Leafy greens are a nutritional powerhouse, packed with vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. They’re also incredibly versatile, making them a staple in many kitchens. Whether you’re looking to add more nutrients to your diet or simply reduce food waste, here are 21 creative ways to use up a bag of greens:
1. Smoothies
Add a handful of greens to your next smoothie for a nutrient boost. Spinach, kale, and romaine lettuce are all great options.
2. Sautéed Greens
Sautéed greens are a quick and easy side dish. Simply heat some olive oil in a pan and add your greens. Cook until wilted, then season to taste.
3. Quesadillas
Greens make a great addition to quesadillas. Simply mix them with cheese and your favorite fillings, then cook in a tortilla until golden brown.
4. Soup
Add greens to your next soup for a boost of flavor and nutrition. They’re especially good in sausage and kale soup or extra green broccoli cheese soup.
5. Pasta Dough
Make your own pasta dough with a puree of greens. Simply add the puree to the flour and water, and knead until a dough forms.
6. Omelets
Chop up some greens and add them to your next omelet. They’re a great way to sneak in some extra vegetables.
7. Pesto
Make a quick and easy 5-minute super greens pesto sauce. Simply combine greens, olive oil, Parmesan cheese, pine nuts, and garlic in a food processor.
8. Egg Rolls
Add greens to your next batch of black bean and spinach egg rolls. They’ll add a pop of color and nutrition.
9. Grilled Cheese Sandwiches
Sauté some greens with garlic and add them to your next grilled cheese sandwich. They’ll add a delicious savory flavor.
10. Pizza
Top your next pizza with greens. They’re a great way to add some extra vegetables to your meal.
11. Pasta Dishes
Toss some greens into your next pasta dish. They’ll add a fresh, flavorful touch.
12. Freezer Burrito Filling
Add greens to your next batch of freezer burrito filling. They’ll help bulk up the filling and add some extra nutrition.
13. Lasagna
Make a layer of greens in your next homemade lasagna. They’ll add a pop of color and flavor.
14. Cheesy Breadsticks
Add greens to your next batch of cheesy twisted breadsticks. They’ll add a delicious savory flavor.
15. Appetizer Tartlets
Make delicious appetizer tartlets for your next party. Simply fill tartlet shells with greens, cheese, and your favorite fillings.
16. Salads
Mix greens with lettuce for a healthy salad. You can also add other vegetables, fruits, nuts, and seeds.
17. Pasta Salad
Chop up some greens and add them to your next pasta salad. They’ll add a fresh, flavorful touch.
18. Spinach and Artichoke Dip
Make a creamy spinach and artichoke dip. Simply combine greens, artichoke hearts, cream cheese, and Parmesan cheese in a food processor.
19. Hummus
Make a puree of greens and stir into hummus for a green hummus dip. It’s a delicious and healthy alternative to traditional hummus.
20. Breakfast Casserole
Add greens to your next breakfast casserole. They’ll add a pop of color and nutrition.
21. Dehydration
Dehydrate greens and chop them up in a food processor. Store them for winter and add them to smoothies, soups, and mashed potatoes.
These are just a few ideas for what you can do with a bag of greens. Get creative and experiment with different recipes. You’ll be surprised at how versatile this leafy vegetable can be.
Just sauté those greens
A side of sautéed greens goes with almost every dish. And check out that pop of color they add! To enhance their flavor, toss in a little onion, garlic, salt, pepper, and lemon juice.
Put protein on a bed of greens
I typically pack a protein-rich lunch for work, like salmon or chicken, in a Tupperware container. Adding greens to a prepared meal or placing them underneath a protein is a simple and effective way to incorporate them.
If you use kale and are concerned that it will be too crunchy and hard, massage the kale with a drop of olive oil before adding your protein. Additionally, if you microwave your lunch before eating it, the kale will become slightly softer.
This process is comparable to what most fast-casual restaurants do when they provide a base of greens or grains with your order, such as Dig Inn, Sweetgreen, and Chipotle.
How to cook Collard Greens in the Bag
What to do with greens?
Make 5-minute super greens pesto sauce. Use them in black bean and spinach egg rolls. Sauté them with garlic and make an amazing grilled cheese sandwich. Put them on a pizza. Toss them with a pasta dish. Add them to your freezer burrito filling.
What to eat with fresh greens?
It’s the perfect complement to a bed of fresh greens. —Edgar Wright, Silver Spring, Maryland For an Italian twist on salad, I mix greens with red onion, mushrooms, olives, pepperoncini, lemon juice and Italian seasoning. Add tomatoes and carrots if you’d like. —Deborah Loop, Clinton Township, Michigan
What can I use up a package of mixed greens?
Here are fresh and springy ways to use up that package of mixed greens. For much of the year, I can use my garden’s produce when I make this cool salad. In spring, the salad mix and radishes come from my crop. In summer, I use the tomatoes, cabbage and carrots. What a good feeling! —Evelyn Gubernath, Bucyrus, Ohio
What can I do with frozen Greens?
Make frozen cubes of pureed greens. They keep for weeks in the freezer, and it’s an easy way to sneak some greens into smoothies, pasta sauces, casseroles, lasagnas, and more! To make your own frozen green cubes, pulse several handfuls of greens and a bit of water together in your blender, then pour the puree into an ice cube tray.