Best 7 Smothered Greens Recipes

facebook share image   twitter share image   pinterest share image   E-Mail share image

Smothered greens is a traditional Southern dish that typically consists of collard greens, turnip greens, or mustard greens that are braised in a flavorful sauce. The sauce is usually made with a combination of meat, onions, garlic, and spices, and it can be thickened with flour or cornstarch. Smothered greens are often served with cornbread, fried chicken, or pork chops, and they can also be used as a side dish for grilled meats or fish. Whether you're a seasoned cook or a beginner in the kitchen, there's a smothered greens recipe out there that's perfect for you. With a few simple ingredients and a little time, you can create a delicious and satisfying dish that will warm your heart and soul.

Check out the recipes below so you can choose the best recipe for yourself!

SMOTHERED GREEN BEANS



Smothered Green Beans image

Fresh green beans with a robust bacon, onion, and garlicky flavor.

Provided by Michele O'Sullivan

Categories     Side Dish     Vegetables     Green Beans

Time 50m

Yield 6

Number Of Ingredients 7

6 thick slices bacon, chopped
½ cup onions, minced
1 teaspoon minced garlic
1 pound fresh green beans, trimmed
1 cup water
⅛ teaspoon salt
1 pinch ground black pepper

Steps:

  • Place bacon in a large, deep skillet. Cook over medium high heat until the fat begins to render. Stir in onions and garlic; let cook for 1 minute. Stir in beans and water. Let the beans cook until the water has evaporated and the beans are tender. If the beans are not tender once the water has evaporated, add a small amount more water and let them cook until tender. Season with salt and pepper (to taste) and serve.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 97.5 calories, Carbohydrate 7 g, Cholesterol 13.8 mg, Fat 5.4 g, Fiber 2.9 g, Protein 6.2 g, SaturatedFat 1.7 g, Sodium 343.2 mg, Sugar 1.9 g

SMOTHERED COLLARD GREENS AND CABBAGE



Smothered Collard Greens and Cabbage image

This is a wonderful variation of fried (smothered) cabbage.

Provided by TrudyRudy

Categories     Side Dish     Vegetables     Greens

Time 45m

Yield 8

Number Of Ingredients 7

½ pound bacon, chopped
½ large onion, chopped
5 leaves collard greens - rinsed, trimmed and chopped
salt and ground black pepper to taste
1 teaspoon greens seasoning, divided
1 head cabbage, chopped
1 pinch white sugar

Steps:

  • Fry the bacon with the onion in a large skillet over medium heat until the bacon is crisp, about 10 minutes. Stir in the chopped collard greens, sprinkle with salt, black pepper, and 1/2 teaspoon of the greens seasoning; cook and stir for 5 minutes.
  • Add in the darker chopped cabbage leaves, and cook and stir until almost tender, about 5 minutes. Stir in the remaining cabbage; season with salt, black pepper, sugar, and the remaining greens seasoning. Stir well; cover and cook until tender, stirring occasionally so that the greens do not scorch, about 10 minutes.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 179.3 calories, Carbohydrate 11 g, Cholesterol 19.3 mg, Fat 13 g, Fiber 4.7 g, Protein 5.8 g, SaturatedFat 4.3 g, Sodium 320.3 mg, Sugar 5.6 g

SMOTHERED GREENS



Smothered Greens image

Provided by Marian Burros

Categories     easy, quick, side dish

Time 20m

Yield 4 servings

Number Of Ingredients 8

2 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 medium onions, chopped
12 cups assorted greens -- like mustard, broccoli rape, collard, kale, turnip -- stemmed, washed and chopped
Chicken stock, if needed
4 teaspoons cider vinegar
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
Hot sauce, optional

Steps:

  • In a large nonstick saute pan, melt the butter with the oil. Saute onion for about 5 minutes, without coloring.
  • Stir in the assorted greens, and cook over medium-high heat, until the vegetables are wilted and tender, about 8 to 10 minutes. If mixture becomes dry, add a little chicken stock.
  • Stir in the vinegar, and season with salt and pepper and hot sauce, if desired.

Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 167, UnsaturatedFat 8 grams, Carbohydrate 10 grams, Fat 13 grams, Fiber 3 grams, Protein 3 grams, SaturatedFat 5 grams, Sodium 340 milligrams, Sugar 4 grams, TransFat 0 grams

SMOTHERED PORK CHOPS WITH COLLARD GREENS



Smothered Pork Chops with Collard Greens image

Provided by Food Network

Time 6h30m

Yield Yield: 4 servings

Number Of Ingredients 15

4 shoulder pork chops cut 1 1/2 inches thick
Salt and pepper to taste
1 tablespoon all purpose flour for chops, plus 2 tablespoons for sauteing vegetables
2 tablespoons reserved hock fat
1 green pepper seeded 1/4-inch sliced
2 medium onions 1/4-inch sliced
3 cups hock stock, hot
1/2 gallon ham hock stock
5 large bunches of collard greens chopped into 4-inch pieces
1 large onion peeled
1 jalapeno pepper, split in half lengthwise
Malt vinegar to taste
Salt and pepper to taste
10 pounds smoked ham hocks
10 pounds fresh ham hocks

Steps:

  • Season each chop with salt and pepper, then dust with flour. Heat a cast iron skillet just large enough to hold the pork over a medium heat. Add the reserved pork fat and brown the pork chop well-approximately 4 minutes per side. Remove the chops from the pan and set aside. If the pan is dry, add another tablespoon of fat. Add the onions and peppers. Increase the heat to medium high in order to brown the vegetables well. Sprinkle flour over the vegetables and cook, stirring constantly, for 5 minutes. Remove pan from the flame and stir in the hot hock stock until thickened and smooth. Bury the pork chops in the gravy. Cover the skillet and place in a 300 degree oven. Cook 2 hours, or until pork is very tender;
  • Collard Greens: Place hock stock in a large sauce pot over a medium high heat. Bring hock stock to a rapid simmer. Pack collards into the stock with the onion and jalapeno. Simmer 2 hours. Season to taste with salt, pepper and malt vinegar.;
  • Ham hock stock: Place ham hocks in a stock pot large enough to hold the hocks, leaving 6 inches of free space at the top of the pot. Pour enough cold water over the hocks to cover by 3 inches. Bring to a rapid simmer over a medium high heat. A thick foam will build on the top of the stock. Carefully remove all of the foam. Reduce heat to low and simmer 6 hours. Constantly skim the clear fat that builds at the top of the stock. Reserve the fat for cooking.

SMOTHERED GREENS



Smothered Greens image

Make and share this Smothered Greens recipe from Food.com.

Provided by carolgreen

Categories     Collard Greens

Time 40m

Yield 1 cup, 5 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 11

3 cups water
1/4 lb skinless smoked turkey breast
1 tablespoon hot pepper, freshly chopped
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/4 teaspoon clove, ground
2 garlic cloves, crushed
1/2 teaspoon thyme
1 scallion, chopped
1 teaspoon ginger, ground
1/4 cup onion, chopped
2 lbs greens (mustard, turnip, collard, kale, or mixture)

Steps:

  • Place all ingredients except greens into large saucepan and bring to a boil.
  • Prepare greens by washing thoroughly and removing stems.
  • Tear or slice leaves into bite-size pieces.
  • Add greens to turkey stock. Cook 20 to 30 minutes until tender.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 30.3, Fat 0.2, SaturatedFat 0.1, Cholesterol 10.9, Sodium 267.6, Carbohydrate 2.3, Fiber 0.4, Sugar 0.5, Protein 5

SMOTHERED GREENS & CORN



Smothered Greens & Corn image

Make and share this Smothered Greens & Corn recipe from Food.com.

Provided by Dancer

Categories     Pork

Time 38m

Yield 6 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 12

1 1/2 lbs swiss chard, washed and dried
3 tablespoons olive oil
1 1/3 cups coarsely chopped onions
1/4 lb lean smoked ham, diced (optional)
1 lb mustard greens or 1 lb spinach, washed,trimmed and coarsely chopped
3/4 cup chicken stock
2 cups fresh raw corn kernels
1/4 cup minced parsley
salt & freshly ground black pepper, to taste
lemon juice, to taste
cider vinegar, for accompaniment
hot pepper sauce, for accompaniment

Steps:

  • Separate the chard ribs from the leaves.
  • Chop the leaves coarsely and chop the stems into 1/2-inch pieces.
  • In a large skillet, heat olive oil over moderately low heat.
  • Add onion and saute until slightly softened (about 3 minutes).
  • Add ham (if used), chard leaves and ribs, mustard greens and stock.
  • Bring to a simmer, cover, and reduce heat to maintain a simmer.
  • Cook 10 minutes.
  • Uncover skillet; add corn.
  • Cook, uncovered, until corn is done and greens are tender (about 5 more minutes).
  • Stir in parsley, salt and pepper, and a few drops lemon juice.
  • To serve, offer cider vinegar and hot pepper sauce on the side.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 175.6, Fat 8, SaturatedFat 1.1, Cholesterol 0.9, Sodium 307.8, Carbohydrate 24.1, Fiber 6.2, Sugar 4.5, Protein 6.9

LENTIL-SMOTHERED GREENS ON FRIED BREAD



Lentil-Smothered Greens on Fried Bread image

Red split lentils cook even more quickly than other types, making them ideal for weeknight dinners. Turn them into a meal by pairing with savory spiced greens.

Provided by Molly Baz

Categories     Bon Appétit     Lunch     Dinner     Bread     Lentil     Leafy Green     Vegetarian     Vegan     Dairy Free     Peanut Free     Tree Nut Free     Soy Free     Quick & Easy     Healthy

Yield 4 servings

Number Of Ingredients 12

⅔ cup plus 2 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil; plus more for serving
1 medium onion, finely chopped
1 fennel bulb, finely chopped
2 celery stalks, finely chopped
11 garlic cloves, 10 smashed, 1 left whole
¾ tsp. crushed red pepper flakes
1½ tsp. smoked paprika, plus more for serving
1 tsp. kosher salt, plus more
½ cup red split lentils
2 bunches hardy greens (such as mature spinach, kale, and/or Swiss chard), stems removed, leaves torn into large pieces
1 lemon, halved
4 thick slices country-style bread

Steps:

  • Heat ⅔ cup oil in a large Dutch oven or other heavy pot over medium. Add onion, fennel, celery, and smashed garlic and cook, stirring often, until softened but not browned, 8-10 minutes. Add red pepper flakes, 1½ tsp. paprika, and 1 tsp. salt and stir to combine. Add lentils and 1¼ cups water and stir again, scraping down sides of pot so that all of the lentils are submerged. Lay greens on top of liquid, but do not stir or toss them in. Cover pot, reduce heat to medium-low, and cook until lentils are just cooked through and greens are wilted, 10-15 minutes.
  • Uncover pot and stir mixture a few times to coat greens. Simmer until most of the liquid is evaporated and lentils are saucy (not brothy), about 2 minutes. Squeeze juice of a lemon half into lentils. Taste and season with more salt if needed. Cover and keep warm.
  • Heat 1 Tbsp. oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-low. Add 2 slices of bread and cook until golden and crisp underneath, about 5 minutes. Transfer to plates and turn fried side up. Repeat with 1 Tbsp. oil and remaining bread. Rub fried side of each slice with remaining whole garlic clove; season with salt.
  • Generously spoon lentil mixture over toast; drizzle with oil and lightly sprinkle with more paprika. Cut remaining lemon half into wedges and serve alongside for squeezing over.

Tips:

  • Choose the right greens: Collard greens, turnip greens, and mustard greens are all popular choices for smothered greens. Look for greens that are fresh and have a deep, dark color.
  • Wash the greens thoroughly: Greens can be gritty, so it's important to wash them thoroughly before cooking. Rinse the greens in cold water several times, or soak them in a sink or bowl of cold water for 10 minutes.
  • Remove the tough stems: The tough stems from the greens can be removed before cooking. To do this, hold the green at the base of the stem and run your knife down the stem from the top to the bottom. The stem will easily come away from the leaf.
  • Cook the greens until they are tender: Smothered greens are typically cooked until they are tender, but not mushy. This usually takes about 30 minutes to 1 hour.
  • Use a variety of seasonings: Smothered greens can be seasoned with a variety of ingredients, such as bacon, ham, onions, garlic, and spices. Be sure to adjust the seasonings to your own taste.

Conclusion:

Smothered greens are a delicious and versatile dish that can be enjoyed as a side dish or a main course. They are also a great way to use up leftover greens. With a few simple ingredients and a little bit of time, you can make a pot of smothered greens that your family and friends will love.

Related Topics