Spigariello Recipes more recipes for cooking greens

Spigariello greens are related to broccoli; they are an heirloom Italian vegetable. Cook them like any kale! They have some little broccoli-like buds sometimes: these can/should be washed and chopped and eaten with the greens. They are a cooking green and can be used in any recipe calling for kale or chard. Ribollita! Bean soup! etc. They are sweet when eaten within 1-3 days of being harvested.

IDEAS to use spigariello

1) Make lentil or split pea soup and then add chopped greens at the end of cooking. Also try a chinese style hot and sour soup, or navy bean, etc. This is one of my favorite ways to consume greens.

2) Cook in olive oil with garlic and add a few chile flakes at the end. A great, easy and satisfying side dish. Or toss with pasta and pine nuts

3) Make #2 and put onto grilled cheese sandwiches or into tacos, with or without cheese

4) Make a frittata with already-cooked greens, or just add to scrambled eggs

from Eve Lynch: I used the spigariello in place of broccoli rabe in a Broccoli Rabe and White Bean soup from the book Vegetable Soups from Deborah Madison's Kitchen (p. 186).  It was super easy and fast, rustic and tasty.  The only liquid used is water, so the greens are what make the rich broth. Next I'm thinking of a braised greens and beans recipe in the book Vegetarian Suppers from Deborah Madison's Kitchen, that you serve with polenta.  (I am a huge D.Madison. fan.)

Greens Tacos

This recipe is one of my favorite breakfast recipes, but of course it would work at any time of day. Please note the amounts given are approximate, I don't measure anything when I make these. You could use more or less of any one of these ingredients. Serves 2-3

3/4 pounds greens, cleaned well and sliced into approximate 1 inch pieces
2 teaspoons cooking oil
2 chopped garlic cloves, or another alium family, whatever you have on hand (onion, green onion, green garlic, leek.....)
Pinch red pepper flakes or cayenne
2 Tablespoons cream cheese
4-6 small corn tortillas or 2-3 larger flour ones

Heat the oil and add the garlic, having the greens ready to go, and cook garlic for about 30 seconds. Then add greens and cook until bright green and wilted, add red pepper (and salt and black pepper if you like). Take off heat and stir in cream cheese. Heat tortillas, divide filling among them. Eat and enjoy.

Quick Greens (less than 10 minutes from start to finish)

Wash any type of greens that can be cooked (kale, radish greens, mustards, chard, spinach, etc.).
Saute with olive oil and garlic until wilted. Transfer to serving platter and add cracked black pepper and a splash of balsamic vinegar. Easy yet delicious!

Risotto with Greens
No greens will be wasted! If you are not sure how to use your greens, make this for dinner! Double the recipe!
1 small onion, finely chopped
2 T. olive oil
1 c. risotto, uncooked
1/2-3/4 lb. fresh greens, trimmed and torn (Radish greens, kale, chard, mustards, turnip greens, beet greens, etc.)
4 garlic cloves, minced
2 (14-1/2 oz.) cans chicken or vegetable broth
Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
1 c. grated Parmesan cheese, optional
Saute onion in olive oil in a small stock pan. Add risotto and saute until golden. Add greens and garlic; saute until greens are wilted. Stir in broth slowly (one can at a time). Cook, covered, on low heat until most of the liquid is absorbed, stirring occasionally. Add black pepper, stirring well. Add cheese, if desired, and blend well before serving.

GREENS AND BULGUR GRATIN

1/2 cup coarse bulgur*
2 pounds assorted greens such as kale, collard, escarole, spinach, Swiss chard,
and/or mustard greens
6 large garlic cloves, minced
3 tablespoons olive oil
1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan (about 1 ounce)
6 ounces chilled whole-milk or part-skim mozzarella, grated coarse

For topping
1/2 cup fine fresh bread crumbs
1 tablespoon olive oil

*available at natural foods stores and specialty foods shops

In a heat proof bowl pour enough boiling water over bulgur to cover by 1 inch. Cover bowl with a
plate to trap steam and let stand 20 minutes. Drain bulgur in a large fine sieve, pressing out excess
liquid, and transfer to a bowl.

Keeping each variety of green separate, tear greens into bite-size pieces, discarding stems. Still
keeping greens separate, wash thoroughly by dunking in a sinkfull of water and transfer to a colander
to drain.

Put coarser greens (kale or collard) in a 4 1/2- to 5-quart kettle and steam in water clinging to leaves,
covered, over moderate heat, stirring occasionally, until wilted, about 4 minutes. Add delicate greens
(escarole, spinach, Swiss chard, and/or mustard) to coarse greens and steam, covered, stirring
occasionally, until just wilted, 3 to 4 minutes. Drain greens in colander, pressing out excess liquid.

In a large heavy skillet cook garlic in oil over moderate heat, stirring, until softened but not golden.
Stir in greens and bulgur and season generously with salt and pepper. Stir in Parmesan and remove
skillet from heat.

Preheat oven to 400¡F. and lightly oil a 1 1/2-quart gratin dish or other shallow baking dish.

Spread half of greens mixture in dish and sprinkle evenly with mozzarella. Spread remaining greens
mixture over mozzarella and smooth top with a rubber spatula. Gratin may be prepared up to this
point 8 hours ahead and chilled, covered.

Make topping:
In a small bowl with a fork stir together bread crumbs and oil until crumbs are evenly moistened.

Sprinkle topping over greens mixture and bake in middle of oven 30 minutes, or until bubbling and
top is browned lightly.
Gourmet
September 1995

Greens and Ricotta Pie

1 lg head Swiss chard (or other greens) about 1&3/4 pounds
1 Tablespoon olive oil
1 bunch green onions, sliced 1/4 inch thick
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper
4 large eggs
1 container (15 oz) part skim ricotta cheese
3/4 cup low fat milk
1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
2 tablespoons cornstarch

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease 9&1/2-inch deep dish glass pie plate. Trim off two inches from swiss chard stems, discard ends. Seperate stems from leaves, thinly slice stems and coarsly chop leaves.
In nonstick 12-inch skiller, heat oil until hot. Add sliced stems and cook 4 minutes or until tender, stirring frequently. Add green onions, salt, and pepper and cook 1 min. Gradually add chopped leaves until wilted and excess moisture evaporates, about 5 min. In a large bowl, with wire whisk or fork, mix eggs, ricotta, milk, parmesan and cornstarch. Stir in swill-chard mixture.
Transfer mixture to pie plate. Bake pie 40 minutes or until knife inserted 2 inches from center comes out clean. 6 main dish servings.

This was probably from "Health" or "In Health" magazine. Michelle LaFever

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