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A jar of green powder with measuring spoons and leafy greens on a wooden surface, perfect for learning how to use broccoli and cauliflower leaves in your daily recipes.
Angela Judd

Preserve Broccoli and Cauliflower Leaves & Create Your Own Greens Powder

5 from 1 vote
Turn abundant broccoli and cauliflower leaves into a nutrient-packed green powder by dehydrating or freeze-drying them, then grinding into an easy-to-use seasoning. This method keeps leafy greens from going to waste while preserving flavor and nutrients for soups, smoothies, sauces, and more.
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Ingredients Equipment Method Video Notes

Ingredients
  

  • Broccoli or Cauliflower Leaves

Equipment

Method
 

Collect the Leaves
  1. Don’t harvest the leaves before you harvest the heads and florets as they are a good source of energy for the main crop. Harvest everything at the same time for best results.
    Person harvesting broccoli from a garden bed with green leaves and sunlight shining on the plants, perfect for learning how to use broccoli and cauliflower leaves in fresh, homemade recipes.
  2. Remove leaves where they connect to the main stem by snapping them away from the spine.
    Freshly harvested leafy greens, ideal for learning how to use broccoli and cauliflower leaves, rest in a metal colander on the ground beside a wooden garden bed.
Prepare the Leaves
  1. Give the leaves a rough chop.
    A hand chops leafy greens with a knife on a wooden cutting board, demonstrating how to use broccoli and cauliflower leaves in your favorite recipes.
  2. Rinse the leaves very well by letting them soak in a large bowl full of water.
    Chopped collard greens being rinsed under running water in a metal bowl, similar to how to use broccoli and cauliflower leaves for fresh, leafy dishes.
  3. Lay them out on a towel to dry completely.
    Chopped green leafy vegetables, including broccoli and cauliflower leaves, spread out on a white patterned surface.
Process the Leaves
  1. For years I used a dehydrator to process my leaves. I’ve switched over to freeze drying the leaves as this preserves the most nutrients. Use what you have on hand!
    Chopped kale leaves being loaded into and spun dry in a salad spinner—similar to how to use broccoli and cauliflower leaves for fresh, crisp salads.
  2. Fill your trays with leaves and follow the processing directions on your machine and make sure the leaves are completely dried out. This usually takes 12-36 hours.
    Trays filled with chopped green leafy vegetables, possibly collard greens or broccoli and cauliflower leaves, spread out to dry. Learn how to use broccoli and cauliflower leaves in creative ways for your next meal.
  3. If you are using stems as well, dry them separately to cut down drying time.
    Freshly harvested broccoli leaves in a metal colander on a wooden table, with stalks lying beside it—a perfect example of how to use broccoli and cauliflower leaves in your favorite recipes.
Turn Your Leaves Into Powder
  1. Use a blender or potato masher to crumble your dried leaves into a fine powder.
    Three panels: dried greens with a masher, greens in a blender, and blended greens in a strainer—showing how to use broccoli and cauliflower leaves for delicious, nutrient-packed dishes.
  2. Store in an airtight container for up to a year.
    A glass jar labeled Greens filled with green powder, sitting on a wooden surface outdoors—perfect for learning How to Use Broccoli and Cauliflower Leaves in your healthy recipes.

Video

Notes

Use Your Greens Powder: My favorite way to use this supergreens powder is by adding a scoop to smoothies, soups, or other meals. It’s a great way to add nutrients without changing the texture or flavor of the dish.

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