Silverbeet (250g)

Silverbeet, with its large green leaves and white stalks, has an earthy flavour and is a good source of folate, fiber and vitamins. In the same family as beets, it is often thought to be similar to spinach and is often associated with Mediterranean cuisine though it is just as good with noodles, ramen or in stir-fries as well.

Silverbeet is one of the most versatile greens for cooking. Its shiny green leaves fall somewhere between kale and spinach in toughness and bitterness. Blanch or sauté the silverbeet quickly so that they don’t loose too much of their nutrients and keep their crunchy texture before adding them to your dish.

Silverbeet can be used in pretty much any dish you can add spinach to. Add the young leaves raw and shredded to salads, or use them with the mature leaves in stir-fries, curries, quiches, soups and noodles.

Store both stalks and leaves in a sealed plastic bag. Or wash it and wrap it in paper towels for ultimate freshness and storage time.

Barry’s tip: Why not try seasoning the leaves and baking them in the oven for chips similar to kale chips?