The idea here is to use a whole bunch of greens, sliced into fat ribbons, and then combine them with some creamy, cheesy goodness for a dish that’s similar to mac n cheese but with way more nutrients, minerals, vitamins, fiber, good fats and all that other stuff your body gets from green food! I used to love cooking pasta and dressing it up with olive oil, grated cheese, hot pepper flakes and lots of garlic. In retrospect, the pasta was just a vehicle for the seasonings and cheese so why not replace it with the one food most missing from American diets? Why not indeed!
Ingredients:
A big bunch of sturdy greens like collards or the leaves from your broccoli, romanesco or brussels sprouts plants. Strip the leaves from the stems, stack the leaves and slice into fettuccine sized ribbons.
Olive oil, enough to saute all your greens
a clove or three of mashed or minced garlic
and any or all of these flavorful, medicinal seasonings: hot peppers, fennel, garlic salt, sea salt, black pepper, paprika smokey or hot, all to taste
Fresh goat cheese, get it local at Berkshire Organics or the Berkshire Co-op Market
Procedure:
Heat the olive oil in your cast iron skillet on medium heat, add your garlic and any whole spices you are using like the hot pepper flakes and the fennel seeds.
Before the garlic starts to brown, add in all your pretty green ribbons and saute til wilted and cooked through.
Add salt to taste and any powdered spices you are using, like paprika.
When the greens are cooked to your liking and you’ve adjusted the seasonings, serve the greens and top with as much goat cheese as you like. Mix it well, it will melt instantly on the hot greens and make a creamy sauce, kinda like mac n cheese but with out the gluey macaroni and unsettling powdered ‘cheese’. Top with some hot sauce or sriracha if you need extra heat. Isn’t it comforting to know that your comfort food is really nourishing?