Cooking Collard Greens
My new favorite greens. Grew up eating these and other greens and still love them!
Collard Greens are a big hit at our house. I grew up eating all kinds of greens. Mom cooked them often, but I never learned how to cook them from her. I was more into baking and making donuts in those days. It was a long time after we started our farmers market shopping before I first made them.
When I think of greens of any type, I think more of a winter vegetable. Although they can continue growing into Spring. And as long as they keep growing, I keep buying, cooking and eating them. They are definitely something much more popular in the South.
In addition to being tasty, collard greens are good for you! They’re related to kale, turnips, and mustard greens. They’re a good source of vitamins, minerals and anti-oxidants. And like all bitter greens, they’re good for your heart and your digestion.
I first became interested in making them while waiting for a doctor appointment. They had a TV on, something I would prefer to not have in any doctor’s office. But they had it turned to a cooking channel. And there was this lady cooking collard greens. It was a hoot watching her, so much so that when I got home I found the video online so I could watch the whole thing. So I had to make them for myself! So, so good!
Since then, I have come up with my own, simpler recipe for cooking collard greens. I love to cook, but I don’t care to spend all of my time in the kitchen. Well, unless I’m making Ratatouille. But you’ll need to wait for full on summer to hear about that dish!
What do you think? Are you a fan of greens? Many are not, but perhaps, like my hubby, you just didn’t have them prepared right?
Step by Step
Start with two bunches of collard greens. Total weight is about 2 pounds.
Be sure to wash them. Oh, and watch out for grasshoppers! This is an added protein bonus. It’s one of the perks we get for buying from our local farmer.
Note: No grasshopper was harmed, he was relocated to our back yard. After warming up from spending days in the fridge, he went on his merry way!
Here’s a single leaf, just because I think it’s pretty!
And the leaves stacked while cutting!
All cut up!
Bacon, cooked and draining!
And the onions sizzling in pan!
Ready to eat!
Collard Greens Recipe
Yield: about 8 servings.
Total time: about 90 minutes, including some clean up.
Cook time: about 35-40 minutes.
INGREDIENTS
4-6 slices of bacon
1 cup chopped yellow onion, about 1/2 of a medium-sized onions
1 TBSP minced garlic
2 bunches collard greens
1/2 cup water
1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
Cracked red pepper
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp black pepper
Wash collard greens, remove stems, and cut into approximately 1 inch squares.
Cut up bacon and cook until crisp.
Remove bacon to drain.
Add onion and cook until transparent.
Add in 1 TBSP minced garlic to the bacon grease.
Cook for 2 minutes.
Add the collard greens.
Cook w/ stirring until the greens brighten. It’s like a little bit of magic. 👀
Add 1/2 cup water, 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar, and some cracked red pepper flakes - to taste.
Add in the salt and pepper.
Bring to boil, reduce to simmer, cover and cook for about 20 minutes.
Stir in the reserved bacon 🥓.
Serve!