22 Ways with Fresh Greens

Spinach, chard, pea shoots, and kale are just a few of the greens that take center stage in these healthy and hearty dishes.


Tagliatelle with Nettle and Pine Nut Sauce
Seattle chef Ethan Stoll serves this delicate, fresh-tasting sauce over housemade nettle pasta. Nettles have small stinging hairs when raw; once cooked, they're safe to touch.
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Sautéed Escarole with Toasted Pearl Couscous and Poached Eggs
At Staple & Fancy Mercantile in Seattle, chef Ethan Stowell makes this comforting dish with fregola sarda (a toasted Sardinian pasta) and duck eggs, but widely available pearl (aka Israeli) couscous and chicken eggs work well too.
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Collard Greens with Guanciale and Chiles
San Francisco chef Craig Stoll jokes that the nontraditional greens with classic Italian seasonings make this dish "Southern/Italian-as opposed to southern Italian." It's worth it to track down guanciale-rich, sweet Italian-style bacon-and fruity, hot Calabrian chiles.
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Crispy Grilled Kale and Pancetta Risotto
Elise Wiggins, chef at Panzano in Denver, makes her risotto with speck, a cured ham with a smoky juniper flavor. Pancetta works fine as a substitute.
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Tuscan Kale, White Bean, and Ciabatta Soup
Day-old bread thickens this soup from Cathy Whims of Nostrana in Portland, making it custardy. The soup has a kick; for a milder flavor, cut back on the chile flakes.
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Kale and Radicchio Salad with Broken Caesar Dressing
This eggless Caesar dressing from Seattle chef Ethan Stowell has lots of anchovies, yet the flavors are perfectly balanced. Ethan uses a very bitter chicory called puntarelle; we've used the more available (and milder) kale and radicchio.
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Winter Green Turnovers
Light and flaky phyllo dough offers a nice contrast to the soft and creamy green filling of these turnovers. They make perfect hors d'oeuvres or a side dish served with grilled lamb chops and a glass of wine.
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Asian Greens and Tofu Soup
This soup is a nice remedy to those cold, damp winter days. Dashi, a light Japanese broth made from seaweed and flaked bonito fish adds the rich savory flavor without being overly fishy.
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Curried Spinach with Fresh Cheese (Sag Paneer)
Feeling a little adventurous? This classic Indian recipe is full of spiced flavor. Served over steamed jasmine rice with warmed flat bread on the side, it's a fantastic meal to serve anytime.
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Steamed Halibut Packages
Little bundles of fresh fish make a stunning presentation in this dish. Easy to make, good for you, and incredibly fresh tasting, you can't go wrong with this one. The butter sauce is the special ingredient that makes it deliciously decadent.
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Flank Steak Braciole
The contrast of seared steak filled with greens makes a striking duo here. The roll can be assembled a few hours ahead of time, making this a nice meal for entertaining or a weeknight dinner.
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