Best 4 Lowcountry Collard Greens Recipes

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In the heart of the Southern United States, where the Lowcountry's lush landscapes meet the vibrant Gullah culture, lies a culinary tradition steeped in flavors, stories, and generations of wisdom. Among the most beloved dishes of this region are lowcountry collard greens, a delectable symphony of textures, spices, and soul-warming goodness. Whether you're a seasoned cook or just starting your culinary adventure, embarking on a journey to discover the best recipe for lowcountry collard greens is a delightful endeavor that will tantalize your taste buds and leave you craving more.

Here are our top 4 tried and tested recipes!

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.

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 COLLARD GREENS



Grandma's Collard Greens image

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

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, 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.

PAN-FRIED COLLARD GREENS



Pan-Fried Collard Greens image

Collard greens are a mainstay of Liberian cuisine, brought to the country from the United States by formerly enslaved Africans. Here is a classic Liberian preparation that's spicy with habaneros (Liberia is known for being the "Pepper Coast" of Africa), and rich with the flavors of ham, turkey and chicken. Each meat brings a distinct taste, creating the base for a gravy that you'll want to spoon over rice. This is one of those vegetable dishes that's hearty enough to be a main, whether it's for Thanksgiving - which is celebrated in Liberia with foods like this one - or any other gathering.

Provided by Priya Krishna

Categories     vegetables, side dish

Time 1h30m

Yield 4 servings

Number Of Ingredients 14

2 pounds collard greens, stems removed
1 tablespoon distilled white vinegar
1 tablespoon kosher salt (Diamond Crystal)
1 pound smoked Cajun or regular turkey, preferably neck or wings, cut up
1 pound ham hock, sliced (see Tip)
2 large yellow onions, coarsely chopped
1 to 2 habanero peppers, stemmed and halved
6 cups unsalted chicken broth, store-bought or homemade
1 tablespoon chicken seasoning base, such as Knorr or Better Than Bouillon
1 tablespoon seasoned salt
1 chicken-flavored bouillon seasoning cube, such as Maggi (optional)
4 ounces dried barracuda or other fish (optional), rinsed, skin removed and broken into chunks
1/2 cup olive oil
Cooked rice, for serving

Steps:

  • Wash collard greens in a bowl full of water with vinegar and salt. Drain and repeat if needed, until the water is clear. Roll the leaves up into tight bunches and cut into thin strips. Set aside.
  • Bring a large pot of water to a boil over high, and add turkey and ham hock. Boil for 10 minutes, and then rinse and dry the meat. Clean out the pot.
  • In a blender or food processor, purée onions and peppers. Return the pot to high heat, and add turkey, ham hock, about three-quarters of the onion and pepper purée, along with broth, chicken seasoning, seasoned salt and Maggi cube if using. Bring to a boil, and cook until the liquid is reduced to 1 cup, about 40 minutes. Add the dried fish, if using.
  • Meanwhile, in a large pan, heat oil over medium. Add remaining onion and pepper purée, along with collard greens. Cover and cook, stirring frequently, until greens are wilted and tender, about 30 minutes.
  • Once stock is reduced, lower heat to medium, add cooked greens and cook, stirring well, for 5 to 10 minutes to incorporate flavors and thicken the broth. Serve with rice.

Tips:

  • Choose fresh collard greens: Look for leaves that are deep green in color and free of blemishes.
  • Wash the collard greens thoroughly: Rinse the leaves in cold water to remove any dirt or debris.
  • Remove the tough stems: Cut the stems off the leaves, using a sharp knife.
  • Soak the collard greens in salted water: This will help to remove any bitterness from the leaves.
  • Cook the collard greens slowly: Simmer the greens for at least 1 hour, or until they are tender.
  • Season the collard greens to taste: Add salt, pepper, and other seasonings to taste.
  • Serve the collard greens with cornbread or rice: This is a classic Southern dish.

Conclusion:

Lowcountry collard greens are a delicious and healthy dish that is easy to make. With a few simple ingredients and a little time, you can enjoy this classic Southern dish in the comfort of your own home. Whether you're a seasoned cook or a beginner, be sure to give this recipe a try. You won't be disappointed!

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