Leafygreens
Leafygreensareoneofthefirst
signsofspring.Englishspinach,
rocket,leafchicory,dandelion
- andeventhedistinctlynot-
greenradicchio– brighten
everymeal.Makethemthe
foundationsofsaladsand
slaws,thinlyslicethemfor
frittersandourgreenpockets
(recipep104),orpuréethemto
makegreensaucesandpestos.
If youcan,growgreensin
yourgardenorina potand
you’llalwayshavea leafortwo
toaddtoyourmeals,withno
wastageorpackaging.
Whenit comesto
nourishment,vibrantleafy
greensknockeverythingelse
outofthering,withspectacular
levelsofvitaminsandminerals.
Popeyewasreallyonto
somethingwithhisspinach-
onlydiet.Englishspinachis
a favouriteandit makesus
feellikesuper-parentsseeing
ourchildreneatit allweek.
Fora pepperybite,userocket,
dandelionorleafchicory.
Leafygreensdon’tlastlongif
they’renotstoredcorrectly,so
buy less more frequently, and
don’tletthemturntomushat
thebackofthefridge.Howlong
theylastwilldependonhow
sturdytheleavesare– English
spinachwon’tlastaslongas
silverbeet,forexample.
Whenstoredproperly,leafy
greenswillstayfreshand
crunchyforages.Rollthem
tightlyina slightlydamptea
towelandtuckintheends.
Storethemina sealed
container,calicobagorplastic
baginthefridgeandyou’llbe
shockedathowlongtheylast.
Thismethodis greatforherbs
too ( just not basil or mint).Gowith...
Mostleafygreenshavea bitter
flavourthatcanrangefrommild
toscowl-inducing.Thisbitterness
stimulatesbothappetiteand
digestion,makingeventhe
simplestleafsaladessentialat
thetable.Tobalancebitterness
andgrassytastes,pairleafy
greenswithfruitssuchasapple,
pear,peachandgrapes,and
creamynutssuchaswalnuts,
pinenutsandalmonds.Leafy
greensalwaysgowellwithsoft
cheeses,eggsandsweeter
meats, such as bacon and ham.Zero-wastetip
If you’releftwitha smallamountoffreshherbs,don’tbin
them.Finelychopthem,popintoanice-cubetray,topwith
oliveoilandfreeze.Defrostanduseina saladdressingor
adda cubetoa hotpanbeforesautéingfishorpotatoes.THEBESTGREENSAUCEWHAT’S-IN-THE-FRIDGE TABBOULEH-STYLE SALAD
Serves3-4asa side
Thissaladis inspiredbythewaytabboulehis made,balancingthe
flavoursandtexturesofgreensandgrainswitha tangydressing.
Usethisrecipeasa guide,combiningsomethinggreenandbitter,
somethingfromtheonionfamily,somethingcrunchyandfresh,
such as cucumber or tomato, and a small amount of grains.Roughlychop100gmofanycombinationofleafygreensandherbs
(suchasbabyspinach,rocket,Englishspinach,watercress,parsley,
dill,coriander,celeryleavesorfennelfronds)andplaceina large
bowl.Adda handfuloffinelyslicedredonion,goldenshallotorspring
onion,and1 cupfinelychoppedtomatoorcucumber,pomegranate
seedsorredgrapes.Add1 cupcookedbulghur,brownrice,farro
orquinoa,thenmixwith2 tbspextra-virginoliveoil,juiceof½lemon,
½tspsaltanda generousgrindofblackpepper. Mix again to ensure
everything is lightly coated in the dressing.➤CHIMICHURRI
ThisArgentinianherbsauceis usedincookingandasa table
condimentforgrilledmeats.AtCornersmith,wemakeourown
versionwheneverwehavea loadofcoriander,dillandparsley
stemsthatwedon’twanttothrowout.Thisrecipecomesfrom
ourfriendandlong-timechef,Sabine.It’sanabsolutewinnerand
wemakeit almosteveryweektotoptacosandpitas,drizzleover
roastedvegetables,marinatechickenorservewithgrilledfish.
Add a few tablespoons to a salad dressing for your next slaw.
Placeabout80gmherbleavesandstems(useonetypeora mix
ofcoriander,parsleyanddill)ina foodprocessorwith½tspcumin
seeds,1 choppedgarlicclove,2 tbspredwinevinegar,¼ tspsalt
anda pinchofchilliflakesif youwanta littleheat.Blendtoa paste,
thenwiththemotorrunning,add100mloliveoiluntilcombined.
Transfertoa jarorcontainer,coverwithoil and seal. Refrigerate
for up to 2 weeks. Makes about 1 cup.
Thisrecipe,fromourfriend
Margi,takesabout 15 minutes
tomakeandaddsplentyof
colouranda hitofirontoyour
plate.It’sgreattohaveinthe
fridgeforquick,nutritious
mealsandis a wonderfulway
to use up forgotten greens.Steam1 bunchEnglishspinach
(stemsandall)or½bunch
silverbeetleaves(removestems
andreserveforanotherrecipe)
ina largesaucepan,covered,
overlowheat.Oncesoft,turn
offtheheatandallowtocool.
Transfertoa foodprocessor
with1 choppedgarlicclove,
60ml(¼cup)oliveoil,1 tspplain
flourand¼ tspsaltandblack
pepper.Whizuntilblended,
thenadda slurpofmilkor
creamandwhizagainuntil
smooth.If it doesn’tlook
smoothenough,addsome
moreoilandwhizsomemore.
Taste,adjusttheseasoningand
transfertoa jarorcontainer.
Refrigerateforupto4 days.
Makes about 200ml.Greeneggs
Add2 tbspgreensauceto
2 eggsandwhiskwitha pinch
ofsaltandpepper.Cookin
a saucepanwitha knobof
butteroverlowheatuntil
scrambled. Serve on toast.Greenpasta
Tomakea simplepastasauce
combine60ml(¼cup)green
saucewith2 tbspcream,a pinch
ofsaltandpepper,lemon zest
and chilli flakes.Greentoast
Masha fewtablespoonsof
greensaucewithavocado,then
spreadontoastandtopwith
crumbled feta and fresh herbs.Greenmarinade
Combineequalpartsnaturalor
Greek-styleyoghurtandgreen
saucewithsomeextracrushed
garlicanda squeezeoflemon
anduseasa marinadefor
chicken thighs or fish.GOURMET TRAVELLER 103