Complex sentence: The leaves are steamed to soften the fleshy base part of each leaf to be used as the basis for any number of side dishes or appetizing dips, or the fleshy part is left attached to the heart, while the upper parts of the leaves are discarded.
Split into simpler sentences: The leaves are steamed to soften the fleshy base part of each leaf to be used as the basis for any number of side-dishes or appetizing dips. Or the fleshy part is left attached to the heart, while the upper parts of the leaves are discarded.