In the world of Southern cooking, few dishes hold a more prominent position than braised collard greens, mustard greens, and red swiss chard. These leafy greens, renowned for their distinct flavors and textures, come together in a harmonious blend that showcases the culinary heritage and traditions of the region. Whether served as a standalone side dish or as a flavorful accompaniment to hearty meats, this dish is a testament to the creativity, resilience, and soulful cooking techniques of Southern cuisine. As you embark on a culinary journey to discover the best recipe for braised collard greens, mustard greens, and red swiss chard, let us guide you through the ingredients, techniques, and variations that will elevate your cooking skills and bring forth the vibrant flavors of these beloved greens.
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COLLARD AND MUSTARD GREENS
Provided by Robert Irvine : Food Network
Categories side-dish
Time 23m
Yield 8 servings
Number Of Ingredients 12
Steps:
- Fill a 4-quart pot halfway with water and season, to taste, with salt and pepper. Bring water to a boil. Meanwhile, chop all greens into medium pieces. Place greens into boiling water, remove pot from heat, and let sit 2 to 3 minutes. Drain and let cool. Heat oil in a large saute pan and cook garlic gently until it begins to turn light brown, being careful not to burn. Add blanched greens, vinegar, sugar 2 teaspoons salt and 2 teaspoons pepper.
- Fill a 4-quart pot halfway with water and season, to taste, with salt and pepper. Bring water to a boil. Meanwhile, chop all greens into medium pieces. Place greens into boiling water, remove pot from heat, and let sit 2 to 3 minutes. Drain and let cool. Heat oil in a large saute pan and cook garlic gently until it begins to turn light brown, being careful not to burn. Add blanched greens, vinegar, sugar 2 teaspoons salt and 2 teaspoons pepper.
BRAISED COLLARD GREENS
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
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
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
BRAISED COLLARD GREENS
Bacon gives these nutrient-rich greens an extra punch of flavor, from "Mad Hungry," by Lucinda Scala Quinn.
Provided by Martha Stewart
Categories Food & Cooking Ingredients Meat & Poultry Pork Recipes
Number Of Ingredients 7
Steps:
- Remove the tough stems from the collardleaves. Finely slice the stems crosswise.Stack a few leaves on top of each other andcut into 1 1/2- to 2-inch pieces. Repeat with allleaves. You'll have 8 packed cups.
- Heat a 10-inch saute pan over high heat.Swirl in the oil and add the onion, bacon,and red pepper flakes. Fry until the onion issoft and the bacon is beginning to renderits fat and crisp up, about 13 minutes.
- Add the greens, 2 cups at a time. Stir into theonion mixture as you add. They will collapseand shrink in the heat.
- When all the greens are in the pan and theheat has returned to sizzling high, pour inthe vinegar. Stir to evaporate. Cover andlet the greens cook over low heat until justtender, 10 to 15 minutes. Add a bit of wateras needed to keep the greens from burning.Add salt to taste and serve.
BRAISED COLLARD GREENS
Provided by Pam Belluck
Categories easy, side dish
Time 1h40m
Yield 6 to 8 servings
Number Of Ingredients 7
Steps:
- Put all ingredients in large stockpot with just enough water to cover. Bring to a boil over high heat, and reduce heat to low.
- Simmer until greens are tender, about 1 1/2 hours. Serve greens with a slotted spoon, topping with a little of the pot liquor (the broth from the pot). The pot liquor may be used for dipping cornbread, or as a flavorful and highly nutritious soup.
Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 67, UnsaturatedFat 0 grams, Carbohydrate 13 grams, Fat 1 gram, Fiber 5 grams, Protein 4 grams, SaturatedFat 0 grams, Sodium 318 milligrams, Sugar 7 grams
COLLARD GREENS WITH RED ONIONS AND BACON
An easy Collard Greens recipe
Categories Leafy Green Onion Pork Winter Gourmet
Yield Serves 8
Number Of Ingredients 7
Steps:
- In a deep heavy kettle cook bacon in 2 batches over moderate heat until crisp and transfer to paper towels to drain. Pour off all but about 3 tablespoons drippings and in drippings remaining in kettle cook onions, stirring occasionally, until browned slightly and softened. Transfer onions with a slotted spoon to a bowl.
- To kettle add broth, vinegar, brown sugar, red pepper flakes, and about half of bacon, stirring until sugar is dissolved. Add about half of collards, tossing until wilted slightly, and add remaining collards, tossing until combined. Simmer collards, covered, 30 minutes. Stir in onions and simmer, covered, 30 minutes more, or until collards are very tender.
- Serve collards topped with remaining bacon.
Tips:
- Choose fresh, tender greens: Look for greens with deep, vibrant color and no signs of wilting or yellowing.
- Wash the greens thoroughly: Rinse the greens under cold water to remove any dirt or debris.
- Remove the tough stems: Cut off the tough stems from the greens, leaving only the tender leaves.
- Use a large pot: The greens will wilt down as they cook, so it's important to use a large pot to prevent overcrowding.
- Cook the greens over low heat: Braising the greens over low heat allows them to cook slowly and develop their full flavor.
- Season the greens to taste: Add salt, pepper, and other seasonings to taste. You can also add a bit of vinegar or citrus juice to brighten the flavor.
Conclusion:
Braised collard greens, mustard greens, and red Swiss chard are delicious and nutritious side dishes that are perfect for any occasion. With their earthy flavor and tender texture, these greens are sure to please everyone at the table. So next time you're looking for a healthy and delicious way to enjoy your greens, give these recipes a try!
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