Best 9 Fresh Country Collard Greens Recipes

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From the verdant fields of the countryside comes a dish that embodies rustic charm and hearty Southern hospitality: fresh country collard greens. These deep green leaves, with their slightly bitter yet earthy flavor, have been a staple in Southern cuisine for generations.

Whether you're a seasoned cook or just starting your culinary journey, our collection of collard greens recipes will guide you through creating this comforting dish. From classic Southern-style collard greens simmered with smoked ham hocks and bacon to lighter variations featuring turkey bacon and veggie broth, we have a recipe to suit every taste and preference.

Our recipes include detailed instructions, cooking tips, and variations to help you achieve perfectly tender collard greens every time. Whether you prefer a traditional slow-cooked method or a quicker sautéed version, we've got you covered.

So gather your ingredients, put on your apron, and get ready to embark on a culinary adventure that will transport you to the heart of the countryside. From the first bite of our savory collard greens, you'll understand why this dish has captured the hearts of generations.

Here are our top 9 tried and tested recipes!

SOUTHERN STYLE COLLARD GREENS



Southern Style Collard Greens image

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

2 sweet onions, finely chopped
2 smoked ham hocks
4 cloves garlic, finely chopped
3 (32 ounce) containers chicken broth
3 (1 pound) packages collard greens, trimmed
⅓ cup apple cider vinegar
2 tablespoons white sugar
1 ½ teaspoons salt, or to taste
¾ teaspoon ground black pepper, or to taste

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

GRANDMA'S SOUTHERN COLLARD GREENS



Grandma's Southern Collard Greens image

My grandmother made the best southern 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

3 tablespoons lard or shortening, divided
1 large onion, chopped
6 garlic cloves, minced
1-1/2 pounds smoked ham hocks
6 cups water
2 teaspoons seasoned salt
1 to 3 teaspoons crushed red pepper flakes
1/4 teaspoon sugar
1 large bunch collard greens (about 2 pounds), coarsely chopped
1-1/2 cups white wine

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, until meat is tender, 55-60 minutes., Add collard greens, wine, and remaining 1 Tbsp. lard. Return to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, until greens are very tender, 55-60 minutes. 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.

SOUTHERN COLLARD GREENS RECIPE



Southern Collard Greens Recipe image

This Southern Collard Greens recipe is a classic easy side dish! Flavored with smoky bacon and sweet onion, the greens are a crowd-pleasing option for your next Sunday supper or holiday meal.

Provided by Blair Lonergan

Categories     Side Dish

Time 2h

Number Of Ingredients 10

8 ounces hickory smoked bacon, chopped
1 medium sweet onion, diced
1 ½ tablespoons minced garlic
48 ounces chicken broth
2 lbs. fresh collard greens, trimmed and washed
2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
1 ½ teaspoons sugar
½ teaspoon kosher salt
¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
Optional garnish: crushed red pepper flakes or hot sauce

Steps:

  • Cook bacon in a large stockpot or Dutch oven over medium heat for 10-12 minutes, or until almost crisp. Add onion, and sauté until translucent, about 7-8 minutes.
  • Stir in garlic and sauté 1 more minute. Add broth, collard greens, vinegar, sugar, salt, and pepper. Use a wooden spoon to stir, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pot.
  • Simmer (uncovered) over low heat for about 1 ½ hours, stirring occasionally (or until collards reach desired level of tenderness).
  • Taste and season with additional salt and pepper, if necessary. Garnish with crushed red pepper flakes or hot sauce.

Nutrition Facts : ServingSize 1 /8 of the recipe, Calories 174 kcal, Carbohydrate 9 g, Protein 7 g, Fat 12 g, SaturatedFat 3 g, Cholesterol 18 mg, Sodium 975 mg, Fiber 4 g, Sugar 1 g

SOUTHERN COLLARD GREENS



Southern Collard Greens image

How to make the best Southern Collard Greens! Full of flavorful ingredients and easy to make

Provided by divas can cook

Categories     Side Dish     Vegetable

Time 2h

Number Of Ingredients 11

1/2 cup white distilled vinegar
3 tablespoons salt
2 bunches fresh collard greens ( (see note))
1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
½ cup finely diced onions
1 tablespoon minced garlic
½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
4-5 cups chicken broth ((can replace 1 cup with water if desired))
1 fully-cooked smoked turkey leg or wing ((about 13 oz))
1 tablespoon white distilled vinegar
Applewood smoked salt & black pepper, to season

Steps:

  • Prepare the collard greens bath by filling your kitchen sink with cool water and adding vinegar and salt.
  • Remove the collard greens from the steams by folding them in half lengthwise and pulling the leaf away from the stem. (discard the stem or see note below on how to cook them)
  • Place the collard greens into the prepared water bath and swish them around several times, scrubbing them to help loosen up any dirt.
  • Let the collard greens soak for 15-20 minutes, giving them a scrub midway. Drain the water and refill with plain water and allow the greens to soak again if needed. Repeat as many times as needed until the water is free from any dirt or grit. After the final soak, drain the water. Next, rinse and scrub each leaf front and back with cool water to ensure they are squeaky clean.
  • Tear the greens into bite-sized pieces and set them aside.
  • In a large pot, heat olive oil. Add onions and saute until tender.
  • Add garlic and red pepper flakes and cook until garlic is fragrant.
  • Pour in the broth and add the turkey leg. Bring to a boil.
  • Add collard greens and reduce heat to a simmer.
  • Cover and cook collard for 1 hour (or longer depending on your desired tenderness), stirring regularly.
  • Once done, stir and then taste the broth and the greens. (add a little water if the broth is too bold for your liking)
  • Stir in vinegar and smoked salt, and black pepper if desired.
  • Serve collard greens with pieces of the smoked turkey leg and hot sauce if desired.

KICKIN' COLLARD GREENS



Kickin' Collard Greens image

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

1 tablespoon olive oil
3 slices bacon
1 large onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon pepper
3 cups chicken broth
1 pinch red pepper flakes
1 pound fresh collard greens, cut into 2-inch pieces

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

LOWCOUNTRY COLLARD GREENS



Lowcountry Collard Greens image

Collard greens, a staple of Southern cuisine, are often cooked down with smoked turkey or pork neck bones. The greens form a potlikker, or broth, full of briny, smoky flavor. When braised with smoked meat, they're equally delicious as a side or a light one-pot meal. The longer the greens cook, the better they'll be. Top them with a generous dash or two of hot sauce, and pair with cornbread. What tomato soup is to grilled cheese, potlikker is to cornbread.

Provided by Millie Peartree

Categories     vegetables, side dish

Time 2h30m

Yield 6 servings

Number Of Ingredients 12

3 pounds collard greens (from about 6 medium bunches), or 2 pounds pre-chopped collard greens
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 Vidalia, Spanish or yellow onion, finely chopped (about 1 cup)
Pinch of kosher salt, plus more as needed
1 pound smoked turkey (any combination of necks, legs, butt or wings) or pork neck bones
2 (1/2-inch) chicken bouillon cubes
1 tablespoon garlic powder
1 tablespoon onion powder, plus more as needed
2 teaspoons apple cider vinegar, plus more as needed
1 teaspoon black pepper, plus more as needed
1/2 teaspoon red-pepper flakes
Granulated sugar, to taste

Steps:

  • Tear the greens from their stems. Take a handful of greens, roll them up lengthwise and slice them into bite-size pieces. Add the sliced greens to an empty, clean sink full of cool water and wash them, removing all grit, sand and debris. Drain sink and rinse greens thoroughly with cold water until water becomes clear.
  • Heat the olive oil in a large stock pot or Dutch oven over medium. Add the onion and a pinch of salt, and sauté, stirring occasionally, until onion is translucent, about 5 minutes.
  • Add 4 cups of water to the pot. (This will become your potlikker.) Turn the heat to medium-high. Add the cleaned greens by the handful, stirring them until wilted before adding more.
  • Add the smoked turkey, bouillon cubes, garlic and onion powders, apple cider vinegar, black pepper and red-pepper flakes to the pot. Bring to a rolling boil, then cover and lower heat to medium-low. Cook until greens are completely tender, at least 2 hours. Most of the water should have evaporated by this point, with just enough left to cover the bottom of the pot, and the meat should pull away from the bones.
  • Take the meat out of the pot, transfer to a cutting board, and shred the meat with two forks. Add the shredded meat back to the pot and stir until well combined. Taste and adjust salt, pepper and onion powder as needed. To cut bitterness, add sugar; if you'd like more tang, add more vinegar. Serve hot.

PERFECT MIXED GREENS



Perfect Mixed Greens image

A delicious mixture of greens. The washing process is the most important part for these tender, tasty greens. Don't forget the sugar! If you follow directions exactly, you'll have the most perfect greens ever!

Provided by Mama Luvs Papa

Categories     Side Dish     Vegetables     Greens

Time 1h15m

Yield 12

Number Of Ingredients 10

2 bunches collard greens
2 bunches mustard greens
2 bunches turnip greens
3 tablespoons salt
4 cups chicken broth, divided
½ cup vegetable oil
4 cloves garlic, sliced
½ cup cooked real bacon bits
½ cup white sugar
salt and pepper to taste

Steps:

  • Pull the leaf portions of the collard, mustard, and turnip greens away from the tough stems, and discard the stems. Gently wash the greens in warm water to remove all soil and sand. Partially fill a clean sink with warm water, and stir in 3 tablespoons of salt and 2 cups of chicken broth; allow greens to soak in the mixture for 10 minutes. Scoop up the greens and allow to drain in a colander; discard used chicken broth. Do not rinse the greens.
  • Pour the remaining 2 cups of chicken broth into a large pot, and mix in the greens. Stir in vegetable oil, garlic, bacon bits, and sugar, and season with salt and black pepper. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to a simmer, and cook until the greens are tender, stirring occasionally, 45 minutes to 1 hour.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 174.3 calories, Carbohydrate 16.6 g, Cholesterol 5 mg, Fat 10.7 g, Fiber 4.7 g, Protein 5.5 g, SaturatedFat 1.8 g, Sodium 2250.4 mg, Sugar 8.9 g

FRESH COUNTRY COLLARD GREENS



Fresh Country Collard Greens image

I've always loved fresh greens of nearly any kind, but collard and turnip are my favorites. My mom and my granny told me how to make these years ago by adding a spoonfull of this and a little of that. No prescise measurements, of course, but that's the way they learned from their mother's. Of course, I've tweaked them some and...

Provided by Elaine Bovender

Categories     Other Side Dishes

Time 5h30m

Number Of Ingredients 6

1 bunch fresh collard greens
1 pkg country ham slices, cut into small pieces or 1 to 2 ham hocks
3 Tbsp bacon grease
2 tsp salt or to taste
1/2 to 1 tsp sugar
water to cover

Steps:

  • 1. Remove collard greens from stalk and then remove the stems from the leaves. Roll leaves up and slice into strips. Wash thoroughly, taking care to remove any sand or grit.
  • 2. Place in large stock pot and cover with water. Bring to a boil and simmer until greens have cooked down and turned a bright green color.
  • 3. Place collard greens in colander and drain well. Rinse one more time with cool water. Place collards and seasonings into a crock pot and cook on high for about 2 hours and then reduce heat to low and continue to cook for about three more hours or until greens are tender and meat is cooked. Enjoy with fresh hot cornbread or muffins.

EASY COLLARD GREENS



Easy Collard Greens image

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

1 (1 pound) package washed and chopped collard greens
4 bacon slices, chopped
1 tablespoon salt
1 tablespoon garlic powder
1 tablespoon onion powder
1 tablespoon white sugar
1 pinch cayenne pepper
water to cover

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

Tips:

  • Choosing Collard Greens: Select collard greens with dark, vibrant leaves and no signs of wilting or yellowing. Smaller leaves tend to be more tender and flavorful.
  • Washing Collard Greens: Remove any tough stems from the collard greens. Rinse the leaves thoroughly under cold water, ensuring no dirt or debris remains.
  • Cooking Collard Greens: Collard greens can be cooked using various methods, including boiling, steaming, braising, or sautéing. Boiling is a traditional method that results in tender greens, while steaming preserves more nutrients. Braising and sautéing are suitable for creating flavorful and slightly crispy greens.
  • Seasoning Collard Greens: Experiment with different seasonings to enhance the flavor of your collard greens. Some popular options include garlic, onions, bacon, ham hocks, smoked turkey, and various spices like red pepper flakes, paprika, and black pepper.
  • Serving Collard Greens: Collard greens can be served as a side dish or as a main course. They pair well with cornbread, mashed potatoes, and fried chicken. Additionally, they can be incorporated into soups, stews, and casseroles.

Conclusion:

Collard greens are a versatile and nutritious vegetable that can be enjoyed in various ways. By following these tips and trying out different recipes, you can create delicious and flavorful collard greens dishes that will impress your family and friends. Experiment with different cooking methods, seasonings, and serving options to discover your favorite way to enjoy this Southern staple. So, get your hands on some fresh collard greens and embark on a culinary journey filled with flavor and goodness!

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