I know what you're thinking - Simple Sautéed Greens?! Is that even exciting? Let me be the first to tell you - YES IT IS AND I AM OBSESSED! It also pairs perfectly with my favorite Eggplant Parmesan and the baked rigatoni!
The obsession with this is real. And it's been on regular rotation in our house for years. I know a lot of us stepped up our CSA games in the last few years to help our local farmers (community support agriculture) and the amount of greens I get on a weekly basis is intense.
So intense there is just no way I could possible eat them all in salads. So Simple Sautéed Greens to the rescue. Below you'll find one of my all time favorite recipes to cook any type of green. Kale, Swiss Chard, Collard Greens... you name it. If it's leafy and hearty, it's going to work well in this recipe. Once you've got these wilted down, you can serve them any which way.
A few of my favs ways to use Sautéed Greens include:
- just as a side dish along any kind of protein
- fold them into a pasta dish and add cheese - kinda like this
- use the greens to stuff into a chicken breast before cooking.
- make sure any excess moisture is off the greens and use on top of pizza
- add it into a larb bowl!
Simple Sautéed Greens
Ingredients
- 4 tablespoons olive oil
- 4-5 bunches leafy greens (Tuscan kale, Spinach, Swiss Chard, Rainbow Chard etc) stems discarded and leaves coarsely chopped
- 4 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
- ½ cup dry white wine
- ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
- ½ lemon juiced (about 2-3 tablespoons)
- Kosher salt and freshly cracked black pepper to taste
Instructions
- In a large skillet, heat 3 tablespoons of the oil over medium high heat.
- Add the greens in batches, letting it wilt down before adding the next batch and stirring often.
- Once wilted, make a hole in the middle of the pan and add the remaining 1 tablespoon of olive oil and garlic. Sauté for 30 seconds until fragrant and then stir into the greens.
- With the heat still at medium high, add the white wine and let the alcohol cook out. Add the lemon juice, red pepper flakes and season with salt and pepper. Let any excess moisture drain off and serve
Notes
- just as a side dish along any kind of protein
- fold them into a pasta dish and add cheese – kinda like this
- use the greens to stuff into a chicken breast before cooking.
- make sure any excess moisture is off the greens and use on top of pizza
- add it into a larb bowl!
What would be the best substitute for the wine? I’ve developed an allergy to alcohol so can’t have it, usually broth is suggested for other recipes, would that work? I saw other people used balsamic would it be the same amount as wine or less? Thanks!
Is 4-5 bunches about equal to 4-5 cups? I am not experienced with cooking green but this looks delicious!
4-5 bunches would be more like 10-12 cups packed
Do you think napa cabbages work in this?
sure!
I've made this 2 weeks in a row and it will be on regular rotation from now on! I get a huge bag of greens from my CSA every week and sometimes struggle to use them all... I love that I can use ALL of them in this recipe. So simple and delicious, I watched you make it on IG and didn't really need to reference the recipe so thank you! Super bright and delicious.
Made these last night with a New York strip, husbanded loved them. Gracias Gaby 🙂
Meant to give a 5 star!
Can you use just spinach or do you have a separate recipe for sautéed spinach that you recommend? Thanks!
you can use just spinach
delicious way to plow through csa greens. I used kale and spinach. even my kid ate it. it went well with spaghetti and meatballs.
I made this for dinner and OMG—I could not get enough. I will be making this several times a week.
do yall think i could use mustard greens or collard greens instead ?
totally
Just a tip...the thicker stems that most dispose of, just strip them away from the leaves and then slice them into "coins" and into the pan just a minute or two sooner than the leaves. The wine cook out near the end is essential imo, for the acid it leaves behind. I love to use a splash of barrel aged sherry vinegar.
I have lots of greens growing in the garden and am always looking for new ways to incorporate them into a meal. This sounds delicious!
How about an entire head of romaine that accidentally fell to the back of the fridge and froze! I know you can grill it but I’m not sure about already frozen lettuce. My first thought is no but thought I’d check what you might say.
I wouldn't do lettuce
Can you use escarole?
absolutely
I was looking for a healthy dinner. This Recipe in my inbox inspired me. I did not have the white wine and substituted balsamic vinegar. Added a handful of roasted chick peas for protein. Delicious! I will try it with white wine soon. Thanks Gaby!
I am so glad I read this, I didn't have white wine so I did balsamic and it was delicious!!!
Hi gabby!
Can you use frozen greens with this recipe?
yes!! just thaw and make sure they are as dry as possible before cooking