As always, there were some rules I set before beginning the hunt:
- The leafy green itself had to be a/the star of the show.
- To limit the scope a bit, the leafy greens chosen were: arugula, beet greens, bok choy, cabbage (green only), collards, escarole, kale, mustard greens, spinach, and Swiss chard. We'll leave turnip greens and watercress for next time.
- If a recipe came from an aggregate recipe site, it had to have at least 4-1/2 stars or an 88% approval rating. If it came from a food blog, I’m taking the blogger’s word for it that it’s good.
- Naturally, the dish had to be both inexpensive and healthy.
- There were to be almost no salads, ‘cause they’re kinda boring.
- I could only include a few simple sautéed dishes. (This part was hard)
- Certain leafy greens have dishes associated with them (escarole and white beans, etc.), so I had to give one or two examples of each, and steer away from them for the rest of the search.
With luck, after this, you’ll never need to look for leafy green recipes again. Enjoy!
(P.S. I was going to put pictures in this, but the file is massive already, so apologies for the lack of photography. If you can imagine a head of lettuce, though, you've pretty much got the idea.)
ARUGULA
All Recipes: Goat Cheese and Arugula Pizza
All Recipes: Jen’s Tomato Arugula Bruschetta
Cooking Light: Chicken, Arugula, and Wild Rice Salad with Sauteed Apples
Cooking Light: Grilled Peaches over Arugula with Goat Cheese and Prosciutto
Cooking Light: Linguine with Arugula Pesto
Cooking Light: Nectarine, Prosciutto, and Arugula Bundles
Cooking Light: Orecchiette with Shrimp, Arugula, and Cherry Tomatoes
Eating Well: Risotto with Edamame, Arugula, & Porcini
Eating Well: Spaghetti with Arugula, Roasted Peppers & Prosciutto
Eating Well: Warm Arugula Bread Salad
Eating Well: Warm Chicken Sausage and Potato Salad
Epicurious: Arugula and Fava Bean Crostini
Epicurious: Bruschette with Chickpea Purée and Arugula
Epicurious: Chicken, Arugula and Red Bell Pepper Sandwiches
Epicurious: Grilled Portobello and Arugula Burgers
Kalyn’s Kitchen: White Bean Salad with Roasted Red Pepper, Arugula, and Parsley
La Tartine Gourmande: Red Radish and Arugula Soup
Recipe Zaar: Arugula & Chicken with Pasta
Recipe Zaar: Pasta with Tomatoes, Smoked Bacon, and Arugula
I’m pretty sure you could halve the olive oil (at least) and cut two pieces of bacon, and it’d still taste good.
Serious Eats: Pasta with Tuna, Arugula, and Chili
Cut back on the olive oil a bit for less fat.
Simply Recipes: Arugula Corn Salad with Bacon
Smitten Kitchen: Arugula, Potato, and Green Bean Salad
BEET GREENS
All Recipes: Roasted Beets and Sauteed Beet Greens
Being Cheap Never Tasted So Good: Beet Greens with Sausage and Spiral Pasta
Use turkey sausage here for less fat.
CHG: Beets and Greens Curry with Chickpeas
CHG: Vaguely Moroccan (or something) Beet Green Omelette
Cooking Light: Beet Greens with Oregano and Feta
Cooking Light: Beet Soup with Potatoes and Beet Greens
Cooking Light: Pasta with Beet Greens and Raisins
Eating Well: Roasted Beet Crostini
Epicurious: Farfalle with Golden Beets, Beet Greens and Pine Nuts
Ease up on the olive oil for less fat.
Epicurious: Roasted Beet Salad with Oranges and Beet Greens
Everybody Likes Sandwiches: Sauteed Beet Greens with Lime and Garlic
Fresh Approach Cooking: Fideos with Chickpeas and Beet Greens
Recipe Zaar: Beet Greens with Caramelized Onions
Recipe Zaar: Lemon and Butter Braised Beet Greens
A Veggie Venture: Beet Greens & Three Onion Pesto Pizza
A Veggie Venture: Beet Green Risotto
A Veggie Venture: Farro with Beet Greens
BOK CHOY
All Recipes: Spicy Bok Choy in Garlic Sauce
Eat This: Bok Choy with Sesame and Garlic Tofu
Eating Well: Roasted Baby Bok Choy
Epicurious: Provencal Bok Choy
Epicurious: Chicken, Shiitake and Bok Choy Soup
FatFree Vegan Kitchen: Herbed Polenta with Beans and Bok Choy
The Joys of Greens: Chili Tofu with Beans and Bok Choy
Pink of Perfection: Rice Bowl with Baby Bok Choy
Recipe Zaar: Bok Choy-Broccoli Stir Fry
Recipe Zaar: Bok Choy, Carrot and Apple Slaw
Recipe Zaar: Chow Chow Bok Choy
Recipe Zaar: Crunchy Bok Choy Slaw
Recipe Zaar: Sesame Bok Choy
Simply Recipes: Baby Bok Choy with Sherry and Prosciutto
A Veggie Venture: Soy-Glazed Baby Bok Choy
CABBAGE (Green only)
80 Breakfasts: Cabbage, Chickpea, and Chorizo Soup
101 Cookbooks: Rustic Cabbage Soup
All Recipes: Farikal
All Recipes: Summer Grilled Cabbage
All Recipes: Turkey Cabbage Rolls
CHG: Beet and Cabbage BBQ Slaw
CHG: Hot and Sour Cabbage Soup
CHG: Napa Cabbage and Red Onion Salad
Cooking Light: Asian Pear-Cabbage Salad
Cooking Light: Barbecued Cabbage with Santa Fe Seasonings
Wow. Let me know if anybody tries this. I’m intrigued.
Cooking Light: Cabbage Gremolata
Cooking Light: Plantation Beans and Cabbage
Cooking Light: Sweet Cabbage Salad
Cooking Light: Waldorf Cole Slaw
Daily Unadventures in Cooking: Linguine with Green Cabbage and Pancetta
Eating Well: Beef Cabbage Stirfry
Eating Well: Hot and Sour Slaw
Eating Well: Red Potato Colcannon
Eating Well: Stuffed Cabbage Rolls
Epicurious: Napa Cabbage Kimchi
FatFree Vegan Kitchen: Irish White Bean and Cabbage Stew
Kalyn’s Kitchen: Braised Napa Salad with Shitake Mushrooms
Karina’s Kitchen: Stuffed Cabbage with Roasted Sweet Potato & Quinoa
Orangette: Braised Green Cabbage with Onions, Carrots, and a Poached Egg
Recipe Zaar: Cabbage Salsa
Recipe Zaar: Curtido De Repollo - El Salvadorean Cabbage Salad
Recipe Zaar: Curried Cabbage
Recipe Zaar: Hungarian Noodles and Cabbage
Recipe Zaar: Weight Watchers Zero-Point Cabbage Soup
COLLARDS
All Recipes: Lentil and Green Collard Soup
All Recipes: Southern as You Can Get Collard Greens
All Recipes: Tasty Collard Greens
Bitten: Collards Braised in Red Wine
CHG: Collard Greens and Black-Eyed Peas
CHG: Sweet Chili Lime Tofu with Collards
Cooking Light: Long-Cooked Collards with Cane Syrup
Cooking Light: Slow-Braised Collard Greens
Cooking Light: White Bean and Collard Greens Soup
Eating Well: Collard Green & Black-Eyed Pea Soup
Epicurious: Brazilian Collard Greens
Epicurious: Ham and Black-Eyed Pea Soup with Collard Greens
Herbivoracious: Farro with Collard Greens and Bacon Salt
Kalyn’s Kitchen: Pasta with Sausage and Collard Greens
Modern Beet: Collard Greens with Spaghetti
Recipe Zaar: Awesome Collard Greens
Vegetarian
Recipe Zaar: Collard Greens and Red Beans
Recipe Zaar: Healthy Collard Greens Soup
Wednesday Chef: Collard Squares
Use a few egg whites for less fat.
ESCAROLE
All Recipes: Escarole and Bean Soup
Champaign Taste: Escarole and Chickpea Soup with Pesto
CHG: Escarole and White Beans
Cooking Light: Italian Bean Salad with Escarole
Eating Well: Grilled Polenta with Shrimp & Escarole
Epicurious: Escarole and Orzo Soup with Turkey Parmesan Meatballs
170 reviews, 95% would make again. That’s a LOT for Epicurious. This has to be good.
Epicurious: Pasta Shells with Escarole, Sausage, and Cheese
Got No Milk: Escarole Lentil Soup with Chicken Sausage
Recipe Zaar: Escarole and Beans in Red Sauce
Recipe Zaar: Pasta Shells With Chicken, Mushrooms, Escarole, and Sun-Dried Tomatoes
Serious Eats: Baked Escarole Torta
Serious Eats: Pappardelle with Escarole
The Unemployed Cook: Cremini, Eggplant, and Escarole Saute
KALE
First, go to I Heart Kale. They have everything you need. Then, click on these:
101 Cookbooks: Kale and Olive Oil Mashed Potatoes
I think you could use low-fat milk and a tablespoon less of olive oil here and still be okay.
All Recipes: Bean and Kale Ragu
All Recipes: Bean Soup with Kale
All Recipes: Chili-Roasted Kale
All Recipes: Kale Puttanesca
All Recipes: Simple Kale Soup
All Recipes: Sweet and Savory Kale
All Recipes: Tracy B’s Callaloo Soup
Apartment Therapy: Kale and Potato Gratin
Bitten: Kale, Sausage, and Mushroom Stew
Use turkey sausage for less fat.
CHG: Kale and Mushrooms with Polenta
CHG: Kale and White Bean Soup with Turkey Sausage
CHG: Kale Chips
CHG: Kale with Garlic and Peppers
CHG: Not-Quite Colcannon
CHG: Potato Leek Soup with Kale
CHG: Relaxed Kale and Root Veg Salad
Cooking Light: Braised Kale with Pinto Beans and Pancetta
Cooking Light: Kale with Lemon-Balsamic Butter
Cooking Light: Quick Kale with Bacon and Onions
Cooking Light: Sweet Potato, Sausage, and Kale Soup
Eating Well: Black-Eyed Peas with Pork & Greens
Eating Well: Fusili with Lentils and Kale
Eating Well: Indian-Spiced Kale and Chickpeas
Eating Well: Kale and Potato Hash
Eating Well: Kale with Apples and Mustard
Eating Well: Southern Kale
Eating Well: Spicy Potato and Kale Soup
Epicurious: White Bean, Kale and Roasted Vegetable Soup
FatFree Vegan Kitchen: North African Chickpea and Kale Soup
Kath Eats Real Food: Nutty Vanilla Sweet Potato and Kale Soup
Orangette: Boiled Kale with a Fried Egg and Toast
I think you could halve the olive oil here.
Recipe Zaar: Chinese-Style Kale
Recipe Zaar: Hearty Portuguese Kale Soup
Reduce the chorizo by half.
Recipe Zaar: Kale and Ginger Stir Fry
Recipe Zaar: Spicy Rice and Kale
MUSTARD GREENS
CHG: Quinoa with Mustard Greens and Shitake Mushrooms
Coastal Living: Vidalia Mustard Greens
Cooking Light: Polenta with Sausage and Greens
Cooking Light: Warm Salad of Mustard Greens and Black-Eyed Peas
Eating Well: Sauté of Cauliflower & Mustard Greens with Peanuts
FatFree Vegan Kitchen: Balsamic-Glazed Chickpeas and Mustard Greens
Food Mayhem: Pickled Mustard Greens
Kalyn’s Kitchen: Macaroni with Mustard Greens, Lemon, and Parmesan
Kath Eats Real Food: Mustard Greens and Beans Quinoa
Recipe Zaar: African Peanut Soup with Mustard Greens
Saffron Trail: Fried Rice with Mustard Greens
SPINACH
101 Cookbooks: Bulgar and Spinach Pilaf
101 Cookbooks: Spinach Rice Gratin Recipe
All Recipes: Creamy Italian White Bean Soup
All Recipes: Espinacas con Garbanzos (Spinach with Garbanzo Beans)
All Recipes: Greek Pasta with Tomatoes and White Beans
All Recipes: Penne Pasta with Spinach and Bacon
All Recipes: Spinach and Sun-Dried Tomato Pasta
All Recipes: Spinach, Red Lentil, and Bean Curry
All Recipes: Wendy’s Quick Pasta and Lentils
All Recipes: Wilted Spinach with Cherries and Goat Cheese
Andrea’s Recipes: Spinach and Basil Lasagna
Baking Bites: Crustless Spinach, Onion, and Feta Quiche
Bitten: Carrot, Spinach, and Rice Stew
CHG: Italian White Bean and Spinach Soup
CHG: Spinach Rice Casserole
Cooking Light: Curried Couscous, Spinach, and Roasted Tomato Soup
Cooking Light: Creamed Spinach Gratin
Cooking Light: Grits and Greens
Cooking Light: Individual Spinach-Asiago Gratins
Cooking Light: Mini-Spanakopitas
Cooking Light: Pork Chops Stuffed with Feta and Spinach
Cooking Light: Spinach and Artichoke Dip
Cooking Light: Spinach and Gruyère Souffle
Cooking Light: Spinach, Sun-Dried Tomato, and Parmesan Rolls
Cooking Light: Spinach with Raisins and Pine Nuts
Cooking Light: Turkey-Spinach Lasagna
Cooking Light: Warm Sesame Spinach
Eating Well: Cheese-&-Spinach-Stuffed Portobellos
Eating Well: Creamy Spinach Dip
Eating Well: Parmesan Spinach Cakes
Eating Well: Quinoa Salad with Dried Apricots & Baby Spinach
Eating Well: Sauteed Spinach with Pine Nuts & Golden Raisins
Eating Well: Spinach Soup with Rosemary Croutons
Eating Well: Wilted Spinach with Garlic
Eating Well: Spinach-&-Brie-Topped Artichoke Hearts
Eating Well: Spinach Pesto Appetizer
Eating Well: Spicy Stewed Potatoes & Spinach with Buttermilk (Aloo chaas)
Eating Well: Sautéed Spinach with Red Onion, Bacon & Blue Cheese
Epicurious: Lemon Turkey Soup with Fresh Spinach and Farfalle
Epicurious: Lentil Stew with Spinach and Potatoes
Epicurious: Spinach and Feta Turnovers
Epicurious: Spinach and Mushrooms with Truffle Oil
Epicurious: Spinach and Sun-Dried Tomato Frittata
Epicurious: Spinach Salad with Grilled Eggplant and Feta
This has a lot of oil, but I think at least half of it will go unused.
Epicurious: Spinach with Olive Oil and Lemon
Epicurious: Spinach with Sesame Miso Sauce
Recipe Zaar; Baked Asparagus Spinach Risotto
Recipe Zaar: Greek Spinach Rice Balls
Recipe Zaar: Israeli Spinach Fritters
Recipe Zaar: Lemon Spinach Rice
Recipe Zaar: Spinach Orzo
Recipe Zaar: Tortellini Tomato Spinach Soup
SWISS CHARD
All Recipes: Swiss Chard with Garbanzo Beans and Fresh Tomatoes
All Recipes: Red Chard and Caramelized Onions
CHG: Grilled Swiss Chard
CHG: Swiss Chard with Mushrooms
CHG: Swiss Chard with Pinto Beans and Goat Cheese
CHG: Tunisian-Style Greens and Beans
Cooking Light: Braised Chicken with Mushrooms and Chard
Cooking Light: Garbanzo and Greens Stew
Cooking Light: Lentil Soup with Chard
Cooking With Amy: Syrian Lentil Swiss Chard Soup
Eat This: Swiss Chard Scramble
Sub in some egg whites for less fat.
Eating Well: Chipotle Cheddar Chard
Eating Well: Skillet Gnocchi with Chard and White Beans
Eating Well: Stuffed Chard with Fresh Marinara
Epicurious: Barley and Lentil Soup with Swiss Chard
Epicurious: Black Bean Chili with Butternut Squash and Swiss Chard
Epicurious: Swiss Chard with Raisins and Almonds
FatFree Vegan Kitchen: Savory Swiss Chard Pie
Kalyn’s Kitchen: Baked Swiss Chard Stems with Olive Oil and Parmesan
The Kitchn: Israeli Couscous with Swiss Chard
Recipe Zaar: Blitva (Croatian Swiss Chard)
Recipe Zaar: Creamy Swiss Chard Pasta
Recipe Zaar: Swiss Chard and Penne Soup
Simply Recipes: Swiss Chard Tzatziki
MULTIPLE or CHOOSE-YOUR-OWN LEAFY GREEN DISHES
All Recipes: Greens with Cannellini Beans and Pancetta (beet greens and kale)
CHG: Gumbo z’Herbes (any leafy green)
Cooking Light: Braised Greens With Chipotle-Chile Vinaigrette (mustard greens and turnip greens)
Cooking Light: Rolled Greens (collards or kale)
Cooking Light: Sicilian-Style Greens over Polenta (endive, kale, and turnip greens)
Eating Well: Basic Greens with Garlic, Oil & Hot Pepper
Eating Well: Turkey Sausage & Arugula Pasta (arugula or spinach)
Epicurious: Sauteed Greens with Cannellini Beans and Garlic (spinach, mustard greens, kale, spinach, or broccoli rabe)
