Best 7 Braised Collard Greens Vegetarian Recipes

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**Braised Collard Greens: A Southern Classic, Now Made Vegetarian**

Collard greens, a staple of Southern cuisine, are traditionally braised with smoked meats like ham hocks or bacon. This recipe offers a delicious vegetarian alternative, using a combination of pantry staples and fresh vegetables to create a flavorful and satisfying dish. The recipe also includes variations for those who prefer a vegan or gluten-free version. Whether you're a longtime collard greens fan or new to this Southern classic, this recipe is sure to become a favorite.

Let's cook with our recipes!

BRAISED COLLARD GREENS



Braised Collard Greens image

My Grandma Ollie-Belle made the best 'greens.' This recipe is as close to hers as I could come. The 'pot-liquor' is the key to great greens!! Serve with fresh green onions and black-eyed peas with rice.

Provided by THYME4MA

Categories     Side Dish     Vegetables     Greens

Time 1h20m

Yield 8

Number Of Ingredients 10

2 pounds collard greens - rinsed, stemmed and thinly sliced
2 pounds fresh ham hocks
½ pound salt pork
3 quarts chicken stock
1 cup chopped onion
2 bay leaves
¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes
2 tablespoons white sugar
salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
2 teaspoons red wine vinegar

Steps:

  • Place ham hocks, salt pork, onion, bay leaves, red pepper flakes, and sugar in a large pot with the chicken stock. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to simmer, and cook for 30 minutes.
  • Stir collard greens into the pot, and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to simmer, and cook for 30 minutes, or until greens are tender. Season with red wine vinegar and salt and pepper to taste.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 581.6 calories, Carbohydrate 13.3 g, Cholesterol 102.6 mg, Fat 48.1 g, Fiber 4.6 g, Protein 24.7 g, SaturatedFat 17 g, Sodium 1657.3 mg, Sugar 5.3 g

BRAISED COLLARD GREENS



Braised Collard Greens image

Adding hard cider to smoky ham stock (a trick from the recipe developer Grace Parisi) builds a foundation of tangy, tart flavors in this recipe. It takes about 2 hours for the hocks to become tender, but once your kitchen fills with the smell of ham bubbling away in a pot of vinegary cider, you'll never want that slow simmer to end. If you like really sour collards, add a splash of apple cider vinegar once the greens have finished braising.

Provided by Sarah Jampel

Categories     vegetables, side dish

Time 3h

Yield 8 servings

Number Of Ingredients 13

3 tablespoons olive oil
2 pounds smoked ham hocks
2 onions, thinly sliced into half-moons
2 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
1 teaspoon smoked paprika
1 teaspoon cumin
1 teaspoon cayenne
1 teaspoon kosher salt, plus more to taste
1 1/2 teaspoons light brown sugar
1 1/2 cups chicken stock
1 (650-milliliter/22-ounce) bottle hard apple cider (about 2 3/4 cups)
2 pounds collard greens (about 3 to 4 bunches), large stems removed, washed and cut into 1/4-inch ribbons
Hot sauce, for serving (optional)

Steps:

  • Heat the olive oil in a large, heavy-bottomed pot with a lid over medium-high. When hot, add ham hocks. When they're sizzling, flip and crisp the other side.
  • Add the onions and stir so they are coated in the fat and nestled under and around the hocks. Turn the heat down to medium and cook, stirring occasionally, until onions are soft, 6 to 8 minutes.
  • Add the garlic, paprika, cumin, cayenne, salt and brown sugar, and stir until fragrant, about 2 minutes.
  • Pour in the chicken stock and hard cider and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 2 hours, until the ham hocks are very tender.
  • Remove the ham hocks and allow to cool slightly. Skim the fat off the surface of the stock. When cool enough to handle, remove the meat from the bone (discard the fat and the skin) and chop into 1/4- to 1/2-inch pieces and set aside.
  • Bring the stock back to a boil, then add the greens in large handfuls, pressing them down to wilt in the hot stock before adding more leaves. Add the reserved ham hock meat.
  • Reduce heat to low, cover the pot, and simmer for 25 to 30 minutes, until the greens are silky and tender. Season with salt and serve with hot sauce and a splash of apple cider vinegar, if desired.

Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 320, UnsaturatedFat 11 grams, Carbohydrate 10 grams, Fat 17 grams, Fiber 1 gram, Protein 27 grams, SaturatedFat 4 grams, Sodium 998 milligrams, Sugar 3 grams, TransFat 0 grams

VEGAN BRAISED COLLARD GREENS WITH MUSHROOMS



Vegan Braised Collard Greens With Mushrooms image

When you remove the ham from collard greens, you'll have to find that smoky savoriness elsewhere. This recipe makes up for the lost ham with four critical ingredients: Mushroom stock that comes together in 30 minutes, rehydrated shiitakes, smoked paprika and soy sauce. The bitter, sour collard greens are sweetened with just a smidge of maple syrup at the end. If you don't have any on hand, add 1 teaspoon of white or brown sugar when you add the onions. And if you like your greens extra sour, serve the bowls with lemon wedges.

Provided by Sarah Jampel

Categories     vegetables, side dish

Time 1h

Yield 8 servings

Number Of Ingredients 20

1 tablespoon olive oil
1 large sprig rosemary
1 large sprig fresh thyme
10 ounces cremini mushrooms, halved
1 large carrot, peeled and roughly chopped
1 onion, quartered
2 stalks celery, roughly chopped
1 bay leaf
4 dried shiitake mushrooms
Kosher salt, to taste
3 tablespoons olive oil
1/2 teaspoon red-pepper flakes
10 ounces cremini mushrooms, trimmed and sliced
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1 medium onion, sliced into ¼-inch half moons
3/4 teaspoon smoked paprika
2 pounds collard greens (about 3 to 4 bunches), large stems removed, washed, and cut into ¼-inch ribbons
1 to 2 tablespoons soy sauce, to taste
1 teaspoon maple syrup (optional)
Lemon wedges (optional)

Steps:

  • Make the stock: Heat the olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. When hot, add the rosemary and thyme, and stir until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add the mushrooms, carrot, onion, celery, bay leaf and dried shiitakes and stir so the vegetables are coated in oil. Add 5 cups water, then bring to a boil over medium-high heat.
  • Lower the heat and simmer for 20 minutes. Strain, reserving the rehydrated dried shiitakes. Cut the shiitakes into 1/4-inch cubes and set aside. Taste the broth and adjust salt as necessary.
  • Make the collards: In a large pot with a lid, heat the olive oil over medium-high. Add red-pepper flakes, sliced mushrooms and reserved shiitakes from the broth. Cook until mushrooms are deeply brown, 8 to 10 minutes. Add the salt, onions and smoked paprika and cook until soft, about 5 more minutes.
  • Pour in the mushroom stock and bring to a boil. Add the collard greens in large handfuls, pressing them down to wilt in the hot stock before adding more leaves.
  • Turn the heat down to medium-low to simmer, then cover the pot and cook for 25 to 30 minutes, until the greens are silky and tender. Stir in soy sauce, starting with 1 tablespoon, and maple syrup. Taste the greens and adjust salt and sweetness as necessary. Serve with lemon wedges for a sour finish.

Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 67, UnsaturatedFat 4 grams, Carbohydrate 4 grams, Fat 5 grams, Fiber 1 gram, Protein 2 grams, SaturatedFat 1 gram, Sodium 177 milligrams, Sugar 1 gram

VEGETARIAN "SOUTHERN-STYLE" COLLARD GREENS



Vegetarian

Provided by Sunny Anderson

Categories     side-dish

Time 50m

Yield 4 to 6 servings

Number Of Ingredients 9

1 tablespoon olive oil
1 tablespoon butter
1/2 large onion, chopped
1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1 clove garlic, finely chopped
1 pound collard greens, chopped
3 cups vegetable stock
2 tomatoes, seeded and chopped
Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Steps:

  • In a large pot over medium heat, heat oil and butter. Saute the onions until slightly softened, about 2 minutes, then add the red pepper flakes and garlic, cook another minute. Add collard greens and cook another minute. Add the vegetable stock, cover and bring to a simmer. Cook until greens are tender, about 40 minutes. Add tomatoes and season with salt and freshly ground black pepper.

BRAISED COLLARD GREENS



Braised Collard Greens image

Provided by Melissa d'Arabian : Food Network

Categories     side-dish

Time 1h5m

Yield 4 servings

Number Of Ingredients 8

2 strips bacon, cut into small lardons
1/8 teaspoon red pepper flakes
2 cloves garlic, sliced
Juice and zest of 1 lemon
Juice and zest of 1 lemon
1 large bunch collard greens, stemmed and sliced into 1-inch strips
1/2 cup chicken stock
Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Steps:

  • Cook the bacon in a deep saute pan on medium-high heat until crisp, then set aside, leaving the fat in the pan. Add the red pepper flakes, garlic and lemon zest, and saute until fragrant. Add the collard greens and cook until they begin to wilt. Add the chicken stock and 1/2 cup water and cover, lowering the heat to a simmer. Let cook until the greens are tender, 30 to 40 minutes. Uncover, add back the bacon, raise the heat to medium-high, and reduce the liquid by one-quarter, 1 to 2 minutes. Add the lemon juice, and season with salt and pepper.

BRAISED COLLARD GREENS



Braised Collard Greens image

Categories     Boil

Yield Serves 4 to 6

Number Of Ingredients 5

2 bunches collard greens, well rinsed
3 tablespoons olive oil
4 garlic cloves, minced
2 teaspoons salt
1/4 cup red wine vinegar

Steps:

  • Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat.
  • Cut the tough stem ends from the collards and discard. Cut the leaves and tender stems into large bite-size pieces. Submerge the collards in the boiling water and cook, stirring once or twice, for 6 minutes. Drain the water and set the collards aside.
  • Heat the olive oil in a large pot over medium heat and add the garlic and salt. Cook, stirring frequently, until the garlic is just beginning to brown, 1 to 2 minutes. Add the collards, vinegar, and 1/4 cup water to the pot and continue to cook, stirring constantly, until the collards are soft and all of the water has evaporated, about 10 minutes. If the water evaporates too quickly, add a few extra tablespoons so that the collards have time to cook fully; they should be very tender. Serve immediately.

BRAISED COLLARD GREENS



Braised Collard Greens image

Traditional Southern preparation for greens. These can be made a day or two ahead, and actually they taste even better if you do make them ahead of time. If you want these to be vegetarian, leave out the bacon and use vegetable stock instead of ham hock stock or chicken stock. I use Recipe #442908 in this recipe, and it is the most authentic way to make them, but if you don't have the time you can just use low sodium chicken stock. You will notice that the recipe calls for 4 to 6 bunches of collards - this is because bunches can vary in size. If the bunches are big, you only need 4. If they are on the smaller side, use 6. You can use this same preparation for other greens as well - kale, mustard, turnip, etc.

Provided by xtine

Categories     Collard Greens

Time 2h30m

Yield 8 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 10

1/4 lb smoked bacon, cut into 1/2-inch dice
1 medium yellow onion, sliced
4 -6 bunches collard greens
1 garlic clove, sliced
1 -2 quart ham hock stock
2 bay leaves
1 teaspoon sugar
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1/4-1 teaspoon salt

Steps:

  • Strip the collards off the stems and tear into pieces. Discard the stems.
  • In a large stock pot, sauté the diced bacon over medium heat until it has rendered out most of its fat and has browned.
  • Add the onions to the pot and sauté until browned.
  • Add the greens a handful at a time, and sauté over medium heat, while stirring. Once one handful wilts, add the next handful. Continue until all the greens are wilted.
  • Add the sliced garlic and sauté for 30 seconds - just until it becomes fragrant.
  • Add 1 quart of the stock. If this is not enough to cover the greens, keep adding stock (or water, if you don't have any more stock) until the greens are covered.
  • Add the bay leaves, sugar, pepper, red pepper flakes, and salt. A NOTE ON THE AMOUNT OF SALT TO USE: I use home made ham hock stock to make this, and the saltiness of the stock depends on the saltiness of the hocks they are made from (this can vary considerably). Because of this it is important to always taste the stock you are working with before adding any additional salt to the dish. If you are using store bought chicken stock, I would not add any salt at this point. I would cook the greens for 2 hours, and then taste to see if you need any additional salt. Store bought chicken stock is very salty, even the "less sodium" kind. You can always put more salt in, but you can't take it out, so go easy here.
  • Bring to a boil and stir well. Lower the heat to low, cover, and simmer for 2 hours.
  • Remove the bay leaves and taste the greens. If you think they need more salt, now is the time to add it.
  • IF YOU ARE MAKING THE GREENS AHEAD OF TIME:.
  • Leave the bay leaves in the pot. Taste and add more salt IF NEEDED. Refrigerate for up to 2 days. When you are ready to serve, re-heat the greens on the stove over medium heat. Remove the bay leaves before serving.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 159.6, Fat 7, SaturatedFat 2.1, Cholesterol 15.6, Sodium 446.4, Carbohydrate 16.3, Fiber 8.3, Sugar 2.3, Protein 11.5

Tips:

  • Choose fresh collard greens: Look for collard greens that are deep green in color and have no signs of wilting or yellowing.
  • Wash the collard greens thoroughly: Before cooking, rinse the collard greens under cold water to remove any dirt or debris.
  • Remove the tough stems: Before cooking, remove the tough stems from the collard greens. This will make them more tender and easier to eat.
  • Use a large pot: Collard greens will wilt significantly during cooking, so be sure to use a large pot that can accommodate them.
  • Season the collard greens well: Collard greens have a slightly bitter flavor, so be sure to season them well with salt, pepper, and other spices to taste.
  • Cook the collard greens until they are tender: Collard greens should be cooked until they are tender and wilted, but still retain a bit of their crunch.
  • Serve the collard greens with your favorite sides: Collard greens are a versatile side dish that can be served with a variety of main courses. Some popular options include fried chicken, pork chops, and smoked sausage.

Conclusion:

Braised collard greens are a delicious, healthy, and affordable side dish that can be enjoyed by people of all ages. They are a good source of vitamins, minerals, and fiber, and they can be cooked in a variety of ways to suit your taste. Whether you prefer them simple or seasoned, braised collard greens are a surefire hit.

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