Date: April 01, 2010
When I was young, my dad would fry up a whole assortment of collard greens like beats, spinach, and arugula. He would pour olive oil in the pan, and then slowly cook the greens until they were soft. When all was said and done, the greens would end up looking like a disgusting pile of green poo. My dad called it Minash (Italian Name I believe). At the time, I hated it. The texture was gritty, and it squeaked as you chewed it. After swallowing there would be a tangy, bitter aftertaste that lingered hours after eating.
My dad, on the other hand, loved it. He would rant and rave about how good it was, both in taste and nutrition. He would smack his mouth as he ate, commenting on the "squeaky mouth feel." He said you could feel the minerals coating your teeth.
As time went on, I too began to develop a taste for greens. Just as my dad I noticed the mouth feel and how after eating I was left with this coating on my teeth. I liked to imagine that this coating was building my teeth. It was making them stronger and whiter, and if I just ate enough, my teeth could be the strongest teeth in the world! The act of eating created this psychological sense of well being. It was as though the health benefits were being immediately felt, and that I was being transformed with every bite.
This is my Dad's recipe for Minash:
Brown the sausage until completely cooked. Add in your collard greens, and cook until tender. Salter and Pepper to taste.