Collards Moroccan Style Recipes

COLLARDS

Steps:

• Prepare the collards for cooking by cutting the large stems from the center of the leaves. Stack the leaves and cut them crosswise into 1-inch strips
• Put 2 inches of water in a saucepan large enough to hold the raw collards (the leaves can be pushed down tightly and will wilt to about one-quarter volume as they cook). Add the ham hock or pork and bring the water to a boil. Add the collards and toss with tongs until the water returns to a boil and the leaves wilt down into the pan. Reduce the heat, cover and simmer over low heat for 1 hour, or until tender. Stir occasionally, checking to be sure there is enough liquid to prevent scorching. Taste the liquid and add salt if needed. Serve with buttermilk cornbread and hot sauce.

KILLER COLLARDS

Steps:

• Melt the Spiced Butter in a large stockpot over medium-high heat. Add the onion and chiles and saute until the onion has softened, about 5 minutes. Add the collards and stir in the vinegar, brown sugar, and salt to taste and bring to a simmer. Turn the heat down to low, cover, and simmer until the greens are very tender, about 1 1/2 hours. Serve hot or warm.
• Melt the butter in a saucepan over low heat. Add the garlic, shallots, ginger, coriander, cumin, fenugreek, ajwain, black pepper, cinnamon, and turmeric. Simmer very gently for 30 minutes to infuse the flavors. Keep an eye on this; you don't want the milk solids to brown.
• Skim off all the foam and any floating seeds and let the butter sit for about 10 minutes for the milk solids to settle on the bottom.
• Carefully pour the spiced butter through a sieve lined with a few layers of cheesecloth into a container, leaving the solids behind. Let it cool, then cover and refrigerate. It will keep for months. Yield: 3 cups

BRAZILIAN COLLARDS

Steps:

• Place bacon in a large heavy-bottomed pot over medium-high heat. Cook until browned and most of the grease has been released. Stir in onion and cook until tender and glistening, about 4 minutes.
• Place collards into the pot and stir to coat with the bacon drippings. Pour in the chicken stock. Season with cayenne pepper. Reduce heat to low and cook for 1 hour and 15 minutes.
• Stir red wine vinegar into the pot. Continue cooking 15 minutes, until liquid is reduced by about 1/2.

QUICK COLLARD GREENS WITH MERGUEZ SAUSAGE AND COUSCOUS

Steps:

• Bring large pot of salted water to boil; add collard greens and boil until soft, about 2 minutes. Drain, reserving 1 cup cooking liquid. Cool greens slightly and cut into 1-inch strips.
• Place sausages and 1/2 cup water in heavy large skillet. Cook over medium heat until water evaporates and sausages start to brown, about 12 minutes. Continue cooking until sausages are cooked through, 12 to 15 minutes longer, depending on size of links.
• Meanwhile, heat oil in another heavy large skillet over medium heat. Add onion and sauté until translucent, about 5 minutes. Add dried crushed red pepper and next 3 ingredients; stir 1 minute. Add greens and cook 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Stir in currants. Add reserved 1 cup cooking liquid to skillet; bring to simmer. Partially cover pan and cook until liquid has reduced slightly, about 5 minutes. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
• Stir cilantro and butter into hot couscous; divide among plates. Top with greens and sausages.

BOHEMIAN COLLARDS

Steps:

• Trim thick stems from collard greens; coarsely chop leaves. In a Dutch oven, cook bacon over medium heat until crisp, stirring occasionally. Remove with a slotted spoon; drain on paper towels. Cook and stir collard greens in bacon drippings and oil just until coated. Add broth; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, covered, until greens are very tender, 25-30 minutes., Add corn, red pepper, salt, pepper flakes and pepper. Cook and stir until heated through. Sprinkle with bacon.

MILLION DOLLAR CHICKEN - MOROCCAN STYLE

Steps:

• Heat oil in skillet over medium high heat until hot.
• Add almonds and cook until golden brown.
• Remove with slotted spoon and set aside.
• Add garlic and chicken to same skillet that almonds were cooked in.
• Saute, turning once, for 5 minutes or until browned.
• Mix together salsa, water, currants, honey, cumin and cinnamon.
• Add mixture to chicken and stir well.
• Reduce heat to medium, cover and cook.
• Stir and baste occasionally for 20 minutes.
• Add more water if necessary.
• Serve over couscous or rice.
• Top with chopped almonds.

COLLARDS

Steps:

• Remove the tougher, woody stalks from the collard leaves. Smaller stems are okay. Wash the leaves and cut them into half-inch-wide strips. You can roll them into cigars to speed this up.
• Put the bacon in a stock pot on high head to render its grease, 3 or so minutes. Add the onion and cook until translucent but not brown, about 5 minutes more. Add the collards and cover with cool water. Add the red pepper, salt, and the ham bone. Bring to a boil and cook for at least 2 hours. There are many conflicting opinions on this. To my mind, collards were not made for quick cooking. Undercook collards and you are asking to be strangled; they can't be properly chewed. On the other hand, overcook them and they will eventually turn to mush. Two hours seems about right, although this might give nutritionists pause. Taste for salt.
• Even people who love collards complain about the way they make the house smell while cooking. People have different cures for this: Place four pecans in the pot. Cover the top of the collards with slices of white bread. None of this works.