How to Cook Old Fashioned Collard Greens

Collard Greens 101: Beginner-Friendly

Everything you need to know to prepare a pot of The All-time Southern Collard Greens EVER!

Visual learner? Watch the full How To Make  Collard Greens Tutorial Stride-by-Stride!

Jump to Recipe

---

Growing up in the Southern mountains meant consuming fresh-grown greens of all kinds like mustard, turnip, collard, kale, spinach, and yep even dandelion and beet greens. Even to this 24-hour interval, my Grandma Barb's garden flourishes with greens of all kinds, and I simply love "shopping" there.  It's incommunicable to leave her house without hearing "Take something from the garden."

My favorite greens continue to be collard greens! There is just something about those thick, dark leaves when prepared Southern-mode that warms my soul! Since Fall is right effectually the corner, I've decided to establish my own heirloom collard greens. Maybe I'll do a mail on how to constitute collard greens if this crop survives. Until then, I'll go along shopping for greens from the Farmers Market and Grandma's house!

Collard greens are such an incredible plant full of nutrients, flavor, and a rich history!

Before we go into creating  THE Best collard greens recipe, take hold of a glass of sweet tea, and permit'southward learn a piddling about these powerhouse greens!

---

What are collard greens?

Collard greens are a fellow member of the cabbage family. This is easy to tell from the like odour of them cooking. Since they do not grade a compact caput like cabbage, they are called greens. The same goes for kale, spinach, turnip, and mustard greens. Collard greens have big, sturdy green leaves and hearty, thick stems. They tin can be eaten raw or cooked.

What do Southern Collard Greens taste similar?

When people tell me that they don't like collard greens, one of my first questions is, "Actually? Well how were they made?"  I've converted my share of collard green haters with this recipe. Ya encounter they'd just had collard greens raw, sauteed, or simmered in h2o. Collard greens prepared Southern way is an entirely different animal and so addictive! This collard dark-green recipe is LOADED with flavor! It'southward slightly spicy, smoky, salty, vinegary, and so savory! The goop is assuming and rich, and the greens are so tender later simmering abroad in all of those flavors.

Health Benefits of Collard Greens

Are collard greens healthy? You lot bet they are! Collard greens are loaded with nutrients! Their dark dark-green leaves and stems are full of chlorophyll which contains vitamins and minerals. Collard greens are rich in iron, magnesium, calcium,  potassium, vitamins A, C, & Chiliad.  If that wasn't plenty to encourage you to include these nutritious greens in your nutrition, they also contain cobweb to assistance digestion and lower cholesterol. Not to mention they are full of antioxidants and are low-glycemic. Collard greens are the new kale, honey!  They are increasing in popularity that goes fashion beyond the South. If you'd like to include collard greens in your everyday menu, see the very bottom of this postal service for a healthier however still soulful accept on Southern collard greens.

A Brief History of Collard Greens

Collard greens are a staple vegetable hither in the south.  And so much so that S Carolina decided to make collard greens their official state vegetable! Information technology's no underground that Southerners love their collard greens, but where did collard greens come from? Collard greens engagement back to prehistoric times and are one of the oldest members of the cabbage family unit. It's said that collard greens originated virtually Hellenic republic. They eventually made their fashion to the American South through the transatlantic slave trade. Although collard greens are prepared in many ways, Southern-manner collard greens were created past the enslaved Africans. Collard greens were ane of the few vegetables that some enslaved Africans were allowed to grow in their personal gardens for their own families.

The African slaves created savory pots of greens by cooking them down until very tender.  They would use the leftover scraps from the plantation kitchen to add to the greens, which unremarkably consisted of meat scarps like squealer anxiety and turnip tops.

The rich broth-like gravy that accumulates after cooking the greens were called pot likkur, and the African slaves would drink this flavorful broth equally nourishment. This "gravy" is what makes collard greens such a comforting dish that has cemented itself into Southern cuisine. This "slave dish" made its manner into Southern cuisine when slaves begin cooking it for their slave-owner's families. Read more about the history of Southern foods in my commodity " Southern Cooking 101

Liquid Golden AKA Collard Green Pot Likkur

It'due south incommunicable to talk about Southern collard greens without mentioning one of the best features, the pot likkur! Every bit mentioned higher up, pot likkur is the rich, savory goop-similar gravy created when you tiresome cook a pot of collard greens.  The base of the pot likkur is normally h2o or chicken or vegetable broth. I prefer craven broth. It creates such a rich and flavour pot likkur!  The pot liquor is this collard green recipe and then delicious because it's been slowly simmering with the collards, onion, garlic, red pepper flakes, and meat! It's total of nutrients from the collard greens and seriously delicious plenty to drinkable on its ain.

What can I add pot likkur to? If you lot decide to increase the liquid in the recipe so that you take a lot of savory pot likkur there are many ways that you can use it to enhance other dishes! Use information technology any way that yous would use regular broth. I similar to add it to mashed potatoes, brown gravy and as well utilize it for cooking my rice in! Information technology's a real treasure.

---

How To Cook Collard Greens: Southern, Soul Food Style

Now that yous've learned all almost this fabulous, food-rich institute! Let'southward make a pot of the best collard greens ever. This collard greens recipe is super simple, and they merely might become your favorite greens as well!

Meet The Cast: Collard Green Recipe Ingredients:

• Fresh Collard Greens– Buy from the Farmers Market or Organic if possible. Make sure that the leaves look salubrious, green, and full.
• Onion- Yellow onions will add together flavour to the greens.
• Garlic– Garlic volition compliment the flavor of the onion and greens.
• Red Pepper Flakes– Red Pepper flakes will add together some slight oestrus to the greens.
• Fully-Cooked Smoked Turkey Leg- This is the all-time alternative for those who prefer not to use pork. The smoked turkey leg will add flavor and smokiness to the greens. If you adopt pork, apply ham hocks or thick-cut cooked salary.
• Craven Broth- Craven broth creates a richer, more than flavorful goop. Water can be used in identify of broth or a mixture of chicken broth & water.
• Seasoning( Blackness pepper, Smoked Applewood common salt, and Distilled white vinegar)– These seasonings will raise the flavors of the finished greens. Resulting in a bold, flavorful pot of savory collard greens that are smoky, slightly spicy, and a tad salty and vinegary! Perfection!

---

Pace i: Remove Stems:

How to remove the stems from collard greens

Now that you accept a bunch of fresh collard greens, we want to remove the stalk. The stems can be pretty bitter, and so this is why most people prefer to remove and discard them. However, they are also loaded with nutrients. If yous'd like to eat the stems, I suggest cooking them separately since they will take much longer to cook and get tender. Below are ii common methods to remove the leaf from the stem.

Method 1.  Fold the foliage in half length-wise and cutting out the stem with a knife or tear it away from the stem using your hands. *I adopt to tear them off the stalk.

Method 2. Hold the stalk at the lesser with ane paw and slide your other hand firmly up the stem, removing the leaf. (This seems to work best for small tender leaves.)

Footstep 2: Wash

How to launder collard greens

The very commencement time I made fresh collard greens, I gave them a quick rinse and threw them right into the pot. Large. Error. I was met with a mouth full of grittiness! Yikes! Fresh collard greens are known to be full of clay, grit, and sometimes bugs. Proper washing is always required. I like to practise the soak and scrub method. It ensures that the collard greens are thoroughly clean.  While you tin can clean your greens with apparently h2o, I find that creating a quick and piece of cake cleaning solution makes this procedure much quicker! Here'south how to properly launder collard greens.

1. Fill your sink with h2o, and and then add 1/2 loving cup distilled white vinegar and 3 tablespoons salt. (this volition not affect the flavour of the greens)
2. Swish this around, and then submerged your greens in the h2o. Agitate the greens while scrubbing and swishing them around in the h2o to loosen up any dirt.
3. Let the greens soak for 20-xxx minutes, giving them a practiced scrub midway. The vinegar and salt will help loosen & remove any dirt, grit and bring out whatever bugs hiding in the greens.
4. Drain the water and soak again in obviously water (1-2 times)  if the water is dingy and gritty.  Finally, to be sure your greens are squeaky clean, drain the h2o and wash and gently scrub each leaf front and dorsum by hand.  You lot'll thank yourself for making sure the greens were thoroughly cleaned when yous gustation the results!

Footstep 3: Cut

How to cut collard greens

At present that we have squeaky clean collard greens, it's fourth dimension to cut them upwards into seize with teeth-size pieces. To do this, you tin can:

A. Stack several leaves on top of each other and roll them up lengthwise. Using a knife, cut the rolls into strips. Or…

B. But tear the greens into bite-size pieces with your hands.

I prefer method B! I grab several leaves and but rip them up into small pieces. This way is actually quicker for me, and I like the imperfect pieces that information technology creates. Besides, anytime I can bear upon my food while preparing information technology, it just seems to sense of taste better!

Step 4: Cook

How to Cook THE BEST Collard Greens, Southern -Manner

Now comes the fun part! Fourth dimension to ready our collard greens! This collard greens recipe creates the All-time pot of Southern Collard greens! The outcome is tender, savory greens full of soul, and my family merely loves them! I promise y'all and your family will too! Let'south go started!

1. In a large pot, heat olive oil. Once hot, add in onions and cook until tender. Next, add in garlic and red pepper flakes. Onions and garlic add so much flavour and savoriness to collard greens, and the cherry pepper flakes add a wonderfully spicy kick.
2. Pour in the chicken goop and add together the fully-cooked smoked turkey leg to the pot. Collard greens can be fabricated with water, merely craven broth adds so much richness and flavour along with the smoked turkey. It'due south a winning combination that makes the collard green downright addictive!
3. Bring to a boil, and then add the greens to the pot. The greens will begin to melt down chop-chop.
4. Reduce the heat, cover, and simmer for 1 hour or until desired texture is reached. Stirring it several times while cooking. I adopt my collard greens super tender but not mushy. It's really difficult to overcook collard greens, though. Cheque on them after the 45-infinitesimal mark, giving them a gustatory modality exam to check for compactness. I cook my collard greens with the lid on, which helps them cook a bit quicker.
5. Add seasonings. When the greens are done, give the goop and the greens a sense of taste. Add seasonings to enhance the flavor if needed. I always add in a little bit of Applewood smoked common salt, cracked black pepper, and distilled white vinegar. Chop up the smoked turkey leg and add information technology back to the pot if desired.

And that'due south it!! You lot have just created one amazing pot of Southern soul food collard greens!! Don't forget to make a batch of cornbread on the side!

---

Southern Collard Greens

How to make the all-time Southern Collard Greens! Full of flavorful ingredients and easy to make

Course Side Dish, Vegetable

Cuisine American, southern

Keyword chicken broth, collard greens, greens, smoked turkey leg

Prep Time 1 60 minutes

Cook Time 1 hour

Full Time 2 hours

Servings 5 people

Collard Greens Wash Solution

• ▢ one/2 cup white distilled vinegar
• ▢ three tablespoons common salt

Southern Collard Greens

• ▢ 2 bunches fresh collard greens (come across note)
• ▢ 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
• ▢ ½ cup finely diced onions
• ▢ i tablespoon minced garlic
• ▢ ½ teaspoon cherry-red pepper flakes
• ▢ iv-v cups chicken goop (can replace ane cup with water if desired)
• ▢ ane fully-cooked smoked turkey leg or fly (nearly 13 oz)
• ▢ 1 tablespoon white distilled vinegar
• ▢ Applewood smoked common salt & blackness pepper, to season

Prep The Collard Greens

• Set up 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 aid loosen up whatsoever dirt.

• Allow the collard greens soak for 15-20 minutes, giving them a scrub midway. Drain the h2o and refill with evidently h2o and let the greens to soak again if needed. Repeat as many times as needed until the water is free from any clay or grit. Afterward the final soak, drain the water. Side by side, rinse and scrub each leafage front and back with cool water to ensure they are squeaky clean.

• Tear the greens into bite-sized pieces and ready them bated.

Cook The Greens

• In a large pot, heat olive oil. Add onions and saute until tender.

• Add together garlic and carmine 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.

• Comprehend and cook collard for 1 hour (or longer depending on your desired tenderness), stirring regularly.

• One time done, stir and so gustatory modality the goop and the greens. (add a petty water if the broth is likewise 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.

How much is a "bunch"? This recipe uses 2 bunches which were roughly under 2 lbs each before removing the stems. (There were about 20 leaves in each bunch. If y'all buy your whole collard light-green leaves from the grocery store, they are usually already in a agglomeration)  After removing the stems, the leaves weighed a little over ane.five pounds.

To cook the collard green stems: Die them upward and add them to a pot of h2o or broth. Simmer until very tender. Consume as is or stir it into the collard greens or other dishes.

---

What to Serve With Collard Greens

This collard greens recipe tin can be served as a complete meal or as a side dish! You tin serve collard greens with hot sauce and additional vinegar. It pairs well with a side of cornbread and a glass of Southern water ice tea! Collard greens make the perfect side dish for Soul food dinners or served with any you'd normally serve with cabbage. Hither are a few dinner menus to employ with collard greens:

• Card Idea #one: Oven-baked beef ribs, tater salad, and collard greens.
• Carte Idea #ii: Fried chicken, macaroni & cheese, candy-coated yams, cornbread, and collard greens
• Menu Idea #3:Cheeseburger meatloaf, mashed potatoes, and collard greens

Common Questions Nigh Collard Greens

What takes the bitterness out of collard greens? Collard greens cooked Southern-style aren't every bit biting. The common salt reduces this besides as the other ingredients. Adding a pinch of blistering soda and carbohydrate tin also reduce the bitterness.

How long can you consume leftover collard greens? Cooked collard greens volition terminal iii-four days in the fridge.

How much is a agglomeration of collard greens? A bunch is usually about twenty whole big leaves or a little over 1.5- 2 lbs (before stems are removed). If you lot buy whole collard greens from the store, they are unremarkably already in a agglomeration.  For this recipe, yous'll need 2 bunches; when the stems are removed, yous'll accept roughly over ane.5 pounds. This volition be plenty to serve about 4-5 people.

Tin can you eat the stems of collard green? Absolutely! The stems are tough and slightly bitter. Cooking them makes them more palatable. (come across below)

Are collard green stems salubrious? Yes! The stem contains the same compensation of nutrients as the leaves.

How practice you cook collard light-green stems? Remove the stalk from the leaf and chop it into pieces. Simmer the stems in seasoned water or broth until tender.  Eat them as is or mix them into other dishes.

---

A Lighter Alternative

How To Make Completely Healthy Everyday Collard Greens

Southern-Mode Collard Greens is a special occasion side dish and not the merely way to enjoy delicious collard greens! If y'all're looking to add healthier collard greens to your weekly menu, try preparing them this fashion:

1. Estrus olive oil in a pot and add together diced onions and diced ruby bell peppers. Cook until tender and add together minced garlic and red pepper flakes.
2. Season warm leap h2o with a dash of liquid aminos, nutritional yeast pulverization, garlic powder, onion powder, poultry seasonings, black pepper,  lemon juice, and salt (if desired). Taste and adjust seasonings until it has a nice flavour. Pour liquid into the pot and bring to a boil.
3. Add prepared greens (greens should have stems removed, launder and torn into pieces). Cover and reduce estrus to a simmer. Simmer for 1 hour or until greens are tender.
4. Taste and add additional seasonings like vinegar, salt, and pepper if needed.

Vegan Southern Collard Greens

Going vegan does not mean sacrificing Southern-Style Collard Greens! Bank check out my tutorial below for a vegan collard greens recipe. Vegan collard greens use fresh collard greens, onion, garlic vegetable broth, and smoked table salt to replicate the smokiness from meat.

---

Resources:

WebMD

What's Cooking America

Collard Greens

Share this post