Eaten on their own, bitter greens — like broccoli rabe, chicory, turnip greens, and kale — can have a bite that’s strong and assertive. Not everyone loves the intense bitterness these greens have when left wild and untamed.
But paired with the right ingredients or given a little TLC first, these strongly flavored greens can offer a softer side, full of mellow richness. Here are five ways to tame the bite of bitter greens.
The foods that help reduce bitterness are:Salt while cooking and/or while eating (like on bitter salad greens)Sweet or Spicy.Sour or Acids like lemon or vinegar.Long cooking like braising (think southern collard greens that are cooked for hours)Blanch first.
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Salt while cooking and/or while eating (like on bitter salad greens)
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Sweet or Spicy.
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Sour or Acids like lemon or vinegar.
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Long cooking like braising (think southern collard greens that are cooked for hours)
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Blanch first.
Blanch the greens first.
Once, I decided to skip a step and not blanch the broccoli rabe for a pasta dish. I totally regretted it and the whole dish came out bitter and unappetizing. The next time, when I made the same dish and blanched the broccoli rabe in salted water first, it was delicious. Blanching helps to leach out some of the bitterness and works best with hardier greens.
Tips for Removing Bitterness From Greens
FAQ
How do you mellow bitter greens?
How do you neutralize bitter taste?
Should I add vinegar to my collard greens?
How do you make beet greens less bitter?
How to remove bitterness from Greens?
The next step that has to happen to remove the bitterness is to add a teaspoon of salt and a teaspoon of lemon juice. Mix the pot thoroughly and taste the greens. If they are still too bitter, add another teaspoon of salt and lemon juice, stir, taste, and repeat until the bitterness is gone.
How do you make Bitter Greens taste better?
Acidity can really bring a pleasant flavor out of bitter greens. If they’re being used for a salad, it’s good to add a vinaigrette with plenty of acidity to brighten it up. If you are sauteing, add some vinegar or citrus to the greens to finish them off.
How do you get rid of bitterness in collard greens?
To get rid of the bitterness in collard greens, blanch them in boiling water for about two minutes and then quickly transfer them to an ice bath to cool. This process helps to break down the compounds that cause bitterness in the greens. You can also try adding a little bit of sugar or honey while cooking to balance out any remaining bitterness.
How do you Eat Bitter Greens?
Use salt. Salt is a friend to bitter greens, whether you plan to eat them raw or cooked. Mellow the bitter flavor with a sprinkle of salt on endive or radicchio, or include anchovies or cured meat (like bacon, pancetta, or proscuitto) along with mustard, beet, or collard greens. It eases an otherwise assertive bite into a tame, pleasant flavor. 5.