Garlicky Sautéed Cruciferous Crunch

Most recipes for Trader Joe's Cruciferous Crunch, a mixture of shaved cruciferous veg including cabbage, kale and Brussels sprouts, are cold salads. I am a huge fan of salads, but sometimes you need something warm and cooked to feel really satisfied.

This Garlicky Sautéed Cruciferous Crunch is cooked in a mixture of olive oil and butter with garlic and some vinegar for brightness.

I call for the greens to be crisped, almost charred in places to create a dark brown edge that adds tons of depth and flavor.

My boyfriend likened this to street food - the char you find on tortillas and elote served by vendors along Sunset Boulevard near our home in Los Angeles. I think that perfectly captures what I was going for in this recipe. If it isn't obvious, he's a writer.

I have played with this recipe over the years and have found lots of golden garlic (not too dark - be careful not to burn the garlic or the dish will turn bitter), plenty of salt, a pinch of pepper flakes and a generous glug of vinegar are the secret to incredibly lively and savory greens.

What You'll Need

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• Trader Joe's Cruciferous Crunch or a mixture of thinly sliced cruciferous vegetables such as kale, cabbage and Brussels sprouts. This is also very good with just red or green cabbage.
• Garlic
• Extra Virgin Olive Oil This is my favorite brand.
• Butter Unsalted is always my preference. If using salted, be careful with the amount of salt you add.
• Salt I always write my recipes using kosher salt. Diamond Crystal is the best in my opinion.
• Apple Cider Vinegar or Unseasoned Rice Vinegar
• Chili Flakes I recommend chili flakes for just a bit of heat. If you are sensitive to this ingredient, feel free to omit.

How to Make

• Cook garlic in butter and olive oil
• Add bacon if you like
• Add the greens
• Almost burn them
• Add vinegar

Variations

Mix of cruciferous veggies If you don't have access to a Trader Joe's store to buy the pre-prepared Cruciferous Crunch, this recipe is great with thinly sliced cruciferous vegetables - kale, cabbage, Brussels sprouts. A combination is great, but just red or green cabbage is also fantastic.

Swiss Chard I have also done this with Swiss chard and it has come out nicely. You can start cooking the stems before the leaves so that they are not crunchy at the end. I would use less butter and olive oil for this preparation because the leaves cook down so much.

Collard Greens While a nontraditional preparation of collards, I have made this recipe with them. They do not have their typical long-stewed texture, but the vinegar helps soften them a bit and I don't mind a bit of texture in my veggies. You can always cook them for a bit longer on lower heat to achieve a softer texture.

How to Store and Reheat

While this recipe, like most, is best right off the stove, it saves well as leftovers. Store in an air-tight container or in a bowl with plastic wrap, aluminum foil or a reusable food wrap. Leftovers should placed in the fridge within 2 hours and be eaten within 3-5 days.

I often make a big batch of this and portion it out for lunches with some brown rice and a protein. You can put it in the microwave at work and have a healthy meal ready to go.

How to Serve

Adding a chopped pork product such as bacon or pork belly to the beginning of this dish and a grain could make it a full meal. I have made this over brown rice with a halved soft or medium-boiled egg on top - so good. While the bacon is an excellent addition, the greens are delicious on their own.

If you're vegan, feel free to replace the butter with 1 tablespoon olive oil. The end result will be slightly different but equally enjoyable.

You can also serve these greens alongside a protein - pork chops or sausage would be great. I've had this with hard-seared steak and smashed potatoes, too. The brightness of the vinegar plays excellently with anything salty and meaty.

Other Recipes You'll Love

If you love these greens, definitely try my Grain Bowl with Goat Cheese and Greens.

Looking for more Cruciferous Crunch recipes? Try this Warm Cruciferous Cranberry Slaw from Trader Joe's.

These Braised Greens with Crispy Garlic and Miso Butter are also delicious.

📖 Recipe