If the overabundance of root greens like sunchokes, black radishes and kohlrabies the scale of my head is the late-winter scourge of my C.S.A., the regular provide of braising greens is its redemption. Irrespective of what number of bunches of curly kale, sturdy collard greens and steely chard arrive every week, there’s all the time a spot on my desk for his or her floppy, verdant magic.
I sauté them most nights in olive oil with garlic and purple pepper flakes, including no matter mushy herbs want utilizing up. A splash of water, inventory or wine helps wilt and soften every little thing, particularly the hardier vegetation like collards and broccoli rabe. We pile them on toast, submerge them in soup, prime them with an egg or toss them into pasta. And when nobody else is dwelling, I merely spoon the cooked greens right into a bowl, sprinkle Parmesan excessive and devour the complete bunch all on my own.
For this recipe, I nestled my beloved greens of their pan with hen thighs, one other weeknight favourite. It makes for a skillet dinner that’s not a lot tougher than cooking the greens by themselves, however much more substantial.
I selected boneless, skinless thighs as a result of they’re forgiving and cook dinner shortly. However bone-in, skin-on thighs are an excellent different, offered you add about 10 minutes to the roasting time. Rooster breasts — both bone-in or boneless — can even work effectively. Boneless breasts have a slender window of being carried out however not overdone, normally about 5 to 7 minutes lower than boneless thighs, so watch them rigorously. In any case, you’ve obtained choices.
Ditto for the greens. Kale, collards and chard are my usuals for braising, as a result of that’s what’s normally within the C.S.A. field. However the broccoli spigarello and broccoli rabe I examined whereas growing this recipe had been additionally divine, including pleasing bitter notes to the combo. Simply keep away from child tender greens, which simply flip to mush.
Grated lemon zest combined in proper on the finish provides some revelatory brightness. And in the event you’re a fan, olives or capers provides this a briny zing that rounds out the earthiness of the greens.
Serve this skillet meal alongside one thing that may seize all of the savory, schmaltzy sauce — crusty bread, rice or noodles. Or you possibly can pop a pan of root greens into the oven to roast together with the hen. In the event that they’re going to maintain arriving, we could as effectively give them an opportunity to shine.
