Best 20 Collards Recipes

TRADITIONAL SOUTHERN GREENS (MUSTARD, TURNIP OR COLLARDS)

Steps:

• Fill sink with cold water.
• Put in greens, making sure they have room to float.
• The greens will rise to the top, while the dirt will sink.
• Let greens sit in water for about 20 minutes.
• Scoop out greens being careful not to stir up the dirt on bottom.
• If they still look dirty, change water and repeat process.
• Finish the cleaning by rinsing under running water.
• Tear greens into pieces, throwing away thick veins and stems.
• In a large pot, heat the bacon grease over med-high.
• Add the greens and toss well with bacon grease for a couple of minutes.
• Add ham stock, salt and pepper and sugar and stir.
• Cover and simmer gently until very tender (DO NOT BOIL).
• As the greens cook, they will produce a lot of liquid that will cook down. Add water as needed to prevent burning, but only use what is necessary so your pot liquor won't be watered down.
• Cook time will vary but usually about 3 hours The flavor of collards is much better if you can cook for about 6 hours.

SHORT RIBS WITH COLLARDS AND PEPPERS

Steps:

• For the ribs: Put the flour in a pie pan, add the salt and pepper and mix. Dredge the ribs in the mix and set aside on kitchen paper.
• Set a 6-quart multi-cooker to the saute setting on high. When hot, add the bacon and cook until crisp, about 5 minutes. Remove the bacon to a plate. Remove 2 tablespoons of the bacon grease and set it aside for the collards.
• Working in batches of 3 to 4 ribs at a time, brown the short ribs on all sides, using the olive oil if needed. Set aside.
• Add the carrots, celery and onions to the pot. Add the garlic and tomato paste and mix.
• Return the ribs and bacon to the pot. Deglaze with the wine, making sure to scrape up the brown bits with a wooden spoon. Add the rosemary, thyme and bay leaf. Cover and cook on high pressure for 40 minutes. Switch the pot to vent and allow the pressure to release, 4 to 10 minutes.
• For the collards and peppers: While the multi-cooker is venting, start on the collards. Heat the oil and/or the reserved bacon grease in a large skillet and cook the peppers and onions until soft and slightly browned.
• Meanwhile, remove the stems and ribs from the collards. Add the collards to the pan and season with salt, pepper and red pepper flakes. Saute until tender, 6 to 8 minutes.
• Remove the ribs from the pot. Strain the sauce through a mesh strainer into a large measuring cup; discard the vegetables in the strainer. Add a splash of red wine vinegar to the sauce and adjust seasoning as needed.
• To serve, put the collard greens onto a large platter. Add the short ribs and some of the sauce. Garnish with parsley.

QUICK SOUTHERN COLLARDS

Steps:

• Place the bacon in cold 12-inch skillet. Heat the pan over medium heat and cook until the bacon is crispy and the fat is rendered. Once crispy, set aside on a paper-towel-lined plate. To the leftover bacon fat, add the red pepper and cook until softened, 5 to 7 minutes.
• Stack the leaves of collards and roll tightly into a cigar shape. Then chop away.
• Add the collards to the pan along with the apple cider vinegar, red pepper flakes and some salt and pepper and cook until tender, but still bright green, 4 to 5 minutes. Adjust the seasoning if necessary. Toss with the reserved crispy bacon and serve.

COLLARDS

Steps:

• Place potatoes in a large pot with enough water to cover. Bring to a boil over medium heat. Before the potatoes are finished, add the collards to the pot.
• Place bacon in a deep skillet over medium-high heat. Cook until evenly browned, about 10 minutes. Remove bacon to paper towels to drain, and saute the onion in bacon grease until tender. Drain onions of grease, and add to the greens. Crumble in the bacon, and stir in the wine vinegar. Simmer over low heat until greens are tender, about 1 hour.

WHITE BEAN SOUP WITH SAUSAGE AND COLLARDS

Steps:

• Cook sausage and onion in a large saucepan over medium heat, covered, stirring occasionally, until fat renders, 8 to 10 minutes. Uncover and continue cooking, stirring occasionally, until browned, 5 to 7 minutes more. (If bottom of pan starts to burn in spots, sprinkle with water and scrape up blackened bits.)
• Add collard greens, beans, and 4 cups water; season with salt and pepper. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer until soup is slightly thickened, 5 to 7 minutes. Adjust consistency of soup with water, if necessary. Stir in red-wine vinegar, and serve with toasted bread slices, if desired.

COLLARDS

Steps:

• Prepare the collards for cooking by cutting the large stems from the center of the leaves. Stack the leaves and cut them crosswise into 1-inch strips
• Put 2 inches of water in a saucepan large enough to hold the raw collards (the leaves can be pushed down tightly and will wilt to about one-quarter volume as they cook). Add the ham hock or pork and bring the water to a boil. Add the collards and toss with tongs until the water returns to a boil and the leaves wilt down into the pan. Reduce the heat, cover and simmer over low heat for 1 hour, or until tender. Stir occasionally, checking to be sure there is enough liquid to prevent scorching. Taste the liquid and add salt if needed. Serve with buttermilk cornbread and hot sauce.

WILTED COLLARDS GREENS WITH BACON AND ONION

Steps:

• Turn an eye on the stove to medium heat.
• In a large sauté pan or stock pot, cook the chopped bacon for a few minutes until some grease is rendered, then, toss in the onion. Cook this until onion becomes tender. DO NOT DRAIN!
• Next, throw the collard greens into the bacon and onion and carefully stir a little (it will seem like there are too many collard greens, but they cook down very quickly).
• Pour in the chicken stock and the water.
• Add the optional seasonings (pepper, seasoning salt and vinegar).
• Cover the pan and cook on medium to medium high. You will see the collards begin to wilt rather quickly.
• Continue cooking until all of the liquid is gone, stirring occasionally. (This normally takes me about 20 minutes.).
• Try the collards and if they are not as tender as you would like, simply add 1/4 cup of water at a time until they reach the desired tenderness.

BAKED GRITS AND COLLARDS CASSEROLE

Steps:

• Add the grits, vegetable stock, 1 1/2 teaspoons salt and 1 teaspoon pepper to a 12-cup slow cooker. Cover and cook on low until tender, 5 to 6 hours. Now that the grits are done you can build the bake!
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Heat the coconut oil in a 10-inch cast-iron skillet over medium heat. Add the shallots and saute until tender, about 2 minutes. Add the collards and the garlic, and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Saute to remove excess water, 1 to 2 minutes. Remove from heat.
• Add the heavy cream, collards, ricotta and half of the Gouda to the cooked grits, stirring to combine. Taste and adjust the seasoning as needed. Stir in the eggs and pour it all back into the skillet. Top with the remaining Gouda and bake until the center is just set and the top is golden brown, 35 to 45 minutes. Serve hot or warm.

HOT COLLARDS AND ARTICHOKE DIP

Steps:

• In a large bowl, mix the first 7 ingredients and 1 cup mozzarella cheese until blended. Transfer to a greased 11x7-in. baking dish. Sprinkle with remaining mozzarella cheese., Bake, uncovered, at 350° until heated through and cheese is melted, 20-25 minutes. Serve with naan.

BRAZILIAN COLLARDS

Steps:

• Place bacon in a large heavy-bottomed pot over medium-high heat. Cook until browned and most of the grease has been released. Stir in onion and cook until tender and glistening, about 4 minutes.
• Place collards into the pot and stir to coat with the bacon drippings. Pour in the chicken stock. Season with cayenne pepper. Reduce heat to low and cook for 1 hour and 15 minutes.
• Stir red wine vinegar into the pot. Continue cooking 15 minutes, until liquid is reduced by about 1/2.

SAUTEED COLLARDS

Steps:

• Rinse collards well and shake off excess water. Cut off bottom two inches of stems. Coarsely chop the rest.
• Heat the oil in a large, heavy skillet, add the garlic and saute until lightly browned. Stir in the collards and cook, stirring until the collards have wilted. Stir in the vinegar and pepper and season to taste with salt. Serve as a side dish.

SPICY SWEET COLLARDS

Steps:

• Add the oil to a large saute pan over medium-high heat. Add onions, garlic and the red pepper flakes. Cook until slightly caramelized for about 2 to 3 minutes. Stir in the greens and toss well to wilt. Add the sugar and broth and toss together. Turn the heat down and cover. Cook until liquid is evaporated and greens become glazed, tossing occasionally, about 6 to 8 minutes. Season with salt and pepper and transfer to a serving bowl. Serve.

COLLARDS

Steps:

• Remove the tougher, woody stalks from the collard leaves. Smaller stems are okay. Wash the leaves and cut them into half-inch-wide strips. You can roll them into cigars to speed this up.
• Put the bacon in a stock pot on high head to render its grease, 3 or so minutes. Add the onion and cook until translucent but not brown, about 5 minutes more. Add the collards and cover with cool water. Add the red pepper, salt, and the ham bone. Bring to a boil and cook for at least 2 hours. There are many conflicting opinions on this. To my mind, collards were not made for quick cooking. Undercook collards and you are asking to be strangled; they can't be properly chewed. On the other hand, overcook them and they will eventually turn to mush. Two hours seems about right, although this might give nutritionists pause. Taste for salt.
• Even people who love collards complain about the way they make the house smell while cooking. People have different cures for this: Place four pecans in the pot. Cover the top of the collards with slices of white bread. None of this works.

WILTED COLLARDS

Steps:

• Place bacon in a large, deep pot; cook and stir over medium-high heat until evenly browned, about 10 minutes. Cook and stir collard greens, onion, garlic, and sugar into the cooked bacon. Cover pot and let mixture steam until collard greens are wilted, 3 to 4 minutes. Remove cover, raise heat to high, and cook until liquid is evaporated, about 5 minutes.

SAUTEED COLLARDS WITH BACON

Steps:

• In a large skillet, cook bacon over medium-high until browned and crisp, about 5 minutes. Add garlic and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add collard greens and cook until bright green and wilted, 3 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.

COLLARDS CASSEROLE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Melt 1 1/2 tablespoons butter in a small saucepan over medium heat. Add flour slowly, stirring until it forms a thick paste, about 4 minutes. Whisk milk into the paste until smooth with a gravy consistency, about 5 minutes. Stir in 1/2 teaspoon black pepper.
• Melt 1 tablespoon butter and olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Saute red onion, garlic, red pepper flakes, and 1/2 teaspoon black pepper until onion is browned, about 6 minutes.
• Mix collard greens into the skillet, in batches if necessary. Cook and stir until slightly wilted and all greens fit in the skillet, about 2 minutes. Add balsamic vinegar; reduce heat to medium-low. Cook, stirring occasionally, until greens are bright green and tender, 5 to 10 minutes more. Add enough gravy mixture to just coat the greens.
• Transfer cooked greens to a baking dish small enough so the greens can be piled 1 to 1 1/2 inches deep. Cover with French fried onions and press into the dish.
• Bake in the preheated oven until fried onions brown slightly, 20 to 30 minutes.

SUNNY'S SAUSAGE CREAMED COLLARDS

Steps:

• Blanch the collards: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil; prepare a large bowl of ice water. Add the collards to the boiling water and cook until bright green and wilted, about 1 minute. Shock in the ice water, then drain and press as dry as possible between paper towels.
• Cook the base: In a large bowl, whisk together and combine each ingredient in order and until fully blended before adding the next, starting with the sour cream and then moving on to the heavy cream, flour, allspice, harissa, a nice pinch of salt and a few hefty grinds of black pepper. Make sure to whisk well to combine everything.
• Place a large pot over medium heat and add the oil. Add the sausage and cook, breaking up the chunks with a wooden spoon into bite-size pieces, until browned, 5 to 8 minutes. Add the onion and garlic and cook, stirring often so the garlic doesn't burn, until the onions are tender, 5 to 7 minutes. Add the cream mixture. Add the collards, stir well, cover and steep on medium heat until tender, 20 to 30 minutes. Stir in the tomatoes and serve.

CAJUN COLLARDS

Steps:

• Fry bacon in a Dutch oven until almost done.
• Add onions and garlic and saute until the onions are clear.
• Cover the bacon, onions and garlic with 4 cups water, heat to boiling.
• Add wine, soy sauce, salt, hot sauce and collards.
• Return to a boil and simmer for 1 hour.

RAINY DAY COLLARDS AND LENTIL SOUP

Steps:

• In a large pot heat olive oil over medium heat or if using fry bacon till crisp. Set bacon a side.
• In the oil or bacon fat saute the onions, red pepper, carrots, celery and garlic till tender about 8 minutes. Adding more olive oil if needed.
• Add the collards they will fill the pot but cook down a lot.Season with salt and pepper.
• Top with the remaining ingredients. Bring to a boil then simmer for 50 minutes.
• Taste to adjust seasonings.
• Crumble the bacon if using.
• Garnish the soup with one or all , a drizzle of vinegar, olive oil, bacon bits and fresh basil.
• Oh! be sure to remove the bay leaf before enjoying.

HAM & COLLARDS QUICHE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375°. Unroll crust into a 9-in. pie plate; flute edge. Chill while preparing filling., In a large skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat. Add collard greens and onion; cook and stir until onion is tender, 5-7 minutes. Add garlic; cook 1 minute longer. Stir in salt and pepper. Cool slightly; stir in cheese and ham. Spoon into crust., In a large bowl, whisk eggs and milk until blended. Pour over top., Bake on lower oven rack until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean, 35-40 minutes. Cover edge loosely with foil during the last 15 minutes if needed to prevent overbrowning. Remove foil. Let stand 10 minutes before cutting. Freeze option: Cover and freeze unbaked quiche. To use, remove from freezer 30 minutes before baking (do not thaw). Preheat oven to 375°. Place quiche on a baking sheet. Bake as directed, increasing time to 50-60 minutes.