Yummy Yards Box #8

The Mission: to create a delicious dish out of Brussels sprout greens.

Level of Difficulty: nigh on impossible.

Probability of Success: unlikely.

There’s gotta be something I can make out of those darn, huge leaves that won’t seem like drudgery to eat!  I refuse to dislike a vegetable!

Searched around on the internet for inspiration, and stumbled upon a tasty-looking recipe: Indian spiced greens recipe – Recipes – BBC Good Food.

Made a few changes and here is what I came up with:

Brussels Sprout Leaves and Kale, Indian Style

• 1 tsp. cumin seed
• 1/2 tsp. black mustard seed
• large chunk of fresh ginger, chopped
• 1/2 tsp. turmeric
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 1 tsp. ground coriander
• 1 onion, chopped
• Brussels sprout leaves and kale, chopped
• 1 or 2 roasted jalapeno peppers
• 1 bunch cilantro, chopped
• 2 tbsp. dry, unsweetened coconut
• lemon juice
• 1 goodly pinch of sugar

Heat oil in pan.  Add cumin seed and black mustard seed.  When it starts to pop add ginger, turmeric, salt and coriander.  Stir in onion and hot peppers.  Sauté until translucent, adding a splash of water if it begins to stick.  Add chopped Brussels sprout leaves, kale and about 1/4 cup water.  Cover and steam about 15 minutes.  Stir in cilantro, coconut, lemon juice to taste and sugar.  Coarsely process with immersion blender.

Mission Results: 100% delicious.  A complete success.  More Brussels sprout greens, please! 

Actually, I couldn’t stop “tasting” it from the pan.  My son accused me of trying to trick him into eating greens, “You can stop pretending to like it, Mom.  I’m NOT trying it!”  Too bad for him, and all the more for me.

Which just goes to show, I suppose, that vegetables are like dogs: there are no bad ones; only bad owners.

Rest of the box: made some more salsa verde with the onion, garlic, tomatillos and fresh chiles Emi thoughtfully substituted for this week’s turnips.  Will cook the beet greens tomorrow night  in olive oil and toss in some sea salt and a splash of vinegar.  (Why mess with perfection?)  The beets themselves are cooked and waiting to be peeled.  Can’t wait for lunch tomorrow.  I’m not even going to share the beets.  Anyone who says they taste like dirt doesn’t deserve them.  And for dessert, fresh plums and blackberries and maybe a little pear sauce on vanilla ice-cream.

That was easy…