Easy Mustard Greens Recipe

Mustard greens, while delicious, are often overlooked in favor of other popular greens like arugula, kale, or spinach. If you do opt to enjoy mustard greens as a side dish, then you'll not only experience an abundance of flavor, but you'll also glean a number of health benefits. Recipe developer and wellness coach Miriam Hahn can attest to those health benefits with her easy mustard greens recipe: "Mustard greens fall into the category of cruciferous vegetables which have been shown to [help] prevent cancer, are anti-inflammatory, contain lots of antioxidants and are alkaline for the body," she explains. While Hahn notes that these greens aren't as popular as other cruciferous veggies, like broccoli or cabbage, they definitely deserve some love and a place in your diet. 

While Hahn notes that you could easily serve these mustard greens as a side dish, it's easy to jazz them up into a full meal. Add any protein of your choice, whether meat or a plant-based option, and you've got a veggie-filled, protein-packed dish that's certainly not skimping on flavor. If you're still feeling a bit uncertain about working with the greens, fear not — it couldn't be easier, thanks to Hahn's recipe.

Naturally, the main component of this dish is the mustard greens themselves. However, you'll want to dress them up a bit, and to do so, you'll need olive oil, sliced red onion, minced garlic, apple cider vinegar, salt, pepper, and optionally some heirloom tomatoes to top off the salad. 

"The taste of this dish is very peppery and bitter while still being delicious," Hahn says of the flavor. "It resembles the strong bite of arugula but tastes like Dijon mustard." Perfect for those who love a salad with mustard dressing!

To get started on this recipe, you'll want to focus on the greens themselves. Wash them first, then strip the leaves off the stems and chop them up — you're making a salad-type dish, ultimately, so anything close to bite-sized will do. Just keep in mind that the greens will shrink down as they cook. 

Place a large pot on the stovetop over medium heat and add 1 tablespoon of olive oil. Once it's hot, add the chopped onion and minced garlic, and allow these to cook for 5 minutes. Be sure to stir frequently so nothing burns. 

Next, add the chopped mustard greens and cook them for 2 minutes, stirring consistently as they wilt. They'll reduce in size, so don't be alarmed when they shrink quite a bit. 

Once the mustard greens have wilted down, remove them from the heat and place them in a bowl along with the cooked onions and garlic. To the bowl, add the remaining oil, apple cider vinegar, salt, and pepper, then toss everything together. Optionally, you can also add slices of heirloom tomato on top. Just like that, you're ready to serve and enjoy these flavorful greens.

Though these mustard greens are easy to throw together and require minimal ingredients, it doesn't mean you can't spice things up. "There are many different options for toppings and add-ins with this recipe," Hahn notes. You could add just about any herb, and Hahn says she often adds Italian parsley and cilantro. "You can add in steamed asparagus or broccoli," she says, or you can opt for a raw veggie and go with red pepper for a pop of color. "You can sauté mushrooms in the first step along with the onion and garlic and this is delicious, too," Hahn adds. Finally, as for toppings, Hahn suggests toasted sunflower seeds, pine nuts, or sesame seeds, which also add a nice textural contrast to the dish.