Best 6 Utica Greens Recipes

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In the heart of New York's Mohawk Valley, a culinary gem awaits discovery: Utica Greens, a dish deeply rooted in the region's history and brimming with unique flavors. This delectable dish features tender greens, typically a blend of Swiss chard, collard greens, and kale, braised in a rich tomato-based broth infused with the savory smokiness of bacon or ham hocks. Its origins can be traced back to the early 1900s when Italian immigrants brought their culinary traditions to the region, merging them with local ingredients to create this beloved dish. Today, Utica Greens stands as a testament to the harmonious blending of cultures and a staple in the culinary repertoire of the region.

Savor the authentic taste of Utica Greens with our carefully curated collection of recipes. From the traditional and time-honored renditions to modern interpretations that add a contemporary twist, our recipes cater to every palate and skill level. Whether you prefer the classic simplicity of boiled greens or the hearty indulgence of slow-cooked greens simmered in a flavorful broth, our recipes provide step-by-step instructions and helpful tips to ensure success in your culinary endeavor. Discover the versatility of Utica Greens as we guide you through variations that showcase its pairing with various meats, such as pork, beef, or chicken, and explore creative side dishes that elevate the greens to a complete and satisfying meal.

Check out the recipes below so you can choose the best recipe for yourself!

UTICA GREENS



Utica Greens image

This dish was popularized by Joe Morelle in the late 1980s at the Chesterfield Restaurant in Utica, N.Y., where it is on the menu as greens Morelle. More widely known as Utica greens, it has become commonplace, in modified versions, in Italian restaurants throughout central New York, and even migrated to New York City, Las Vegas and Florida. This version of the dish is fairly spicy. Use fewer cherry peppers if you prefer it less hot. You will have leftover oreganato, the topping of bread crumbs and cheese; use it for another greens dish or add it to baked chicken or shrimp. Typically served in restaurants as an appetizer, Utica greens makes a great main course at home with some crusty bread and a glass of red wine.

Provided by Jim Shahin

Categories     dinner, vegetables, appetizer, main course

Time 35m

Yield 4 servings

Number Of Ingredients 11

1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1 cup bread crumbs
1/2 cup Parmigiano-Reggiano, grated
1 head escarole, about 1 1/4 pound, bottom removed, leaves separated and washed thoroughly to remove grit
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
4 slices prosciutto (about 2 ounces), sliced thin and cut into roughly 1-inch squares
4 to 6 hot cherry peppers (pickled will do if you can't find fresh), tops and seeds removed, broken by hand or chopped into 4 or 5 chunks
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/2 cup Parmigiano-Reggiano, grated, plus 2 or more tablespoons for garnish

Steps:

  • Bring a large pot of water to boil over high heat. Prepare an ice bath in a large bowl and set aside.
  • Meanwhile, in a medium bowl, prepare the oreganato: Mix the oil, bread crumbs and cheese until well blended. It should have the texture of moist beach sand. Set aside.
  • When the water is boiling, blanch the greens until they are nearly limp but still a little firm, about 1 to 2 minutes. Plunge them into the ice bath to stop the cooking. Remove and drain them well in a colander or salad spinner, allowing them to remain moist but not dripping wet. Squeeze just a little of the moisture from them, then chop them into 2-inch pieces. Set aside.
  • Heat the broiler. Coat a large pan with the olive oil. Over medium heat, sauté the prosciutto, cherry peppers and garlic until the prosciutto is browned and slightly crisp, about 5 minutes. (Lower heat slightly if garlic begins to brown too quickly.) Add the chopped greens to the pan, season with salt and pepper and stir to mix well.
  • Add 1/2 cup Parmigiano-Reggiano and 1/2 cup of the oreganato. Cook 3 to 4 minutes, stirring frequently to blend, scraping the bottom of the pan to keep the oreganato from burning.
  • Sprinkle another 1/4 cup oreganato atop the greens. (Save leftover oreganato for use in another greens dish, or add it to baked chicken or shrimp.) Place the pan under the broiler and broil until the top browns, about 2 minutes. Remove from the broiler and sprinkle a bit more cheese on the dish. Serve immediately.

Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 512, UnsaturatedFat 31 grams, Carbohydrate 25 grams, Fat 40 grams, Fiber 3 grams, Protein 14 grams, SaturatedFat 8 grams, Sodium 787 milligrams, Sugar 4 grams

UTICA GREENS (ESCAROLE)



Utica Greens (Escarole) image

Make and share this Utica Greens (Escarole) recipe from Food.com.

Provided by origamifreak

Categories     Greens

Time 25m

Yield 4 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 9

1 large escarole (or 2 small heads)
4 slices prosciutto, thin slices, chopped
1 -2 garlic clove, chopped
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 long italian hot peppers, seeded & julienned
1/2 cup breadcrumbs
1/4 cup pecorino romano cheese, grated
1 cup chicken broth
salt and pepper, to taste (at the very end)

Steps:

  • Clean and rinse escarole twice; chop in large pieces.
  • Boil down for 5 or 6 minutes so it's tender and wilted.
  • Place olive oil in a saute pan and heat.
  • Add chopped garlic and prosciutto and render for 2 or 3 minutes. Do not burn garlic.
  • Add seeded peppers and cook another minute or so.
  • Add the escarole and all the other ingredients in the pan.
  • Gradually add the bread crumbs and grated cheese, tossing gently until blended.
  • Taste for final salt and pepper seasoning.
  • Place in a casserole; sprinkle a little of the bread crumbs and place under a broiler for 3-4 minutes. Serve hot.

UTICA GREENS AND BEANS



Utica Greens and Beans image

Why greens and beans on New Year's Day, you may ask? Because, as any scientist will tell you, if you eat 'poor' on the first day of the year, you will enjoy incredible financial prosperity the rest of the year! The original Utica greens do not have beans but they are such a classic combination.

Provided by Chef John

Categories     Side Dish     Vegetables     Greens

Time 35m

Yield 6

Number Of Ingredients 13

2 heads escarole, bottoms trimmed and leaves coarsely sliced
4 ounces pancetta bacon, diced
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 tablespoons chopped jalapeno pepper, or to taste
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 cup chicken broth
salt and ground black pepper to taste
1 (12 ounce) can cooked cranberry beans
½ cup fine bread crumbs
1 pinch red pepper flakes, or to taste
2 tablespoons fine bread crumbs
½ cup finely grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese
1 tablespoon olive oil, or as needed

Steps:

  • Wash escarole leaves in a large bowl in several changes of cold water until no grit remains.
  • Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil; cook escarole in the boiling water until bright green and slightly wilted, about 2 minutes. Transfer escarole to a large bowl using a slotted spoon. Rinse greens in cold water to stop the cooking process. Drain thoroughly.
  • Place pancetta and olive oil into a large oven-safe skillet over medium heat; cook until browned and crisp in spots, about 5 minutes. Stir jalapeno peppers into pancetta; cook and stir until peppers start to soften, about 2 minutes. Stir in garlic and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute more.
  • Pour chicken broth over pancetta mixture, bring to a simmer, and season with salt and black pepper to taste. Gently stir beans into skillet. Mix escarole into mixture, turn off heat, and top with 1/2 cup bread crumbs. Stir until crumbs are still visible but most are incorporated. Season with red pepper flakes. Top with 2 tablespoons bread crumbs followed by Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese; drizzle top with 1 tablespoon olive oil.
  • Set oven rack about 6 inches from the heat source and preheat the oven's broiler.
  • Place skillet under broiler and cook until top is golden brown, 2 to 4 minutes. Serve immediately.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 306.6 calories, Carbohydrate 25.2 g, Cholesterol 18.6 mg, Fat 18.3 g, Fiber 11.2 g, Protein 12.3 g, SaturatedFat 5.2 g, Sodium 575.9 mg, Sugar 1.4 g

UTICA GREENS (SAUTED ESCAROLE)



UTICA GREENS (SAUTED ESCAROLE) image

Categories     Vegetable     Side     Fry

Number Of Ingredients 13

1 large escarole head (or 2 small heads)
4 slices prosciutto, thin slices, chopped (or sub. an egg, scrambled into the greens)
2-4 garlic cloves, sliced
3 tablespoons olive oil
1 medium potato, unpeeled, diced
1/2 white or yellow onion, diced or sliced in rings
2 long italian hot peppers, seeded & julienned OR
2-3 cherry peppers- rings or sliced
1/2 cup breadcrumbs (italian seasoned: oregano, parsley, garlic salt or powder)
1/4 cup pecorino romano cheese, grated
1 cup chicken (or veggie) broth
salt and pepper, to taste (at the very end)
red pepper flakes, if desired

Steps:

  • 1. Clean and rinse escarole twice; tear in large pieces. 2. Boil veggie broth in a pan to blanch escarole. When boiling, submerge escarole for 3-6 minutes until wilted. reserve broth. 3. Place olive oil in a saute pan and heat to medium. 4. Add garlic, onion and potato dices (prosciutto if desired) and saute for 2 or 3 minutes. Do not burn garlic- if it browns, remove it. Cook potatoes until tender and remove, reserve. 5. Add peppers, cook another minute or so. 6. Add the escarole and broth, but not all of it. start at 3/4 cup and play by ear. should not be soupy at the end. the intention is to build a sauce with the pan renderings and to finish cooking the escarole, coated in the sauce. As the liquid reduces and the greens look fully wilted, taste them and add more broth or season with salt, pepper, red pepper flakes, as needed. When satisfied with taste and pan is almost all reduced- 7. Gradually add the egg, scrambling (if desired), bread crumbs and grated cheese, tossing gently until blended. Bread crumbs will soak up remaining sauce. Add fried potatoes back in. 8. Taste for final seasoning. Optional- 9. Place in a casserole dish or crock; sprinkle some bread crumbs and mozzarella or provolone cheese on top and broil 3-4 minutes until browned. Serve hot.

UTICA GREENS



Utica Greens image

Utica Greens are a popularized local dish to the area in and surrounding Utica, New York. Utica Greens are quite delicious and have become a popular appetizer that can be eaten as an appetizer or a meal. They can be used in a variety of ways as well. I have had them served over a chicken breast topped with Mozzarella cheese. ...

Provided by Rainie Piccione

Categories     Vegetable Appetizers

Number Of Ingredients 12

1-2 heads of escarole, cleaned and drained. escarole will wilt down to by a much smaller amount when cooked.
3 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil
1 medium onion, chopped small
3 clove garlic, minced
Pinch red pepper flakes
1/2 c prosciutto, diced
5 whole pickled hot cherry peppers, chopped
1/2 c chicken stock
1/2 c bread crumbs
1/4 c parmesan cheese, grated
Salt to taste
Pepper to taste

Steps:

  • 1. Clean and drain the Escarole by filling the sink or extra large bowl with cold water. Chop the bottom off of the head of Escarole. Place leaves in water and swish around, cleaning any silt that is still sticking to the leaves. Remove leaves from water and chop into bite size pieces.
  • 2. Fill a large pot half to three quarters full of water. Add some salt as you would for pasta and bring to boil. Blanche the escarole by placing it in the pot and leaving it there for 3 minutes. Remove from pot to an ice bath. One you have given the escarole an ice bath you can remove it to a strainer to drain the excess water.
  • 3. In a large saute pan that can be placed in the oven saute hot pepper flakes, prosciutto, onion, and garlic until onions are soft. Add the Escarole and saute for 5-8 minutes. Add the chopped cherry peppers and a tablespoon or two of their juice and enough chicken stock to make them a tad juicy. Give it a good stir to combine ingredients. Mix the bread crumbs and parmesan cheese and sprinkle generously over the top. Place pan under broiler for 3-5 minutes or until bread crumbs and cheese are golden brown.
  • 4. Serve with crusty bread as an appetizer. Or over the top of sauteed chicken breast. Or use to make a pizza or Utica Greens Penne (Recipes to follow).
  • 5. You can find me elsewhere too. My Blog-Ma's Aprong Strings: masapronstrings.blogspot.com Pinterest: pinterest.com/rainiepiccione/boards Facebook: facebook.com/?ref=tn_tnmn#!/BookOfKeepers

UTICA GREENS



UTICA GREENS image

Categories     Leafy Green     Appetizer     Sauté     Quick & Easy

Yield 3-4 people

Number Of Ingredients 10

3lbs Escarole
1/4 cup Sliced Cherry Peppers
2 Tbsp Minced Garlic
1/4 cup diced onion
1/2 cup chopped red and green bell peppers
1/2 cup Olive oil
1/2 cup Capicola Thin/Diced
1/2 cup Parmesean cheese
1/3 cup Bread crumbs
salt/pepper to taste

Steps:

  • Place onions, peppers, cherry peppers, capicola, and garlic in a bowl and toss with olive oil. In a large saute pan start to cook mixture until onions are soft and capicola is crisp. Add Escarole over the top and allow to wilt down. Mix occasionally untill all of escarole is broken down. Add parmesean cheese and bread crumbs to soak up any liquid and cook for 5 min. Add salt and pepper to taste.

Tips:

  • Select fresh, tender greens: Look for greens with vibrant green leaves and no signs of wilting or yellowing.
  • Wash the greens thoroughly: Rinse the greens under cold water several times to remove any dirt or debris.
  • Remove tough stems: Trim away the tough stems from the greens before cooking to improve the texture of the dish.
  • Use a variety of greens: Don't limit yourself to just one type of greens. Experiment with different varieties such as collard greens, kale, mustard greens, or turnip greens.
  • Cook the greens slowly: Low and slow cooking allows the greens to develop their full flavor and become tender.
  • Add aromatics and spices: Enhance the flavor of the greens by adding aromatics like garlic, onion, and celery, as well as spices like black pepper, red pepper flakes, or smoked paprika.
  • Don't overcook the greens: Overcooked greens can become mushy and lose their vibrant color. Cook them just until they are tender but still retain a slight crunch.

Conclusion:

Utica greens are a delicious and versatile dish that can be enjoyed as a side dish, main course, or even as a topping for other dishes. With its simple ingredients and easy-to-follow preparation, this recipe is a great way to enjoy the flavors of fresh, seasonal greens. So next time you're looking for a healthy and flavorful dish, give Utica greens a try.

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