Recipe: Sweet and Sour Mustard Greens with Gastrique Sauce

SWEET AND SOUR MUSTARD GREENS

"Like most greens, mustard greens are an excellent source of vitamins A and C, iron, and potassium. They can be eaten raw or cooked, but I like to lessen their spicy bite with a bit of a sugar-and-vinegar reduction called gastrique sauce. Any leftover gastrique sauce will keep refrigerated in an airtight container up to one month."

FOR THE GASTRIQUE SAUCE:
1/2 cup cider vinegar
1/2 cup sugar

FOR THE GREENS:
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1/4 cup chopped shallots
2 pounds mustard greens, washed and chopped into 2-inch pieces
Coarse salt
Freshly ground black pepper

In a small saucepan over medium heat, cook vinegar and sugar until a thick syrup forms, about 20 minutes.

In a large skillet over medium heat, add vegetable oil, shallots, and greens. Cook 5 minutes, sprinkling with water until greens are wilted. Season with salt and pepper to taste, and add 2 tablespoons of the vinegar-sugar mixture. Serve immediately.

Makes 4 servings
Source: New Soul Cooking by Tanya Holland