In the realm of Southern cuisine, collard greens reign supreme as a quintessential dish steeped in tradition and bursting with flavor. These hearty leafy greens, often associated with soul food, have graced dinner tables for generations, offering a nutritional powerhouse with an earthy, slightly bitter taste that is both distinctive and comforting. Typically slow-cooked with a savory broth, onions, garlic, and smoked meats or ham hocks, collard greens transform into a tender and flavorful side dish. Whether you prefer them classic or infused with a touch of heat from red pepper flakes, these recipes will guide you in creating a delicious and authentic collard greens experience. So, gather your ingredients, prepare your taste buds, and embark on a culinary journey that celebrates the legacy of this beloved Southern staple. From traditional methods to innovative variations, these recipes showcase the versatility and timeless appeal of collard greens.
Here are our top 20 tried and tested recipes!
SOUTHERN STYLE COLLARD GREENS
Southern-style greens like my mama use to make.
Provided by tybright31
Categories Side Dish Vegetables Greens
Time 4h15m
Yield 10
Number Of Ingredients 9
Steps:
- Combine onions, ham hocks, and garlic in a stockpot; add chicken broth. Cook mixture over medium heat until meat is falling off the bone, about 2 hours.
- Stir collard greens, vinegar, sugar, salt, and pepper into the broth mixture; cook until greens have reached desired tenderness, about 2 more hours.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 188.5 calories, Carbohydrate 14.2 g, Cholesterol 33.9 mg, Fat 9.7 g, Fiber 5.3 g, Protein 11.8 g, SaturatedFat 3 g, Sodium 1686.5 mg, Sugar 5.4 g
COLLARD GREENS WITH BACON
Good ole country collard greens with bacon and onion. These are so hearty and satisfying, even those who say "I don't like greens" will eat these up! You might even get a "Wow!" after the first bite and a "not at all like I remember them tasting". You can eat them alone but they're best with hot buttered cornbread. Mustard and turnip greens are great this way too. Enjoy!
Provided by MA McBridges
Categories Side Dish Vegetables Greens
Time 1h35m
Yield 8
Number Of Ingredients 8
Steps:
- Place bacon in a heavy pot and cook over medium-high heat, turning occasionally, until fat begins to render, about 5 minutes. Drain off 1/2 of the bacon grease.
- Reduce heat to medium and add onion. Cook, stirring often, for about 5 minutes. Add garlic, red pepper flakes, salt, and pepper; cook and stir for 2 minutes.
- Increase heat to high and immediately pour in 3 cups water. Bring to a boil, stirring to scrape up browned bits from the bottom of the pot. Add chopped collard greens and 1 more cup of water. Bring back to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer until greens are tender, about 1 hour.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 80.6 calories, Carbohydrate 6.3 g, Cholesterol 10.2 mg, Fat 4.2 g, Fiber 2.9 g, Protein 5.4 g, SaturatedFat 1.3 g, Sodium 304.9 mg, Sugar 1.1 g
GRANDMA'S COLLARD GREENS
My grandmother made the best collard greens recipe in the world. Eating them with a slice of buttermilk cornbread is pure bliss. -Sherri Williams, Crestview, Florida
Provided by Taste of Home
Categories Side Dishes
Time 2h30m
Yield 6 servings.
Number Of Ingredients 10
Steps:
- In a 6-qt. stockpot, heat 1 tablespoon lard over medium heat. Add onion and garlic; cook and stir until tender. Add ham hocks, water, seasoned salt, pepper flakes, and sugar. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, 55-60 minutes or until meat is tender., Add collard greens, wine, and remaining lard. Return to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, 55-60 minutes or until greens are very tender. Remove meat from bones; finely chop and return to pan. Discard bones. Serve with a slotted spoon.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 204 calories, Fat 9g fat (3g saturated fat), Cholesterol 19mg cholesterol, Sodium 849mg sodium, Carbohydrate 13g carbohydrate (3g sugars, Fiber 7g fiber), Protein 10g protein.
KICKIN' COLLARD GREENS
If you like greens you will love this recipe. The bacon and onions give them a wonderful flavor. Add more red pepper for a little more spice.
Provided by Ken Adams
Categories Side Dish Vegetables Greens
Time 1h10m
Yield 6
Number Of Ingredients 9
Steps:
- Heat oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. Add bacon, and cook until crisp. Remove bacon from pan, crumble and return to the pan. Add onion, and cook until tender, about 5 minutes. Add garlic, and cook until just fragrant. Add collard greens, and fry until they start to wilt.
- Pour in chicken broth, and season with salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes. Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 45 minutes, or until greens are tender.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 127.1 calories, Carbohydrate 7.9 g, Cholesterol 12 mg, Fat 9.2 g, Fiber 3.3 g, Protein 4.4 g, SaturatedFat 2.5 g, Sodium 1000.8 mg, Sugar 1.9 g
VEGETARIAN "SOUTHERN-STYLE" COLLARD GREENS
Provided by Sunny Anderson
Categories side-dish
Time 50m
Yield 4 to 6 servings
Number Of Ingredients 9
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.
EASY COLLARD GREENS
Easy southern collards the whole family will enjoy. Seasoning measurements are approximated; adjust to preferred taste.
Provided by tammyhart
Categories Side Dish Vegetables Greens
Time 2h5m
Yield 8
Number Of Ingredients 8
Steps:
- Combine collard greens, bacon, salt, garlic powder, onion powder, sugar, and cayenne pepper in a stock pot. Pour enough water over the greens mixture to cover completely. Bring the water to a boil, reduce heat to low, and cook at a simmer until the greens are tender, about 2 hours.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 94.5 calories, Carbohydrate 6.3 g, Cholesterol 9.7 mg, Fat 6.7 g, Fiber 2.2 g, Protein 3.3 g, SaturatedFat 2.2 g, Sodium 1006 mg, Sugar 2.4 g
PAN-FRIED COLLARD GREENS
Steps:
- Add bacon to a large skillet over medium heat. Cook bacon, stirring occasionally, until crispy, about 5 minutes. Use a slotted spoon to remove from the pan and set aside, leaving the fat in the pan.
- Add the onion to the bacon grease and cook, stirring, until softened, about 3 minutes. Stir in garlic and cook, stirring, for another 30 seconds or so, until fragrant. Add the greens, honey, hot sauce and a few pinches of salt and pepper. Cook the greens, stirring occasionally, until greens are nice and tender, 25 to 30 minutes. Taste and add more salt and/or pepper if necessary. Serve hot with bacon on top.
COLLARD GREENS AND BEAN SOUP
Kind of came up with this one on my own one day when I just didn't feel up to going to the store, so I used what ingredients I had in my pantry and fridge and voila! This collard greens and bean soup is now in my daily meal rotation, especially in the fall and winter! Serve with cornbread or biscuits.
Provided by Ashley Holman
Categories Soups, Stews and Chili Recipes Soup Recipes Beans and Peas
Time 50m
Yield 10
Number Of Ingredients 8
Steps:
- Heat a skillet over medium-high heat. Add sausage and saute until browned, 5 to 7 minutes. Remove from heat.
- Combine browned sausage, chicken broth, collard greens, beans, diced tomatoes with chiles, soup mix, hot sauce, salt, and pepper in a large pot. Bring to a rolling boil over high heat. Reduce heat to low and let simmer, stirring often, until greens are tender and flavors have melded, about 30 minutes.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 342.5 calories, Carbohydrate 31.1 g, Cholesterol 34.9 mg, Fat 15.6 g, Fiber 7.7 g, Protein 21.6 g, SaturatedFat 5.5 g, Sodium 1173.9 mg, Sugar 2.2 g
BLACK-EYED PEAS WITH COLLARD GREENS
Time to gather round the table, y'all! This dish has special meaning on New Year's Day, when Southerners eat greens for future wealth and black-eyed peas for prosperity. -Athena Russell, Greenville, South Carolina
Provided by Taste of Home
Categories Side Dishes
Time 25m
Yield 6 servings.
Number Of Ingredients 9
Steps:
- In a Dutch oven, heat oil over medium heat. Add garlic; cook and stir 1 minute. Add collard greens, salt and cayenne; cook and stir 6-8 minutes or until greens are tender. Add peas, tomatoes and lemon juice; heat through. Sprinkle servings with cheese.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 177 calories, Fat 5g fat (1g saturated fat), Cholesterol 1mg cholesterol, Sodium 412mg sodium, Carbohydrate 24g carbohydrate (3g sugars, Fiber 6g fiber), Protein 9g protein.
SAUTEED COLLARD GREENS WITH GARLIC
Collard greens are normally associated with a long, slow cooking time, but this method requires only 10 minutes of steaming. Sauteing the leaves with garlic first balances the vegetable's bitterness. Pull or cut out the thick stems, and wash the leaves well before using.
Provided by Martha Stewart
Categories Food & Cooking Healthy Recipes Gluten-Free Recipes
Time 25m
Number Of Ingredients 6
Steps:
- Heat oil in a large saute pan over medium heat. Cook garlic, stirring often, until golden, about 3 minutes. Stir in red-pepper flakes, and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Stir in collardgreens and 1 teaspoon salt.
- Reduce heat to medium-low. Add water, and steam,covered, until greens are just tender and water evaporates, about 10 minutes. If greens are ready but there is still water in the pan, raise heat to medium-high, and cook, uncovered, until completely evaporated.
COLLARD GREENS WITH WHITE BEANS
This is a vegan recipe for collard greens that is easy and fast.
Provided by krs
Categories Side Dish Vegetables Greens
Time 55m
Yield 4
Number Of Ingredients 10
Steps:
- Heat 2 tablespoons water in a large skillet over medium heat. Cook and stir onion and garlic in water until onion is softened and translucent, about 10 minutes, adding more water as needed to prevent scorching. Stir vegetarian bouillon into onion mixture.
- Stir collard greens, tomatoes, and 1 1/4 cup water into onion mixture. Season with salt and pepper; cover and simmer until vegetables are tender, about 20 minutes. Stir in great Northern beans and sugar and continue to simmer until liquid evaporates, about 10 minutes more. Adjust seasoning as needed.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 181.3 calories, Carbohydrate 36 g, Fat 0.8 g, Fiber 8.8 g, Protein 10.4 g, SaturatedFat 0.2 g, Sodium 41.6 mg, Sugar 5.9 g
HAM AND BEAN SOUP WITH COLLARD GREENS
If you happen to have a ham bone leftover from a roasted ham, cover it with water and simmer it with an onion and a bay leaf to make the stock for this rich, meaty soup. But if not, chicken stock works well, too.
Provided by Melissa Clark
Categories soups and stews, appetizer
Time 1h
Yield 6 to 8 servings
Number Of Ingredients 17
Steps:
- In a large pot over medium heat, heat 2 tablespoons oil or bacon fat. Add ham and cook until beginning to brown, 8 to 10 minutes. Use a slotted spoon to transfer ham to a bowl.
- Raise heat to medium-high and add remaining 2 tablespoons oil or fat to the pan. Add onion, celery, jalapeño peppers, bell pepper, bay leaf, 1 teaspoon salt and the black pepper; cook until lightly browned, 8 to 10 minutes, stirring frequently. (Add a little water, if necessary, to prevent burning on the bottom of the pot.) Stir in garlic and cook another 2 minutes.
- Add stock, beans, collard greens, reserved ham and remaining 1 teaspoon salt. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat, party cover, and simmer for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add parsley, vinegar and more salt to taste. Serve topped with hot sauce and sour cream if you like.
Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 294, UnsaturatedFat 11 grams, Carbohydrate 23 grams, Fat 15 grams, Fiber 6 grams, Protein 18 grams, SaturatedFat 4 grams, Sodium 1051 milligrams, Sugar 9 grams
SAUTEED COLLARD GREENS
Steps:
- To prepare the greens: cut away the tough stalks and stems from the collards and discard any leaves that are bruised or yellow. Fill the sink with water and salt, the salt helps to remove any impurities. Wash the collards thoroughly to remove the grit, 2 or 3 times, until the water runs clear. Dry thoroughly. Stack up several leaves and roll up lengthwise in a bundle, cut them into 1-inch ribbons. Repeat until all the leaves are shredded.
- Heat a large deep skillet over medium flame and coat with the oil. Add the garlic and saute for 2 minutes to soften. Add the greens and toss well with the oil and garlic. Pour in the chicken broth and cook for 45 minutes to 1 hour until the greens are wilted and tender; take care not to overcook. Season with salt and pepper and serve.
BRAISED COLLARD GREENS
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
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
COLLARD GREENS & BEANS
I never tried collard greens until a friend gave me this recipe that calls for bacon and pinto beans. Now I look forward to serving this Southern staple on Thanksgiving. -April Burroughs, Vilonia, Arkansas
Provided by Taste of Home
Categories Side Dishes
Time 1h15m
Yield 8 servings.
Number Of Ingredients 10
Steps:
- Remove and discard center ribs and stems from collard greens. Cut leaves into 1-in. pieces. In a Dutch oven, cook bacon over medium heat until crisp, stirring occasionally., Add onion and garlic to bacon and drippings; cook and stir 2 minutes. Add collard greens; cook and stir until they begin to wilt. Stir in water, brown sugar, vinegar, salt and pepper. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, covered, 55-65 minutes or until greens are tender, adding beans during the last 15 minutes.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 145 calories, Fat 5g fat (1g saturated fat), Cholesterol 7mg cholesterol, Sodium 382mg sodium, Carbohydrate 19g carbohydrate (5g sugars, Fiber 7g fiber), Protein 7g protein. Diabetic Exchanges
SLOW-COOKER COLLARD GREENS AND HAM HOCKS RECIPE BY TASTY
Here's what you need: collard green, large yellow onion, ham, brown sugar, black pepper, salt, apple cider vinegar, chicken broth
Provided by Pierce Abernathy
Categories Sides
Yield 12 servings
Number Of Ingredients 8
Steps:
- Remove the stems from the collard greens, then stack the leaves on top of each other and roughly chop.
- Add the collard greens to a slow cooker with the onion, ham hocks, brown sugar, pepper, salt, apple cider vinegar, and chicken broth.
- Cover and cook on low for 8 hours or high for 4 hours, until the greens are tender.
- Remove the ham hocks from the slow cooker. Trim and discard any fat and bones. Roughly chop the meat and return to the greens. Toss to incorporate.
- Serve warm.
- Enjoy!
Nutrition Facts : Calories 393 calories, Carbohydrate 28 grams, Fat 22 grams, Fiber 4 grams, Protein 20 grams, Sugar 6 grams
BEST EVER COLLARD GREENS
This is my own recipe for collard greens. Once I made them this way my husband won't let me cook them any other way. People who don't typically like greens like these. It is also good with turnips and mustards. I add some of the turnip root if I use turnips.
Provided by Mysterygirl
Categories Collard Greens
Time 3h30m
Yield 8 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 6
Steps:
- Heat broth.
- Add remaining ingredients.
- If there is not enough broth to cover greens, add more.
- Bring to a boil, then reduce heat& simmer for about 3 hours.
- Remove bay leaves.
GINA'S BEST COLLARD GREENS
Provided by Patrick and Gina Neely : Food Network
Categories side-dish
Time 2h15m
Yield 8 to 10 servings
Number Of Ingredients 6
Steps:
- Thoroughly wash collard greens. Be sure to pull leaves apart and remove any sand. Chop collard greens.
- In a medium saucepan, bring 4 cups of salted water to a simmer. Place smoked ham hocks in salted water and cover for about 90 minutes. Cook ham hocks until slightly tender. In the same saucepan, add remaining ingredients and collard greens.
- Cover and cook greens for 1 to 1 1/2 hours.
PERFECT SOUTHERN GREENS (KALE, BEET, COLLARD GREENS, MUSTARD)
This recipe yields the best tasting greens I have ever eaten! I have yet to have a batch of bitter greens when cooked this way. This recipe has the potential to change the minds of green-haters and may even bring about a cute southern accent. Blanching the greens before adding to the slow cooker helps remove the natural bitterness. I usually make it with kale and beet greens but other greens work as well. The greens pair well with pilsner or an off-dry riesling, especially if you use the balsamic vinegar.
Provided by NcMysteryShopper
Categories Collard Greens
Time 4h10m
Yield 4 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 12
Steps:
- Tear greens into large pieces and discard the thick vein. Add greens to a pot of boiling salted water (I use kosher salt). Let boil for about 6 minutes. Drain and Rinse.
- While the greens are boiling, preheat a heavy skillet with olive oil, add onion and garlic; sauté until onions are lightly brown, add minced jalapeno peppers and cook for an additional minute or two.
- Put the sautéed onions in the slow-cooker then add the drained greens, ham, bacon, crushed red pepper and water.
- Cook on high for 4 hours or until greens are tender.
- Serve with balsamic vinegar, optional.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 114.9, Fat 7, SaturatedFat 1.6, Cholesterol 8.6, Sodium 210.8, Carbohydrate 9.6, Fiber 1.9, Sugar 1.9, Protein 4.9
BRAISED COLLARD GREENS WITH BACON
Steps:
- Cut and trim the collard greens, removing the tough stems. Roughly chop the trimmed greens into 1/2-inch ribbons.
- Cook the bacon in a large skillet over medium heat until crispy, 8 to 10 minutes. Transfer to a plate with a slotted spoon to leave behind all of the delicious bacon fat to cook the collard greens in.
- Add the onions and red pepper flakes to the same skillet. Depending on the bacon you use, you may need more fat in the pan, so add the canola oil if needed. Saute until the onions are softened, fragrant and beginning to brown, 5 to 7 minutes. Add the garlic and sweat 30 seconds. Then add the collard greens, stirring constantly until softened. Pour in the chicken broth and wine and bring to a simmer. Reduce the heat to medium-low, cover and cook until the greens are tender, 30 to 35 minutes.
- Once the greens are tender, return the bacon to the pan, add the lemon juice and season with salt and pepper.
Tips:
- Choose the right collard greens: Look for deep green, tender leaves with no signs of wilting or yellowing. Smaller, younger leaves are generally more tender and flavorful.
- Wash the greens thoroughly: Collard greens can harbor dirt and grit, so it's important to wash them thoroughly before cooking. Rinse the leaves under cold water, shaking them gently to remove any excess dirt. You can also soak the leaves in a bowl of cold water for 10-15 minutes before cooking.
- Remove the tough stems: The tough stems of collard greens can be unpleasantly chewy, so it's best to remove them before cooking. To do this, simply hold the leaf by the stem and run a sharp knife along the stem, starting from the bottom of the leaf and working your way up. Discard the stems.
- Cook the greens until they are tender: Collard greens can take some time to cook until tender, so be patient and don't rush the process. Depending on the cooking method, this can take anywhere from 30 minutes to 2 hours. You can check the tenderness of the greens by piercing them with a fork; they should be easily pierced when done.
- Season the greens to taste: Collard greens have a slightly bitter flavor, so it's important to season them well to balance out the bitterness. Common seasonings include salt, pepper, garlic, onions, bacon, and ham. You can also add other seasonings, such as chili flakes, smoked paprika, or cumin, to taste.
Conclusion:
Collard greens are a delicious, nutritious, and versatile vegetable that can be enjoyed in many different ways. With their slightly bitter flavor and tender texture, they are a great addition to any meal. Whether you're braising them, sautéing them, or adding them to a soup or stew, collard greens are sure to please. So next time you're looking for a healthy and flavorful side dish, give collard greens a try!
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