RoughCollie Posted January 8, 2014 Share Posted January 8, 2014 By greens, I mean spinach, kale, collard greens, and the like. I looked at this recipe for beef stew: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/emeril-lagasse/emerils-best-beef-stew-recipe/index.html?rsrc=search Emeril put 2 cups of chopped collard greens in his stew. I thought about putting chopped spinach in my beef stew yesterday. I didn't, in case DH could identify it or taste it. DH eats a plenty of things he doesn't like, but he doesn't know it. For instance, I sometimes put parsnips and turnips in my stew, and he thinks they are potatoes (even though they are diced 1/2" or less). He wouldn't touch a parsnip or a turnip with a 10-foot pole, ordinarily. OTOH, if I use oatmeal in meatloaf, he won't eat it because to him it looks like onions are in there. So if you've ever added chopped greens to beef stew, does it add its own distinctive flavor to the stew, and is it all that noticeable in the gravy and among the other veg? Thanks, RC Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kim in Appalachia Posted January 8, 2014 Share Posted January 8, 2014 I've never added it, but you would notice it. There is no way to hide that green. I think your dh would not like it. I don't put it in because my kids would not eat it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marbel Posted January 8, 2014 Share Posted January 8, 2014 Yeah, you couldn't hide greens and I'm not sure the flavor combination would be that good. I do put spinach and other vegetables into chicken or beef curries but they are not hidden; they do blend well so my family doesn't mind even though they don't like those on their own. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RoughCollie Posted January 8, 2014 Author Share Posted January 8, 2014 What about cabbage, chopped fine -- has anyone tried that? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
prairiewindmomma Posted January 8, 2014 Share Posted January 8, 2014 Not in a beef stew. Stews, imo, should be thick. A soup---that's where greens belong. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jenn- Posted January 8, 2014 Share Posted January 8, 2014 I haven't done so, but that recipe looks good, so I will be in the near future. I have one that won't eat traditional southern style cooked greens, but he eats them in dishes like lentil soup and the such. That said, he is 7 and I just point at the bowl and say eat it and we call it all spinach because he likes spinach in quiche so he thinks it is safe. If it was a grown up, you might have a harder time with the just eat it routine. I do think it would be obviously added because the color of the stew would be "off". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matryoshka Posted January 8, 2014 Share Posted January 8, 2014 I do. Kale, collard greens, spinach. I guess I view both stews and soups as places to bulk up on the veggies (esp since I'm not a big salad fan...) I also make it thick - I like thick soups and stews; not as big a fan of brothy ones. I also add white beans to my beef stew. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Acadie Posted January 8, 2014 Share Posted January 8, 2014 We love greens in all kinds of stew! I throw them in at the end for just a few minutes. The whole family likes it and I have to admit I do it sometimes when I'm feeling too lazy to make a salad. Stew=one pot meal w/beef, potato, carrots and greens. I don't cut them superfine because I'm not trying to hide them. I think I'd probably prefer getting a bite of greens, instead of having it spread throughout the stew, though, since I do like the taste of straight beef gravy. Is there a particular green your family likes? Maybe start with that one and add just a little at first, with full disclosure? Then in time you can work up to more. Amy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinder Posted January 8, 2014 Share Posted January 8, 2014 What about cabbage, chopped fine -- has anyone tried that? I have not added greens or cabbage directly to the stew but I have added steamed cabbage to the bowl. I like the added veg but the dc don't. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jean in Newcastle Posted January 8, 2014 Share Posted January 8, 2014 I put greens in, but if they are chopped, you will be able to notice them because the texture is different. If you pureed them first, then they should melt into the gravy just like they melt into a green smoothie that is heavy on the berries. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mergath Posted January 8, 2014 Share Posted January 8, 2014 I've made stew with chopped up spinach in the past. I barely even noticed it, but then, I don't mind greens. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KatieJ Posted January 8, 2014 Share Posted January 8, 2014 What about cabbage, chopped fine -- has anyone tried that? I have put cabbage in stew many times. I love it. I usually cut it into wedges, not chopped. That way if someone really didn't want cabbage they could pick around it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slartibartfast Posted January 8, 2014 Share Posted January 8, 2014 I sometimes add a little kale, it tastes fine. Kale is very hearty and tastes good in rich stews. Dh likes cabbage in stew but again I only add it sometimes. My stews tend to be different everytime depending on what is laying around. :lol: I have added Brussels sprouts a few times, I happened to have some that needed to be used up on those occasions. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
In The Great White North Posted January 8, 2014 Share Posted January 8, 2014 Chopped cabbage will look like onions, so if he doesn't do onions, I wouldn't try cabbage. I do put finely chopped greens into soups and can't taste them at all. Maybe I don't use enough to taste? Pureed greens should be fine in beef stew, because it's brown already. Usually, turning brown is what gives it away. (with tomatoes, red & green make brown, also with strawberries in a smoothie) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Staceyshoe Posted January 8, 2014 Share Posted January 8, 2014 Cabbage has a distinctive flavor in soups/stews. I add finely chopped greens (mostly kale but other varieties too) to virtually all my soups--chili, stew, chicken noodle. You can see it, but it doesn't affect the flavor. It's a great way to get your family to eat greens! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FriedClams Posted January 8, 2014 Share Posted January 8, 2014 No!!!!! Eeeewwwww!!!! LOL!! I'm a Yankee. I live in the Deep, Deep, Deep South. DH loves greens. I think they're foul! Save the Stew!!! Go Greens Elsewhere!! ;-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crimson Wife Posted January 8, 2014 Share Posted January 8, 2014 I put greens in plenty of soups but to me, beef stew should be just beef, onions, tomatoes, carrots, and potatoes. Barley as well if it's a beef & barley stew (I have to make a separate pot of that because youngest DD is gluten intolerant). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ausmumof3 Posted January 8, 2014 Share Posted January 8, 2014 I did a beef and spinach curry once and dh said there was too much spinach... I probably could have it and get away with it though. Personally I love any way to sneak a few more greens in to my diet without eating them straight, but you will know they're there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pawz4me Posted January 8, 2014 Share Posted January 8, 2014 No!!!!! Eeeewwwww!!!! LOL!! I'm a Yankee. I live in the Deep, Deep, Deep South. DH loves greens. I think they're foul! Save the Stew!!! Go Greens Elsewhere!! ;-) I was born, raised and still live in the south. There is nothing -- nothing -- I like any better than a big bowl of collard or turnip greens (cooked the correct southern way, of course ;)). But greens don't belong in beef stew. They just don't. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J-rap Posted January 8, 2014 Share Posted January 8, 2014 I don't think you could hide them, but I think greens in beef stew would be delicious! Wish I had thought of that... ETA: I would only add spinach, however. They have a milder flavor in soups/stews, I thinks. Other greens would be too powerful or bitter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RoughCollie Posted January 8, 2014 Author Share Posted January 8, 2014 I also make it thick - I like thick soups and stews; not as big a fan of brothy ones. I also add white beans to my beef stew. My stews are thick, too. I love the idea of adding white beans to it. I'll do that next time. Thanks! Nobody here eats greens (except salad greens). I am from the South, and every time we had greens, my dad would make us eat a spoonful of them. He was convinced we would learn to love them. I never liked them, and sadly, neither did our dog. One of my favorite parts of cooking is watching fresh spinach leaves wilt. I put frozen, chopped spinach in vegetarian lasagna, but I don't eat it -- no Italian sausage, which is the best part. The beef stew I made yesterday has onions, carrots, parsnips, turnips, celery, peas, and corn in it. I didn't have any fresh mushrooms or they would have been added in abundance. I didn't put potatoes in it this time, because DH wanted to try it served over mashed potatoes. I forgot all about adding tomatoes to it. I wish I had. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThatHomeschoolDad Posted January 8, 2014 Share Posted January 8, 2014 I put leeks in what's otherwise a mostly non-green root veg stew, and I can't say it radically changes the taste. Besides, depending on how much leek leaks in, you might just use the white part! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kewb Posted January 8, 2014 Share Posted January 8, 2014 I have put greens in beef stew. It depends on my mood. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saddlemomma Posted January 8, 2014 Share Posted January 8, 2014 I sprinkle about a tbs or 2 of dried crushed kale from my garden into my stews and homemade chicken pot pies. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LibraryLover Posted February 5, 2014 Share Posted February 5, 2014 Yes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
texasmama Posted February 5, 2014 Share Posted February 5, 2014 No greens in beef stew. My family, dh included, would revolt if I did such a thing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
umsami Posted February 5, 2014 Share Posted February 5, 2014 I never have, but it might be a good way to sneak some in. For us, I'd probably do baby spinach, as it's mild. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LibraryLover Posted February 5, 2014 Share Posted February 5, 2014 I never have, but it might be a good way to sneak some in. For us, I'd probably do baby spinach, as it's mild. it really is, and mild is the way to go as a start. Any baby greens will work; collard, Russian kale, spinach. Some markets sell baby greens in open bins- an easy way to try it out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LibraryLover Posted February 5, 2014 Share Posted February 5, 2014 What about cabbage, chopped fine -- has anyone tried that? Yes. A very light and mild cabbage is nappa. It's delicious. It's not dark green, so it might not be as objectionable. Folks use nappa in a variety of ways: http://www.sheknows.com/food-and-recipes/articles/809695/8-things-to-do-with-napa-cabbage If folks can't bring themselves to ruin a beef stew with kale etc. lol, this soup might be more palatable: http://www.rachaelraymag.com/recipes/rachael-ray-magazine-recipe-search/on-hand-ingredients-recipes/white-bean--sausage-and-kale-stew Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.