable plastic bag.
• Thinly slice pork with a long, sharp knife. Add to marinade, seal bag, and knead to coat. Let sit at least 10 minutes and up to 2 hours.
• Heat 1 Tbsp. vegetable oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high. Add half of pork in a single layer; season lightly with salt. Cook, undisturbed, until browned underneath, about 1 minute. Toss pork, then continue to cook, tossing, until cooked through, about 1 minute more. Transfer to a plate. Repeat with another 1 Tbsp. vegetable oil and remaining pork. Wipe out skillet.
• Heat remaining 1 Tbsp. vegetable oil in skillet over medium-high. Add carrots in a single layer and cook, undisturbed, until starting to soften and brown underneath, about 2 minutes. Add collard greens and toss to wilt. Cook, tossing occasionally, until vegetables are crisp-tender, about 2 minutes.
• Combine vinegar and remaining 1 Tbsp. soy sauce and 1/4 tsp. sesame oil in a small bowl.
• Divide rice among bowls; arrange vegetables and pork over. Drizzle with dressing and top with scallions. Serve gochujang alongside.

INDIAN SPICED GREENS

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a large non-stick pan or wok, sizzle the cumin and mustard seeds for 1 min, then add the chilli, ginger and turmeric. Fry until aromatic, then add the greens, a pinch of salt, a splash of water and the peas.
• Cover the pan and cook for 4-5 mins until the greens have wilted. Add the lemon juice, ground coriander, half the fresh coriander and half the desiccated coconut, then toss everything together. Pile into a serving dish and scatter with the rest of the coconut and coriander.

STIR-FRIED SHRIMP WITH SPICY GREENS

Steps:

• Combine the broth, 2 teaspoons of the soy sauce, and 1 tablespoon of the rice wine or sherry and sugar in a small bowl. Combine the garlic, 1 tablespoon of the ginger, and the minced chiles in another bowl. Have all of your ingredients within reach of your wok or pan.
• In a medium bowl combine the cornstarch, 1 teaspoon soy sauce, 1 tablespoon rice wine or sherry, and 1 tablespoon of the ginger. Stir together well. Lightly salt the shrimp and toss with the cornstarch mixture until coated.
• Heat a 14-inch flat-bottomed wok or a 12-inch skillet over high heat until a drop of water evaporates within a second or two when added to the pan. Add in the oil by pouring it on the sides of the pan and swirling the pan. Add the garlic, ginger and chiles and stir-fry for no more than 10 seconds. Add the red pepper and stir-fry for 1 minute. Add the shrimp with any liquid in the bowl and stir-fry for 2 to 3 minutes, until pink and opaque. Add the amaranth (or beet greens) and scallions, stir-fry for about 30 seconds, add the broth mixture and stir-fry for 1 minute, or until the greens have wilted. Add the cilantro and stir-fry for another 30 seconds. Remove from the heat and serve with rice or noodles, red rice being my first choice.

HOT AND SPICY GREENS

Steps:

• Melt butter in Dutch oven over medium heat.
• Cook remaining ingredients in butter, stirring frequently, until onion and greens are tender; drain.

SPICY GREENS WITH GARLIC

Steps:

• Cook the garlic in olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally, until golden brown and crispy, about 3 minutes; take care that the garlic doesn't get too brown or it will be bitter. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the garlic chips to a paper towel. Add the onions and red pepper (add a little more if you like things spicy) to the skillet and cook, stirring, until light brown, about 10 minutes. When the onions are almost done, add the greens in batches and cook, uncovered, just until tender, about 2 minutes. Cover and cook, stirring occasionally, until tender, about 5 minutes. Transfer to a serving dish. Top with the reserved garlic chips and garnish with cheese.

SPICY COLLARD GREENS

Steps:

• Trim the thick stems and any wilted or yellow parts of the leaves form the collards. Cut the leaves crosswise into 1/2-inch strips. Wash them in plenty of cold water and drain them well. You will have about 12 cups of shredded leaves.
• Heat the oil in a large deep pan over medium-high heat. Add the red pepper flakes and stir until fragrant. Add the greens and cook, tossing and stirring, until they are coated with oil and pepper and wilted but maintain their vibrant color, about 4 minutes. Transfer to a serving bowl, season with salt and serve.

SPICY GREENS WITH WARM BALSAMIC DRESSING

Steps:

• Arrange greens on a large platter. Heat oil and garlic in a small pan over moderate heat. Simmer garlic in oil to infuse the flavor. Remove the garlic from the oil and transfer it to a small bowl. Wipe the pan and return to heat. Add balsamic vinegar. Raise heat to high and reduce vinegar by 1/2, 30 seconds. Stream oil into saucepan and whisk to combine with vinegar. Drizzle dressing over the salad and season the greens with salt and pepper.

SPICY BRAISED COLLARD GREENS

Steps:

• In a large Dutch oven, cook the bacon over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally, until just crisp, 10 to 15 minutes. Remove the bacon to a paper towel-lined plate. Pour off all but 3 tablespoons of the bacon drippings and lower the heat to medium. Add the onions and cook until tender and translucent, 3 to 5 minutes.
• While the bacon and onions are cooking, prepare the greens. To remove the thick, woody stems that run down the center of the leaves, hold the base of the collard stem in one hand. Wrap your other hand around the bottom of the stem, directly under the leaf (like you are holding a baseball bat). In one firm motion, quickly slide your hand up the stem, removing the leaf in one swift movement. To chop the leaves, stack a few on top of each other and roll up like a cigar. Slice the roll into 1-inch pieces, rotate, and give another good chop. Continue until all the greens are chopped.
• Increase the heat of the Dutch oven to medium-high. Add a few large handfuls of greens at a time - stirring constantly to allow each batch to wilt for a few moments - until you can fit all of the greens into the pot. Continue to saute the greens for 3 to 5 minutes, until bright green and wilted. Season with a very generous pinch of kosher salt and a few big grinds of freshly ground black pepper. Add the chicken stock, vinegar, sugar, and red pepper flakes to the greens and stir until combined. Bring to a boil, then immediately reduce heat to low. Cover and simmer for 45 minutes.
• Add the cooked bacon to the greens and simmer an additional 15 minutes. Taste for seasoning (don't be afraid to be generous with the salt). Serve with hot pepper vinegar on the side.

SPICY GREENS

Steps:

• Wash the spinach thoroughly. Cook in a saucepan over low heat about 5 minutes; do not add water. (There is usually enough water already clinging to the leaves to steam the greens.) Collard greens or kale may take 7 - 10 minutes.
• Heat the oil in a skillet and sauté the onion and tomato for 4 - 5 minutes. Add the cooked greens, lemon slices, and seasonings; stir constantly for a few minutes. Serve hot.

CHERYL'S SPICY COLLARD GREENS

Steps:

• Combine water, ham hocks, and salt in a large pot; bring to a boil. Boil for 30 minutes. Remove from heat. Remove ham hocks from the water and discard.
• Add collard greens, sugar, and red pepper flakes to the water. Simmer over low heat until greens are tender, 2 1/2 to 3 hours. Serve immediately.

SPICY SAUTEED DANDELION GREENS

Steps:

• Cook greens in a 6- to 8-quart pot of boiling salted water until ribs are tender, 4 to 5 minutes, then drain in a colander. Rinse under cold water to stop cooking and drain well, gently pressing out excess water.
• Heat oil in a 12-inch heavy skillet over moderate heat until hot but not smoking, then cook garlic, stirring, until pale golden, about 30 seconds. Increase heat to moderately high, then add greens, red pepper flakes, and salt and sauté, stirring, until liquid greens give off is evaporated, about 4 minutes.

EASY SPICY KALE & MUSTARD GREENS

Steps:

• Prepare the kale and mustard greens by cutting middle stem out of each leaf. Rinse the leaves thoroughly.
• Cut the greens into strips that are about 1 inch by 3-4 inches.
• Add 4 tsp of water to a 2 quart pot. bring to boil on medium heat.
• Add the kale first, then the mustard greens pour 1/4 teaspoon into the greens and cover tightly with lid.
• Cook for 5-10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the greens are wilted and tender.
• When the greens are done cooking, they should be dark green. Keep the lid on the pot and set aside.
• In a small saucepan heat 1 tsp oil or butter until almost smoking at medium high heat.
• Add mustard seeds and cumin seeds. They will pop and sizzle. turn heat to medium.
• Add green chili pepper and crushed garlic and fry until lightly browned. Optional: add 1/8 teaspoon red chili pepper.
• Pour mixture over greens. Add remaining salt (1/2 tsp) to taste.
• Serve with a dash of lime juice (brings out the flavor of the greens).