Greens on toast with roasted garlic butter

Canapés should be exciting; they should be so good that your guests will want to make a meal out of them. This is one of those super-healthy canapés that are both nutritious and filling.

The concept behind this canapé is simple: great flavours combined well. The garlic butter pairs perfectly with the sweetness of the caramelised garlic, while also being tart and bright from the lime juice and zest. The earthy greens look fabulous on top and complement the flavours nicely. Aside from roasting the garlic, which takes time, this is a straightforward recipe that is truly amazing.

The Fat Radish was a small neighbourhood restaurant in New York. The intimate, no-fuss, vegetarian-biased menu was highly rated, and it was always filled with young hipsters, along with the occasional superstar. This is another amazing recipe from this cookbook. I have been cooking through this book and am amazed at how delicious each recipe turns out. This book is among my favourites in my collection.

For more recipes from this cookbook, click here.

Ingredients:

1 head garlic, or 15 cloves unpeeled

Olive oil spray

1/4 cup butter, softened at room temperature

3 tablespoons parsley, minced

Zest and juice of 1 lime

1/2 teaspoon pepper

Salt, to taste

15-18 Swiss chard leaves, stemmed and roughly chopped

1 tablespoon olive oil

Salt, to taste

1/4 teaspoon pepper

Crusty seeded bread or sourdough bread, toasted if desired.

NOTE: You can use any hearty green for this recipe, including Kale, mustard greens or others. The greens should be tough and have a bite, as compared to soft spinach.

Preheat the oven to 375 ° F.

Start by roasting the garlic. Place the garlic on a piece of foil and spray with olive oil. Wrap tightly. Roast for 35-45 minutes until the garlic is soft and browned. Remove and cool. When you can work with the garlic, squeeze it out of the skins into a bowl.

To the same bowl, add the butter, parsley, lime, pepper and salt. Mix well—taste for tartness and the pungent aroma of garlic.

Heat the oil in a wide frying pan and add the Swiss chard, pepper and salt. Sauté till the chard is wilted but still looks fresh and green, about 3-5 minutes. Remove and cool in a bowl.

To serve, spread a generous layer of butter on the bread or toast and top with some cooked Swiss chard. Serve immediately.