Charred Greens with Garlic


Charred greens with garlic is an exquisite way to get your supergreens in, without having to resort to a grass-flavored smoothie. Your favorite greens are quickly charred and then given a boost with chile flakes and raw garlic. Doesn’t that sound better?

A soft green casserole dish filed with lightly charred broccolini, kale, and green beans, sprinkled with chile flakes and garlic.

Adapted from Elizabeth Van Lierde | Everyday Entertaining | Weldon Owen, 2021

This green power-packed, healthy dish is inspired by one from an amazing Indian restaurant, Dishoom, in London. My best friends and I waited two hours for a table at this restaurant and I walked away having eaten one of the best side dishes I’ve ever had.–Elizabeth Van Lierde

WHAT GREENS ARE GOOD WHEN CHARRED?

If you aren’t into kale or can’t find broccolini, all is not lost. There are all kinds of greens that’ll stand up to this rather indelicate treatment. Obviously, you’re going to need things that will stand up to the heat so no baby spinach or pea shoots. But how about escarole, mustard greens, full-grown spinach, fiddleheads, or endive? And in place of green beans, asparagus would be a treat, as would broccoli. What we’re saying is that it’s open to interpretation, your taste, and what your crisper drawer holds. Have at it!

Charred Greens with Garlic

A soft green casserole dish filed with lightly charred broccolini, kale, and green beans, sprinkled with chile flakes and garlic.

These greens are simply charred and tossed in aromatic raw garlic, and complement just about any protein you care to pair with them.

Elizabeth Van Lierde

Prep 25 mins

Cook 15 mins

Total 40 mins

  • Trim broccolini so that the pieces are no thicker than the green beans. In a large bowl, combine broccolini, beans, and kale.
  • Drizzle with oil and toss well to coat.

  • Heat a cast-iron frying pan or wok over medium-high heat until very hot.
  • Working in 2 or 3 batches, add greens mixture and cook until charred, 6 to 8 minutes per batch. Transfer to a large bowl and repeat with remaining vegetables.

  • Toss greens mixture with red pepper flakes and garlic, season with 1/4 teaspoon salt and a few turns of the pepper mill. Taste, and adjust seasoning, if needed. Devour.

Serving: 1servingCalories: 50kcal (3%)Carbohydrates: 9g (3%)Protein: 3g (6%)Fat: 1g (2%)Saturated Fat: 1g (6%)Polyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gSodium: 25mg (1%)Potassium: 148mg (4%)Fiber: 2g (8%)Sugar: 3g (3%)Vitamin A: 1551IU (31%)Vitamin C: 61mg (74%)Calcium: 69mg (7%)Iron: 1mg (6%)

Recipe Testers’ Reviews

Originally published August 26, 2021

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