Pink Greens

By Marissa Grace, posted 6 months ago

Photo: Sarah Shatz

Amanda & Merrill's Notes:

This may be the most thoughtful sauteed greens recipe we've ever encountered. Beet greens (which we think deserve more attention in the kitchen) are usually wilted in hot olive oil with a little garlic, and they're delicious this way, but Marissa Grace Desmond plotted out ways to amplify the greens' sweetness while tempering it with chilies. She has you brown garlic with shallot and red pepper flakes, then layer in sugar, black pepper and salt, before adding the greens and wilting them. Just before serving you splash the beet greens with sherry vinegar, which electrifies the whole dish. The key here is the sugar, which caramelizes with the garlic and tightens up the sauce, so by the time the greens are cooked (and beet greens should really be cooked), it wraps the greens in a cloak of sweet and fiery sauce. (By the way, we doubled the amounts here so it would serve 3 people; if you do this, add vinegar to taste.) - A&M

Whenever I cooked beets I felt like I needed to do something with the greens. They are always so beautiful and it seemed a shame to waste them so I did some tests and found my favorite way to eat them. - Marisa Grace Desmond

Serves 2

1 bunch beat greens
2 teaspoons chopped garlic
1/2 teaspoon course ground black pepper
1/4 teaspoon red pepper flake
2 teaspoons sugar
1 teaspoon olive oil
1 shallot, chopped
1/4 cup water
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons sherry vinegar

Wash and trim your beet greens. If the stems are very thick it is worth trimming them back a bit.
On medium heat, saute the garlic, shallot and red pepper flake in the olive oil until slightly browned. Add black pepper, sugar and salt.
Place the beet greens into the pan, pour the water on and immediately cover. Do not remove the lid for a few minutes to allow the greens to wilt. Once they have cooked down, remove the lid and stir all of the ingredients together. Cook for a few more minutes allowing the water to evaporate.
Just before removing pour the vinegar over the greens. Remove, serve and enjoy!

Comments (5)Add yours

WinnieAb 23 days ago: I made these pink greens tonight- was cooking up the beets for the beet recipe challenge and have been wanting to try these forever- they are fantastic! I substituted a little chopped onion for the shallot and used Meyer lemon juice instead of the vinegar. I'd never think of adding sugar but it works so well here...great recipe!
GoodFoodie 3 months ago: Absolute beet green fan (as well as swiss chard -- which could work with this as well??) ......can't wait to try this!
mariaraynal 5 months ago: I usually use garlic, lemon and parmesan to cook greens (sometimes a bit of pancetta), but this is an excellent alternative. Yes, it would be great with pasta!
ChefJune 5 months ago: I have never used sugar in my sauteed greens. Will have to give it a try.
maryvelasquez 5 months ago: This dish is very flavorful! It would be great with pasta.
lastnightsdinner 5 months ago: This is exactly the way I cook my greens, minus the sugar - beet greens, kale, chard, they're all great like this. If the stems aren't too woody, I slice them very thin, too, and saute them before adding the greens to the pan.