Let's be honest: You eat leafy greens because you should, not necessarily because you want to. Because that whole "craving greens" thing? That seems to happen to healthier, "greener" people, and not so much to you.
Well get ready for that to change. Epi's newest slew of healthy dinners are so alluring, so mesmerizing, that you won't be able to resist. Take these soba noodles, tossed with a pesto of scallions, basil, and cilantro that's boosted with miso, sesame oil, green chilies, and garlic. A finishing toss with watercress adds peppery bite and an emerald swirl as the cress wilts into the warm noodles. Just look at that tangle! It's irresistible! And it only takes about 15 minutes to make!
For healthy dinners on the go, the best method is to pile them high on a sandwich. A thickly-layered pile of sprouts and mixed greens (not spring mix please!), tossed in a buttermilk dressing, gives this California veggie sandwich plenty of crunch, as do pickled vegetables and cucumbers. A spread of avocado on one side and goat cheese on the other rounds things out.
For a restaurant-worthy side dish that doubles as a vegetarian main course, blanch some broccoli (up to five days ahead) and then flash it on the grill. Too cold to grill in your neck of the woods? Just toss the blanched stems in oil, as directed in the recipe, and cook them under the broiler, tossing every 1 to 2 minutes until they're charred in spots. Finish with a green goddess–style buttermilk dressing and a fine grating of smoked cheddar cheese. It's green on green on green on...well, white, but you need something to set off all that vivid color.
Finally, a green way to warm up in case you're already feeling the cold weather creep through your door. In this simple Appalachian soup from Southern writer Ronni Lundy, a whole head of cabbage is shredded and then sautéed with butter and onion until it just begins to melt. Next, equal portions of chicken broth and buttermilk are added until the whole thing comes together. To finish, a black walnut pesto is swirled into each portion. As the nutty paste spirals into the creamy green soup and you find yourself hypnotized by your dinner, repeat after me: you don't have to eat these greens. You want to.
