Aromatic Eggs and Greens

This playful, highly aromatic eggs and greens recipe would make a great healthy breakfast before your next holiday gathering begins!

Why we love it

Have you walked down the frozen breakfast food aisle in a traditional grocery store lately?  I’m not talking about the freezer section of your local health food store, but a bigger national grocery store. The freezer case is now filled with blue pancakes topped with funfetti sprinkles, pastries filled with cream cheese and strawberry goo, cotton candy flavored unicorn waffles, and so many other franken-foods. Where did all the real food go? When did it become ok to eat dessert for breakfast?

While it might be tradition to eat those homemade cinnamon rolls on Christmas morning, consider replacing them this year with something more nutrient dense like these greens and eggs. Or at the very least add something more nutrient-dense that includes some protein, healthy fats, and fiber to your traditional holiday treat. Your tummy, your energy levels, and your mood will thank you for it later.

In addition to these 5 Ways to Support Your Microbiome, you can add eating a wide variety of foods to the list.  The more diverse your food choices are, the more diverse your microbiome will be.  It has been shown that the more variety of microbiota that exists in the gut, the healthier the individual is. It has also been found that a diet rich in plant foods, which equates to a diet that is rich in fiber and flavinoids, tends to inhibit the growth of disease-causing bacteria in the gut.

Of course, the occasional treat around the holidays may not seem like such a bad idea, but it’s best not to make a habit out of it and opt for creating new traditions that support your health, not degrade it.  Try making these greens and eggs to kick off your holiday festivities on the right foot.

Ingredients

1 small bunch collard greens

1 small bunch kale (any kind will do)

1 small bunch Swiss chard

½ cup extra-virgin olive oil

3-inch knob ginger, peeled and cut into very thin matchsticks

10 garlic cloves, thinly sliced

1 daily spicy fresh red chile, such as Fresno or ripe jalapeno, thinly sliced

1 teaspoon kosher salt

6 large eggs

1 teaspoon flaky sea salt

2 small dried red chilis, crumbled (or red pepper flakes)

Handful mixed herbs, such as small dill sprigs, chopped parsley, and thinly sliced scallion

Directions

Preheat the oven to 450°F. Remove the stems from the collard greens, kale, and Swiss chard, reserving the chard stems, which are nice and tender. Finely chop the chard stems. Cut the greens into 1-inch-wide strips. You should have about 5 tightly packed quarts total.

Heat the olive oil in a 12-inch heavy ovenproof skillet over medium heat until shimmery. Add the ginger, garlic, fresh chilies, and ½ teaspoon of the kosher salt, and cook, stirring frequently, until the aromatics are fragrant and the edges of the garlic turn golden brown, about 2 minutes.

Add the chard stems and cook for 1 minute. Add half the greens and toss with tongs until slightly wilted, about 1 minute. Add remaining greens and the remaining kosher salt, then mix really well to coat them with the aromatics. Cook, tossing occasionally, just until they’ve all slightly wilted, about 2 minutes. Turn off the heat.

Crack the eggs onto the greens, leaving a couple of inches between each one. Transfer the skillet to the oven and bake until the egg whites are set and the yolks are set but still runny, 7 to 10 minutes.

Remove the pan from the oven and sprinkle the flaky sea salt and dried chile over each egg. Sprinkle on the herbs and serve.

Recipe from Everyone’s Table by Chef Gregory Gourdet with JJ Goode

Do you have the desire to learn how to cook a wide variety of foods to support your health and the health of your family? 

Then the Natural Food Chef program is the right choice for you! This immersive, fast-paced culinary program arms you with the knowledge and skills so that you can prepare delicious foods that support optimal health. Attend a live cooking demonstration, either in person or via Zoom to learn more.

Other Microbiome Supporting Breakfast Recipes:

Not into Eggs and Greens? Then try the Summer Squash, Spinach, and Leek Frittata, Cheesy Sausage and Green Chili Soufflé, Kitchari, or Mmmmaple Cinnamon Chia Seed Pudding to make for your first meal of the day!

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About the Author:Amber Frazier is a self-proclaimed nutrition nerd.  She believes that life should be about thriving, not just surviving— and proper nutrition can help everyone do just that.  As a graduate of both the Nutrition Therapist Master and Natural Food Chef programs, she has experienced firsthand how powerful food can be and wants to help others come to the same realization.  Find her on Instagram at @realfoodthriving.