Best 3 Brown Butter Creamed Winter Greens Recipes

CREAMED MIXED GREENS

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Working in batches, add the spinach, chard leaves and kale and cook just until wilted, about 5 minutes. Remove with tongs and transfer to a colander set over a bowl to drain and cool. When cool enough to handle, transfer to a kitchen towel in batches and squeeze out the excess liquid. Chop the greens.
• Finely chop the chard stems. Heat the butter in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the chard stems, shallot and thyme sprigs. Cook, stirring, until the vegetables soften, 6 to 8 minutes. Sprinkle in the flour and continue to cook, stirring, until golden, about 2 more minutes. Remove from the heat and slowly whisk in the milk. Return to medium heat; add 2 teaspoons salt, 1/2 teaspoon pepper and a few dashes of hot sauce and cook until thickened slightly, 3 to 5 more minutes.
• Discard the thyme and stir the greens into the pot. Cook, stirring, until heated through and coated, about 4 minutes. Remove from the heat and stir in the creme fraiche.

BROWN-BUTTER CREAMED WINTER GREENS

Steps:

• Melt 2 tablespoons butter in a heavy medium saucepan over medium heat, then add the flour and cook, stirring, 1 minute.
• Add the milk in a stream, whisking, then add the shallot, bay leaf, and peppercorns. Bring to a boil, whisking, then simmer, whisking occasionally, 5 minutes. Strain the béchamel sauce through a fine-mesh sieve into a bowl, discarding solids, and cover the surface with parchment.
• Discard the stems and center ribs from the greens, then coarsely chop the leaves.
• Cook the bacon in a wide 8-quart heavy pot over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until golden brown but not crisp, about 8 minutes. Transfer to paper towels to drain, then pour off the fat from the pot and wipe clean.
• Heat the remaining 4 tablespoons butter in the pot over medium-low heat until browned and fragrant, about 2 minutes, then cook the onion, stirring, until softened, about 3 minutes.
• Increase the heat to medium-high, then stir in the greens, 1 handful at a time, letting each handful wilt before adding the next. Add the béchamel, cream, garlic, red pepper flakes, salt, and pepper and boil, uncovered, stirring, until the sauce coats the greens and the greens are tender, about 10 minutes.
• Stir in the bacon, vinegar, and salt and pepper to taste.
• DO AHEAD
• The BÉCHAMEL SAUCE can be made 1 day ahead and chilled, its surface covered with parchment; stir before using. The greens can be chopped 1 day ahead and chilled in a large sealed bag.

MIXED WINTER GREENS WITH BROWN BUTTER BREADCRUMBS

Steps:

• Melt the butter in a large frying pan over a medium heat until it turns a nut-brown colour. Add the breadcrumbs and garlic, then fry, stirring, until golden. Add the parsley and lemon zest. Season with a little salt, then tip onto a piece of kitchen paper and let cool.
• Heat the oil in a large pan over a medium heat, then cook the kale until just softened - add a splash of water if it starts to stick. Add the spinach, then cook for 3-4 mins. Drain any excess water from the pan, then season with sea salt and black pepper. Spoon into a serving dish, top with the breadcrumb mixture and serve.