Swiss chard and kale recipes galore, plus a bunch of other leafy greens you never thought of.
If you want to be eating all your vitamins and minerals, leafy greens should be your go-to ingredient. The darker and greener the better.
In fact, a study published in the British Medical Journal in 2010 showed that eating more green leafy vegetables may reduce your risk of type 2 diabetes by 14 percent.
But there’s more to the leafy green world than kale recipes. Here are 21 uses for leafy greens to be sure you’re power packing your breakfast, lunch and dinner.
1. Dandelion Greens and Pepper Omelette
Greens for breakfast, and not just any greens, but ones from dandelions.
Kale and pizza for breakfast. Rejoice.
Romaine salad: boring. Grilled romaine salad: exciting.
4. Roasted Carrots with Mustard Greens Gremolata
The peppery bite of mustard greens pairs well with the sweet flavor of roasted carrots.
5. Garlicky Winter Greens and Chickpea Salad
This recipe is good for any type of greens that you have on hand; kale, collard, mustard greens or even beet greens.
Instead of rice, hearty cannellini beans partner up with chard in this hearty dish.
7. Stuffed Kale with Bulgur Rice and Sun-Dried Tomatoes
Use kale as a wrap for other nutritious ingredients.
Don’t throw those greens out after you’ve chopped them off of your beets, turn them into pesto.
Yes, you can use this cruciferous vegetable to make pizza crust.
10. Red Pepper Rabini, White Beans and Grits
Rapini, also known as broccoli rabe, takes center stage in this quick and easy one bowl meal (that you can top with an fried egg if you feel like it).
11. Roasted Sweet Potato, Quinoa and Watercress Warm Salad
Don’t scoff at watercress. It’s not just for sandwiches at high tea, it’s also a good ingredient for healthy salads.
12. Comte, Olive and Arugula Grilled Cheese
This, my friends, is not your average grilled cheese.
13. Fried Beans with Sorrel, Feta and Sumac
With spring comes sorrel, and in this recipe it turns into a comforting bowl of goodness.
14. Asian Carrot Collard Wraps
You don’t need rice paper to make wraps. No, collard greens will do just fine.
Chard stems often get tossed, and they shouldn’t. Turn them into pickles instead.
No matter what ingredients you have, this ensures you get a killer kale salad every single time.
17. White Bean and Arugula-Walnut Pesto Tartines
You could also call this “spreadable greenness in a jar.”
This recipe is reminiscent of one from the 1950s. Except much healthier and tastier.
19. Artichoke, Kale and Ricotta Pie
Good for when you want to switch up your quiche habits.
20. Black Bean an Chard Breakfast Tacos
Have your chard and eat it for breakfast too.
Yet another way to put greens that would otherwise make their way directly into the compost to good use.
Related on EcoSalon
21 Things to do With Cauliflower (aka the New Kale)
How to Make Your Own Kale Chips
21 Seasonal Sweet Potato Recipes
Image: Swiss Chard Rainbow