Can’t Beet This

Beet greens are not only really darn good for you (they are super high in vitamin A, and contain calcium, iron, magnesium and phosphorus and vitamin B and C), but they are cheap!  I hope you saved your beet greens from last week, because now you have a great side dish to pretty much anything!  This recipe has six ingredients and is quick and easy to make.  Serve these greens with some grilled chicken and you’ve got yourself a slimming, summer-friendly meal for the change you found under your couch cushion last week when your roommate moved out. You can also stir in some cooked pasta, cheese and bacon for a great last minute pasta dish.

1 Bunch of beet greens (or any greens)

1 Garlic minced

Olive oil

Red pepper flakes

Salt and pepper to taste

Lemon

Bring some water to a boil while you wash and chop the greens coarsely.  When the water is boiling, add some salt and the greens.  Cook (a.k.a. blanch) for two minutes.  Drain in a colander and run the greens under cold water.  Then squeeze the water out from its leaves.

In a frying pan, heat the olive oil then throw in the garlic and red pepper flakes.  Cook for a minute, then stir in the greens.  Season with salt and pepper then cook the greens for about three more minutes or until they are as soft as you like your greens to be.  Finish the greens with a squeeze of lemon.