These Peppery Mustard Greens Are Not Your Average Leafy Green Recipe (2024)

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  • Side Dishes

Peppery mustard greens shine in this simple greens recipe. Saute with onions and garlic, then serve with most any meal that can use a good dose of mustardy bite.

By

Elise Bauer

These Peppery Mustard Greens Are Not Your Average Leafy Green Recipe (1)

Elise Bauer

Elise founded Simply Recipes in 2003 and led the site until 2019. She has an MA in Food Research from Stanford University.

Learn about Simply Recipes'Editorial Process

Updated November 29, 2022

8 Ratings

These Peppery Mustard Greens Are Not Your Average Leafy Green Recipe (2)

These Peppery Mustard Greens Are Not Your Average Leafy Green Recipe (3)

In This Recipe

  • Taste

  • How to Use

  • Plant Family

  • When Are Mustard Greens in Season?

  • Buying Mustard Greens

  • Storing Mustard Greens

  • How to Clean

Have you ever tried mustard greens?

Related to kale, cabbage, and collard greens, they are the peppery leafy greens of the mustard plant and are used frequently in Chinese, Japanese, and Indian cooking.

What Do Mustard Greens Taste Like?

I find them less bitter than kale or collard greens, and more peppery, like arugula.

Just one taste of a raw leaf and you'll know it came from a mustard plant. Cooked, they taste a lot like spinach but with more body.

These Peppery Mustard Greens Are Not Your Average Leafy Green Recipe (4)

My father recently discovered mustard greens at our local farmers market, and they're his new love.

What to Do With Mustard Greens

I like them with a dash of dark sesame oil, but you could easily just cook them up with a little garlic and olive oil.

Do you have a favorite way to prepare mustard greens? Please let us know about it in the comments.

Mustard Greens Are Brassicas

Mustard greens belong to the overwhelmingly large brassica family. There are several types of mustards, native to different regions, and more closely related to other brassicas. The particular type we’re talking about here is Brassica juncea. It goes by many names, some you might be familiar with are: Indian mustard, Chinese mustard, leaf mustard, or brown mustard. Brassica juncea is native to India, and there are tons of varieties of it, a large number of which (including the first) were cultivated in China, near Sichuan.

All parts of the mustard plant — leaves, seeds, flowers, stems — are edible, no matter the type. The seeds are what we turn into the tangy condiment, and what gets pressed into oil. (The mustard that’s commercially grown to be made into the tangy condiment is Sinapis alba, not what we’re talking about today, but fun to know.) Brassica juncea are major commercial spice or oilseed crops; on the non-industrial scale, small farmers and home gardeners grow all kinds of these mustards just to enjoy as greens.

When Are Mustard Greens in Season?

Mustard greens are in season in the cooler growing months — spring into early summer and then again with a second planting in the fall. They don't take too well to summer's intense heat. They're easy to grow, and leaves regrow after they've been harvested. As they mature, mustard greens become more bitter. To avoid bitterness, choose mustard greens that are harvested young. And they often survive the first frost and have more mellow flavors when harvested after the frost.

Buying Mustard Greens

Buy mustard greens at the farmers market, Asian markets, or traditional grocery stores. Look for leaves that are fresh, crisp, and vibrantly green, not wilted or yellow. For mellower flavors, choose smaller leaves. For stronger flavors, choose larger leaves.

Storing Mustard Greens

Store mustard greens in the crisper drawer, either in a bag or a lidded container lined with a paper towel. Keep them dry (no water droplets hanging out on them), and small loose leaves will keep up to 5 days, bunches of large mustards could last up to 1 week.

How to Clean Mustard Greens

Clean mustard green leaves right before cooking. Place them in a bowl full of cold water and swirl them around to remove any dirt on the leaves. Then, allow them to float in the water for a few minutes. Any dirt should sink to the bottom of the bowl. Remove and pat dry before preparing the greens.

More Delicious Ways to Eat Your Greens!

  • Collard Greens
  • Sauteed Greens With Pine Nuts and Raisins
  • Easy Pasta With Winter Greens
  • Watercress Salad With Warm Bacon Dressing
  • Creamed Spinach

From the Editors Of Simply Recipes

Mustard Greens

Prep Time10 mins

Cook Time15 mins

Total Time25 mins

Servings4 servings

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup thinly sliced onions

  • 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil

  • 2 cloves garlic, minced

  • 1 pound mustard greens, washed, large stems removed, leaves torn into large pieces

  • 2 to 3 tablespoons chicken broth, or vegetable broth

  • 1/4 teaspoon dark sesame oil

  • 1/4 teaspoon salt

  • 1/4 teaspoon pepper

Method

  1. Saute the onions and garlic:

    In a large saute pan, saute onions in olive oil over medium heat until the onions begin to brown and caramelize, about 10 minutes.

    Add the minced garlic and cook a minute more, until fragrant.

  2. Add the greens:

    Add the mustard greens and broth. Cook until the mustard greens are just barely wilted.

  3. Finish and serve:

    Remove from heat. Toss the greens with sesame oil and season with salt and pepper.

  • Side Dishes
  • Gluten-Free
  • Vegan
  • Vegetarian
  • Mustard Greens
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
79Calories
4g Fat
9g Carbs
4g Protein

×

Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4
Amount per serving
Calories79
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 4g5%
Saturated Fat 1g3%
Cholesterol 0mg0%
Sodium 199mg9%
Total Carbohydrate 9g3%
Dietary Fiber 4g15%
Total Sugars 3g
Protein 4g
Vitamin C 81mg407%
Calcium 140mg11%
Iron 2mg11%
Potassium 492mg10%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate. In cases where multiple ingredient alternatives are given, the first listed is calculated for nutrition. Garnishes and optional ingredients are not included.

These Peppery Mustard Greens Are Not Your Average Leafy Green Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Are mustard greens peppery? ›

Have you ever tried mustard greens? Related to kale, cabbage, and collard greens, they are the peppery leafy greens of the mustard plant and are used frequently in Chinese, Japanese, and Indian cooking.

What are 3 ways you can eat mustard greens? ›

You can eat them raw, boiled, steamed, or stir-fried. It's easy to add mustard greens to your diet.

Is Swiss chard the same as mustard greens? ›

While mustard greens are spicy, swiss chard is mild and versatile. Kale can be charred, tossed in salads, sautéed, or blanched, while turnip greens are best braised. One thing all these leafy greens have in common: They will shrink dramatically when cooked.

What greens have a peppery taste? ›

Arugula has a distinct, slightly spicy and peppery flavor. It can add a bold taste to salads and can also be used as a garnish or cooked like other greens.

How do you make mustard greens less spicy? ›

Heat: Heat mellows the greens' pungent flavor. Fat: Coating the leaves in fat softens their bite: olive oil, coconut oil, butter, and ghee are all great options.

Are mustard greens healthier than spinach? ›

Mustard greens have a higher vitamin C content than spinach. Spinach has a higher iron content than mustard greens. If compared, spinach has more nutrients than mustard greens. Thus, it can be considered healthier than mustard greens.

Is it okay to eat mustard greens everyday? ›

Mustard greens are generally very safe to eat. However, as they're high in vitamin K and contain oxalates, large amounts may trigger side effects in individuals who take blood thinners or have a high risk of oxalate-type kidney stones.

Are mustard greens bad for gout? ›

Superfoods that reduce gout flares are broccoli, kale, spinach, swiss chard, mustard greens, and cabbage. Foods rich in bioavailable vitamin C are the best for dissolving the uric acid sediment. If you don't regularly eat these vegetables, you can give yourself a concentrated dose by juicing them.

Who should not eat mustard greens? ›

People taking blood-thinning medications: Because mustard greens are high in vitamin K, a vitamin that helps with blood clotting, they may interfere with the action of blood thinners, such as warfarin.

What is the white stuff on mustard greens? ›

This common fungal disease most often attacks the cucurbit family and beans. It is most often found in mid to late summer and unlike most fungi it doesn't need a lot of moisture.

Why are my mustard greens tough? ›

The leaves are anchored by thick, coarse stems that are tough and very fibrous – not good for eating. Smaller mustard green leaves are much more tender than the large ones and can actually be eaten raw, whereas the larger leaves really do need to be cooked. They'd be too hard on the stomach otherwise!

What is another name for mustard greens? ›

Brassica juncea is also known as gai choi, siu gai choi, xaio jie cai, baby mustard, Chinese leaf mustard or mostaza.

What is a good replacement for mustard greens? ›

If you don't have or don't like mustard greens, feel free to swap for your favorite leafy green vegetable. Kale, spinach, or chard would work great. Feeling adventurous? Try turnip, radish, or beet greens.

What is the English name for Swiss chard? ›

Chard (also known as Swiss chard, silverbeet, perpetual spinach, or mangold) is a vegetable. It is in the same family as spinach, Amaranthaceae.

What leafy green is peppery? ›

Its peppery flavor makes it versatile; arugula can serve as an herb or a lettuce.

What if mustard greens are too spicy? ›

If these peppery greens are too spicy for your taste, tame them by blanching in salted water for a minute prior to other preparations. The stems of the mustard plant are tough, so I recommend removing them prior to cooking the greens.

Are raw mustard greens spicy? ›

There are several varieties, which are usually green and have a strong bitter, spicy flavor. To make them more palatable, these leafy greens are typically enjoyed boiled, steamed, stir-fried, or even pickled. This article provides a complete overview of mustard greens, including their nutrition, benefits, and uses.

What do mustard greens taste like? ›

Flavor-wise, they have a very distinctive, peppery taste, akin to arugula. Some people compare the flavor to horseradish—punchy and spicy. Thanks to their assertive flavor, mustard greens stand up well to other strong flavors, such as garlic and onion.

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