COLLARD GREENS STUFFED WITH QUINOA AND TURKEY

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Collard Greens Stuffed With Quinoa and Turkey image

It takes some time, but I love filling collard greens. Bigger than grape leaves (so you don't have to make as many), the large flat leaves are great stuffers. I used a combination of quinoa and leftover turkey for this slightly sweet Middle Eastern filling spiced with cinnamon and allspice; rice would work just as well.

Provided by Martha Rose Shulman

Categories     dinner, lunch, snack, appetizer, main course, side dish

Time 1h30m

Yield About 1 dozen stuffed leaves

Number Of Ingredients 19

12 large collard greens
Salt
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
1 onion, finely chopped
2 to 3 garlic cloves (to taste), minced
1 (14-ounce) can chopped tomatoes
1 teaspoon sugar
2 tablespoons to 1/4 cup currants (optional)
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground allspice berries
1 1/2 cups cooked quinoa
1/2 to 3/4 cup shredded turkey
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
3 tablespoons chopped fresh mint
Freshly ground pepper
1/2 to 1 cup water (as needed)
Juice of 1 large lemon
1 tablespoon tomato paste
Salt to taste

Steps:

  • Fill a bowl with cold water. Bring a large pot of water to a boil while you carefully remove the thick, tough stems from collard greens, trying to keep leaves intact. Break them off about 1 to 2 inches into the leaf, where they become less ropey. When water in pot comes to a boil, salt generously and add collard leaves, in batches. Blanch 2 minutes and transfer to cold water. Drain, gently squeeze out excess water and set aside on paper towels.
  • Heat 2 tablespoons of oil over medium heat in a large lidded skillet and add onion. Cook, stirring, until tender, about 5 minutes. Add garlic and a generous pinch of salt and cook, stirring, until garlic is fragrant, 30 seconds to a minute. Add tomatoes with juice, sugar, currants, cinnamon, allspice, and salt to taste. Cook, stirring often, until tomatoes have cooked down and mixture is fragrant, 10 to 15 minutes. Remove from heat.
  • In a large bowl combine quinoa, turkey, mint and parsley. Add tomato mixture and stir together. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
  • Oil a wide, deep, lidded sauté pan or saucepan with olive oil. To fill leaves, place one on your work surface, vein side up with stem end nearest to you. The leaf may have a big space in the middle where you stemmed it; if it does, pull the two sides of the leaf in toward each other and overlap them slightly. Place 2 level tablespoons of filling on bottom center of each leaf, leaving a margin of about 3/4 inch below. Fold bottom up and over, fold sides over, then roll up tightly, tucking in the sides as you go. Place seam side down in pan, crowding the pan with snug layers. Drizzle on remaining 2 tablespoons of olive oil.
  • Whisk together 1/2 cup water, tomato paste and lemon juice. Season with salt if desired. Pour over stuffed collard greens. The rolls should be just submerged. Add more water if necessary. Cover stuffed leaves with a round of parchment or wax paper, and place a plate or small lid over the paper to weight them during cooking. Bring to a simmer, cover and simmer over low heat for 30 to 45 minutes. Leaves should be just tender. Remove from heat and carefully remove rolls from pot with a slotted spoon or tongs. Serve warm or cold, with juice from pan spooned over if desired.

Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 110, UnsaturatedFat 5 grams, Carbohydrate 11 grams, Fat 6 grams, Fiber 4 grams, Protein 5 grams, SaturatedFat 1 gram, Sodium 348 milligrams, Sugar 2 grams, TransFat 0 grams

Raja Adeel
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I wasn't a big fan of this recipe. The collard leaves were tough and the stuffing wasbland. I won't be making this again.


Andreaj Jackson
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This recipe was just ok. The collard leaves were a little tough and the stuffing was a bit dry. I think I'll try a different recipe next time.


Khan Jalbani
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Not bad, not bad at all.


Fiker mekonen
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This is a really great recipe! The collard leaves are perfectly blanched and the quinoa and ground chicken stuffing is flavorful and moist. I'll definitely be making this again.


Amber Erickson
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These collard green 'cigars' were a big hit at my party! They're so easy to make and they look so cute on a platter. The stuffing is very flavorful and the collard leaves are a perfect, healthy addition.


Keegan Roberts
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Very easy to make and super delicious! I'm always looking for new and creative ways to eat more veggies and this recipe definitely hit the spot.


MariusNotFound
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Delicious and nutritious! I used ground chicken instead of chicken sausages and it turned out great. My whole family loved it.


LocalRobloxian
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This is a great recipe for a healthy and hearty meal. The quinoa and ground chicken stuffing is really flavorful, and the collard leaves are a nice, earthy addition. I added a bit of cayenne to the stuffing for an extra kick of heat.


Vista Wan
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5 stars for this recipe! It's a great way to get more veggies in my diet. The collard leaves were a bit tough, but that's probably because I didn't cook them long enough. Next time I'll make sure to simmer them for the full 20 minutes.


Ejeh Amblessed
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My first time cooking collard leaves and it was a success! The quinoa and ground chicken stuffing was flavorful and went well with the collard leaves. I served it with a side of mashed sweet and it was a hit.


Krystal Kirk
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This is a fun recipe to try if you're looking for a healthy meal. I especially liked the quinoa stuffing, it added a nice nutty touch to the collard leaves.


Marcus Marshall
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These collard green 'cigars' turned out better than I expected. I love the combination of quinoa and ground chicken. It has all the elements I look for in a meal: healthy, delicious, and easy to put together. I'll definitely be making this again.