Utica Greens Recipe
Utica greens is a famous Italian-American meal from Utica, New York, that highlights the Italian culinary tradition and local American flavor.
Ingredients
- 1 lb. escarole or a mix of kale and Swiss chard
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 4 cloves garlic minced
- 1-2 hot peppers like banana peppers or cherry peppers, sliced (adjust for heat preference)
- 1/2 cup breadcrumbs preferably Italian seasoned
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Lemon wedges for serving
Instructions
- In a large pot, boil the salted water. Add the escarole and cook for around 3-4 minutes until turns wilted. Drain it well, and let it cool slightly. Squeeze as much air as possible from the escarole and chop it roughly.
- In a big skillet, heat the olive oil over medium flame. Add the red pepper flakes and minced garlic and cook until smells nice but not browned, it may take around 1 minute.
- If you are using pancetta or prosciutto, add it to the skillet and cook until turns crispy, it may take around 2-3 minutes.
- Add the chopped escarole to the skillet and cook for around 5 minutes by stirring occasionally, until the greens are heated and thoroughly mixed with prosciutto and garlic.
- Mix in the breadcrumbs and cook for additional 2-3 minutes until turn crispy and golden.
- Stir in the chopped parsley and parmesan cheese. Adjust the salt and pepper according to your taste. For a bright flavor, you can use the squeeze of lemon juice.
- You can serve it over pasta or as a side dish for a hearty dish.