Coconut Creamed Greens

A luxurious blend of hardy greens cooked in coconut milk with aromatic spices, ginger, and garlic, topped with toasted coconut flakes and fresh cilantro. This Indian-inspired dish combines the richness of coconut with the nutrition of leafy greens.

6 servings
46 min

Ingredients

  • 1 cup unsweetened coconut flakes
  • 3 lb mixed hardy greens
  • ¼ cup virgin coconut oil
  • 6 cloves garlic
  • 1 large onion
  • 1 whole red Thai chile
  • 1 piece ginger
  • to taste Kosher salt
  • 2 Tbsp mustard seeds
  • 2 tsp ground coriander
  • ½ tsp ground turmeric
  • 2 cups unsweetened coconut milk
  • ½ cup coarsely chopped cilantro

Cooking Instructions

  1. 1.

    Preheat oven to 350°F. Spread out coconut flakes on a parchment-lined rimmed baking sheet and toast, undisturbed, until some are golden brown (some will remain white), 5-7 minutes. Let cool.

    7 min

  2. 2.

    Meanwhile, remove ribs and stems from greens and discard. Cut leaves into 1"-thick strips; set aside.

    10 min

  3. 3.

    Heat oil in a large skillet over medium. Add garlic and cook, stirring often, until golden brown, about 3 minutes. Add onion, chile, and ginger; season with salt. Cook, stirring often, until onion is softened, about 5 minutes. Add mustard seeds, coriander, and turmeric and cook, stirring to evenly distribute, until fragrant, about 1 minute.

    9 min

  4. 4.

    Add coconut milk to skillet and bring to a simmer. Add reserved greens a handful at a time, letting each batch wilt slightly before adding more. Cook, tossing occasionally, until greens are tender and mixture looks creamy, 15-18 minutes. Taste and season with more salt if needed.

    18 min

  5. 5.

    Transfer greens to a platter or large shallow bowl and top with coconut flakes and cilantro.

    2 min