This article was co-authored by Dorrenda Smith. Dorrenda “Renny” Smith is a Personal Chef and the Co-Founder & CEO of The Crain Experience. With almost 15 years of experience in the food industry, she specializes in creating soul food with a healthier spin. Chef Renny and her partner provide event catering, event planning, and restaurant and food truck consultations.
There are 7 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page.
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There are many ways to cook collard greens, but most recipes either sauté or boil the greens. Cutting the greens into thin strips beforehand reduces the overall cooking time, improving the final color of the leaves without sacrificing flavor. If you want to know how to cook this delicious loose-leafed vegetable in several ways, just follow these steps.
Ingredients
- 1 bunch collard greens, 12 to 16 oz. (375 to 450 ml.)
- 1 tbsp (15 ml.) olive oil
- 2 tsp. (10 ml.) minced garlic
- 1/2 tsp. (2.5 ml.) crushed red pepper
- 1/4 tsp. (1.25 ml.) salt
- 1 tbsp. (15 ml.) balsamic vinegar
- 1 large bunch fresh collard greens
- 1 tbsp. table salt
- 5 slices bacon
- Bacon drippings
- 1 tsp. table salt
- 3 tbsp. granulated sugar
- 1 cup water
- 1 chicken bullion cube
- 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
- 1 bunch collard greens, 12 to 16 oz. (375 to 450 ml.)
- 1 tbsp. (15 ml.) olive oil
- 1 tbsp. (15 ml.) butter
- 1/2 chopped large white onion
- 1 tsp. (5 ml.) red pepper flakes
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 3 cups (750 ml.) vegetable stock
- 2 seeded and chopped tomatoes
- Salt to taste
- Pepper to taste
- 2 lb. (907 g.) collard greens
- 1 pinch salt
- Collard greens
- Oil
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1 smoked turkey wing
- 1 one large ham hock
- Water for boiling
- 2 pounds collard greens, cleaned
- Salt to taste
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- 1 tablespoon pepper, crushed
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
Steps
Preparing the Greens
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1Remove the stem from the bunch. Use your non-dominant hand to hold the leaves together. With your dominant hand, cut about 1 inch (2.5 cm) from the bottom of the stem, separating the leaves.
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2Soak the leaves in water.[1] Place the collard greens in a large bowl and cover them with warm water. Add a little salt to the water. Salt is abrasive and helps in the process of scrubbing away dirt and impurities. Gently scrub the leaves with your hands and rinse.Advertisement
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3Cut out the spine from each leaf. Lay each leaf out flat on the counter. Use a sharp knife to cut along the spine on each side, separating the leaf into two parts and completely removing the spine. Stack the leaves so the flat, cut sides all line up.
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4Roll the stack of leaves lengthwise. You may need to form several stacks to get tight rolls.
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5Cut the greens into ribbons. Slice each roll into 1 inch (2.5 cm) pieces. Separate the pieces with your fingers, letting them unravel into long strips.
Sautéed
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1Heat the oil in a large, heavy skillet. Use medium-high heat, and continue heating 1 tbsp. of olive oil until the oil easily glides over the entire bottom of the pan.[2]
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2Cook the minced garlic. Add 2 tbsp. of minced garlic to the hot oil and move it around with a spatula, keeping it moving to prevent it from burning. Continue cooking for about 20 seconds, until the garlic begins to change in color to a deeper yellow or light tan.
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3Add the strips of collard greens. It is better to add all the greens at once than to do so in batches to ensure that all the greens get the same amount of heat, oil, and garlic. Add the strips and stir with your spatula, making sure that all the greens are coated in oil.
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4Sprinkle the greens with spicy peppers and salt. Add 1/2 tsp. of crushed red pepper or jalapeños and 1/4 tsp. of salt to the collard greens. Wait approximately 30 seconds and toss the greens again with your spatula to mix the seasonings into the rest of the greens. Mix thoroughly, moving the top to the bottom and the greens on the bottom to the top, several times, to ensure the greens are evenly mixed.
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5Continue cooking and stirring over medium-high heat. Use your spatula and continue tossing the shreds of collard greens. Do not let it sit for long without movement. Moving the greens around is the only way to ensure the greens are evenly heated and evenly cooked.
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6Stop cooking once the leaves are slightly wilted. The greens should still be bright green, however. Turn off the stove and remove the pan from the heating element.
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7Add one tbsp of vinegar.[3] Red wine vinegar or cider vinegar would also work if you do not have balsamic vinegar available. Drizzle the vinegar over the greens and toss again to coat.
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8Serve hot. The greens can also be enjoyed at room temperature.
Fried
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1Place the collard green leaves in a pot. The stems should already be removed from the bunches and the spines should be removed from the leaves.[4]
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2Cover the greens with cold water for 3-5 minutes. Allow them to soak fully.
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3Dissolve 1 tbsp. of table salt in the water. Stir it in well.
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4Drain the leaves and remove them from the sink.
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5Wash the collard greens at least two more times. Repeating this process twice will fully clean the collard greens.
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6Fry 5 slices of bacon in a pot over medium heat. Fry the bacon until it is nice and crisp. Then, remove the cooked bacon, crumble it, and set it aside, leaving the bacon drippings in the pot.
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7Add the drained collard greens to the bacon drippings and fry it. Fry the collards for several minutes, allowing them to wilt and absorb the bacon grease. Then, cover the pot with a lid.
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8Add 3/4 - 1 cup of water to the pot. Stir the ingredients as you continue to steam the collard greens.
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9Add the salt, sugar, and bouillon cube to the pot.[5] Add 1 tsp. of table salt, 3 tbsp. of granulated sugar, and 1 chicken bullion cube to the pot for flavor.
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10Reduce the heat and cover the pot and cook for 10-15 minutes. Cook the pot with the collard greens over low heat until the greens are tender and dark green.
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11Drain the liquid.
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12Serve. When the greens are ready, chop them finely using two sharp knives, and sprinkle them with the crumbled bacon. Pour 1/4 cup of apple cider vinegar over the greens and enjoy them while they are hot.
Vegetarian Southern-style
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1Heat the oil and butter in a large stockpot. Place the stockpot on your stove and heat 1 tbsp. of olive oil and 1 tbsp. of butter over medium heat until the butter is melted, and the melted butter and oil glide smoothly to coat the bottom of the pot.[6]
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2Sauté the onions. Add 1/2 of a chopped large white onion to the oil and butter. Move them around rapidly with a spatula. Continue cooking over medium heat for about 2 minutes or until they feel slightly softened.
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3Add the red pepper and garlic to the onions.[7] Stir 1 tsp. of red pepper flakes and 1 minced garlic clove into the other ingredients and continue cooking over medium heat for another minute.
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4Add the collard greens to the pot. Toss the greens into the seasoned oil, making sure that all the greens are thoroughly and visibly coated with the oil. Cook for at least another minute.
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5Cover the greens with 3 cups of vegetable stock. Pour the stock into the pot, give the greens another quick stir, and cover the pot. Bring the stock to a simmer and reduce the heat to medium-low, making sure the stock is still simmering afterward.
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6Cook the greens until they are tender. This should take about 40 minutes, but may take as quick as 20 minutes depending on how small your strips of greens are. Check frequently after 20 minutes and stop once the greens are soft and wilted.
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7Add the tomatoes once the greens finish cooking. Add 2 seeded and chopped tomatoes to the greens and mix to distribute them evenly.
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8Sprinkle the greens with salt and pepper to taste. Give the greens another quick toss and serve warm.
Blanched
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1Discard the tough stems and ribs of the collard greens.[8]
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2Coarsely chop the leaves.
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3Cook the leaves in a large pot of boiling salted water for 8-12 minutes. Place 1 pinch of salt in the pot and boil the collard greens until they are tender and dark green.
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4Drain and chill them in cold water. Then, drain the cold water again and squeeze out the remaining liquid by patting the greens down.
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5Serve. Enjoy these blanched collard greens on their own or as a side to a main course.
In the Oven
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1Prepare the collard greens strips as explained under "Preparing the Greens".
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2Preheat the oven to 325ºF/170ºC.
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3Toss the collard greens with oil. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
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4Lay flat on sprayed or parchment-covered baking sheet.
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5Cook for 20 minutes. Turn halfway through the cooking.
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6Serve straight from the oven.
Smoked Turkey Wing and Collard Greens
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1Rinse a smoked turkey wing and one large ham hock. Put it in a large pot of water, enough to cover the meat.
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2Boil until tender.
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3Add about 2 pounds of clean collard greens. Cook about 30 minutes or until tender.
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4Taste before seasoning; you may add salt if needed. Add 2 tablespoons of sugar, 1 tablespoon of crushed pepper, and 1 tablespoon of olive oil.
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5Stir and eat.
Expert Q&A
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QuestionWhat goes well with cooked collard greens?Dorrenda SmithDorrenda “Renny” Smith is a Personal Chef and the Co-Founder & CEO of The Crain Experience. With almost 15 years of experience in the food industry, she specializes in creating soul food with a healthier spin. Chef Renny and her partner provide event catering, event planning, and restaurant and food truck consultations.
Personal ChefAdd some fresh garlic, onions, green peppers, fresh vegetables and seasoning to your taste! If you're making a dish with meat, I recommend using smoked turkey! -
QuestionCan I cook collard greens in a pot of water?Community AnswerYes. One of the standard ways many people cook collards is boiling them in a pot of water.
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QuestionCan I make collard greens a day ahead, refrigerate, and then serve the next day at room temperature?Becca AtwoodCommunity AnswerYes, you can. According to many, they taste better a day later. I would recommend warming them up either on the stove top or in the microwave before serving, unless you strongly prefer room temperature food.
Things You’ll Need
- Knife
- Cutting board
- Large bowl
- Large skillet
- Stockpot
References
- ↑ http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/tyler-florence/sauteed-collard-greens-recipe/index.html
- ↑ http://hilahcooking.com/how-to-cook-collard-greens/
- ↑ Dorrenda Smith. Personal Chef. Expert Interview. 26 October 2021.
- ↑ http://www.cdkitchen.com/recipes/recs/67/Fried_Collard_Greens52586.shtml
- ↑ Dorrenda Smith. Personal Chef. Expert Interview. 26 October 2021.
- ↑ http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/cooking-for-real/vegetarian-southern-style-collard-greens-recipe/index.html
- ↑ Dorrenda Smith. Personal Chef. Expert Interview. 26 October 2021.
- ↑ http://www.canadianliving.com/food/blanched_collard_greens.php
- Videos provided by I Heart Recipes
About This Article
Before cooking your collard greens, heat your oven to 325 °F. Prepare the greens by chopping off around 1 inch of the stem and soaking the leaves in a bowl of warm water with some salt to clean any remaining dirt from them. Remove the spine from each leaf with a knife, then make a stack of leaves and roll them length-wise. Next, slice the rolls into 1 inch ribbons. Toss the greens with oil before adding salt and pepper to taste. To finish, lay the leaves on a parchment paper-covered tray and cook for 20 minutes. For more tips, including how to sauté or fry your collard greens, read on!