Wildcrafting: My favorite recipe for greens

This recipe is inspired by the many Indian style recipes for spinach I have enjoyed over the years. But it is not hot (spicy) unless you choose to make it so. The greens are infused with the spices until they turn buttery soft. It is fragrant, has a rich feel, and just tastes wonderful.

What greens should you use for this? You can go with traditional spinach. You can also try chard. I like it with kale and collards more than anything. Made with just dandelion greens it is stunning. I also mix and match. Kale with some dandelion, a bunch of yellow dock, the narrow leafed Rumex Crispus, leaves, late season lamb’s quarters, Chenopodium, does well (but doesn’t look great). Early in the spring it is a very nontraditional way to cook poke Phytolacca americana (but only early in the spring - poke is toxic after a few weeks). Turnip greens, beet greens, you can add chickweed, Stellaria media, purslane, Portulaca oleracea, whatever is available and that you’d like to try. You could even add a bit of garlic mustard Alliaria officinalis to the mix, although I would not use more than about 1/3 garlic mustard so that the subtle seasonings aren't overwhelmed.

Lamb's quarters, Chenopodium album, is a great wild green to mix in. This late in the season it is a little tougher so cooking it is a good way to use it. It can turn brown in the process, and also cooks faster than kale or collards so add it halfway through.

Linda Diane Feldt | Contributor

I’ll probably do the demonstration with kale. Both kale and collards are abundant this time of year, and worth every bite. They both get sweeter once we’ve had our first frost, but it is great almost all year-round.

My feeling is that it is worth the trouble to buy whole spices, and grind your own. A mortar and pestle is fine, or dedicate a small coffee grinder as a spice grinder. It takes almost no extra time, and the result is fresher spices, better flavor, and often the whole spices are a little less expensive as well. The turmeric and asafetida ‑‑ is purchased already ground.

This recipe can be found in my cookbook “Spinach and Beyond: Loving Life and Dark Green Leafy Vegetables” available locally at Morgan and York, Crazy Wisdom Bookstore and Tearoom, Nicola’s Books, and Indigo Forest. Or come to the HomeGrown Festival and I’ll autograph a copy for you.

Aromatic Greens

Serves: 4-6
Time: 5 minutes to prepare, 20-30 to cook
Type of dish: Side
Equipment needed: Skillet, spice grinder optional
Leftovers: Use within three days, can be frozen
Ingredients: Asafetida, cumin, coriander, cardamon seeds, cloves, cinnamon, turmeric, 2 bunches greens or two packages frozen, or combination of greens.

In a large skillet, use about 1 cup of water. Add 1/8 teaspoon asafetida, 2 teaspoon ground cumin, 1 teaspoon ground coriander, 1 teaspoon ground cardamom seeds, 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves, 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon, 1 teaspoon turmeric.
While simmering wash and sort through two bunches greens. Spinach, kale or collards are best. Tear or chop into bite-sized pieces. Or use 2 packages frozen greens. No need to dry the greens. Add to skillet, and cover. The cover may not fit right away, stir occasionally until they are reduced in size and the cover settles. Let cook covered, on low heat for at least 20 minutes or until very tender. Stir a few times, add more water if needed.
Remove from heat and blend in about 3/4 cup yogurt. Serve warm.

Variations: In place of the water, use 2 tablespoons olive oil. Heat the spices until they pop, and are very fragrant, about 2 minutes. Add the greens, pour additional water over them (about 3/4 cup), and proceed as above.