Creamed Collards Recipe Bacon

CREAMY COLLARD GREENS AND BACON

Steps:

• In a large stockpot, add the water and bacon and bring to a boil over high heat. Add the collard greens by handfuls, stirring until each batch is wilted before adding more. Bring to a boil and add the onions. Cover and simmer over moderate heat until the collards are very tender, about 40 minutes. Remove from the heat and let cool, then squeeze the water out of the collards until almost dry. Place collards on a cutting board and coarsely chop.
• Meanwhile, in a food processor, combine the dry bread crumbs with the Parmesan, minced parsley, sage, garlic and extra-virgin olive oil. Pulse until just blended.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Generously butter a shallow 4-quart casserole. In a large bowl, mix the collards with the cream and season with salt and pepper. Stir in the eggs until blended and spread the collards into the prepared casserole. Cover with foil and bake for 30 minutes. Remove from the oven and sprinkle the Parmesan crumbs over the collards. Return to the oven and bake for about 20 minutes longer, or until the crumb topping is golden. Preheat the broiler and broil the collards 10 inches from the heat until the bread crumb topping is golden brown and crisp. Serve hot. Tastes great with fried chicken.

CREAMED COLLARDS

Steps:

• Rinse collard greens. Trim and discard thick stems from bottom of greens and coarsely chop.
• Cook bacon, in batches, in a 8 quart stock pot over medium heat, 10 to 12 minutes or until crisp. Remove bacon with a slotted spoon and drain on paper towels, reserving drippings in stock pot. Reserve 1/4 cup bacon.
• Add butter and onions to hot drippings in skillet. Saute onion 8 minutes or until tender. Add collards, in batches, and cook stirring occasionally, 5 minutes or until wilted. Stir in chicken broth, next 3 ingredients and remaining bacon.
• Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low, and cook, stirring occasionally, 15 minutes or to desired degree of tenderness. Drain collards, reserving 1 cup liquid.
• Stir in Bechamel Sauce. Stir in reserved cooking liquid, 1/4 cup at a time to desired consistency. Sprinkle with reserved bacon.
• Bechamel Sauce: Melt butter in heavy saucepan over low heat, add shallots and garlic and saute l minute. Whisk in flour until smooth. Cook 1 minute, whisking constantly. Increase heat to medium, gradually whisk in milk. Cook over medium heat, whisking constantly, 5 to 7 minutes or until mixture is thickened and bubbly. Stir in salt, pepper and nutmeg.

CREAMED COLLARD GREENS

Steps:

• Fill a very large pot three-quarters full with water and bring to a boil. Add the collard greens to the water and make sure they are all well submerged. Return the water to a boil and simmer until the greens are tender and bright green, 10 to 15 minutes. Drain the greens and run under cold water to stop the cooking. Drain the greens well, squeezing out excess water with your hands or by placing in a kitchen towel and squeezing. Chop the greens finely and set aside.
• Melt the butter in a skillet or Dutch oven large enough to hold all of the greens. Add the garlic and shallots and cook over medium heat until softened but not browned, 4 to 6 minutes. Add the cream and bring to a simmer, stirring occasionally. Cook until reduced by half, about 25 minutes - watch carefully as the cream can quickly boil over! Add the greens and toss until warmed through. Season generously with nutmeg, salt and pepper. Add to a serving dish and sprinkle with the Parmesan.

COLLARD GREENS WITH BACON

Steps:

• Place bacon in a heavy pot and cook over medium-high heat, turning occasionally, until fat begins to render, about 5 minutes. Drain off 1/2 of the bacon grease.
• Reduce heat to medium and add onion. Cook, stirring often, for about 5 minutes. Add garlic, red pepper flakes, salt, and pepper; cook and stir for 2 minutes.
• Increase heat to high and immediately pour in 3 cups water. Bring to a boil, stirring to scrape up browned bits from the bottom of the pot. Add chopped collard greens and 1 more cup of water. Bring back to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer until greens are tender, about 1 hour.

CREAMY COLLARD DIP

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cook bacon in 12 inch skillet until crisp and drain on paper towel. Remove and discard all but 2 teaspoons of bacon drippings from skillet. Add onion and pepper to skillet. Cook 5 minutes over medium heat or until vegetables are just tender, stirring occasionally. Add collard greens and garlic; cover and cook 10 minutes or until tender, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat.
• Add cream cheese, Monterey Jack cheese, sour cream and Cajun seasoning to the collard mixture, stirring until combined. If desired, trim fatty part from bacon and discard. Crumble remaining bacon and add to collard mixture. Spread mixture in 1 1/2 quart casserole dish or 9 inch pie plate.
• Bake, uncovered, 10 minutes or until warmed through. Serve with vegetable dippers or bread sticks.

CREAMED COLLARD GREENS

Steps:

• Blanch greens in a large pot of boiling salted water until bright green and beginning to soften, 3-4 minutes. Transfer to a large bowl of ice water to cool. Squeeze dry.
• Heat oil in a large heavy pot over medium heat. Add bacon and cook until fat is rendered and bacon is crisp, 5-7 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer bacon to paper towels to drain; set aside.
• Drain all but 3 tablespoons bacon drippings from pot, adding butter if needed to measure 3 tablespoons Add shallots; cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until soft, about 5 minutes. Add flour and paprika; stir constantly for 2 minutes. Whisk in milk and cream; bring to a boil, whisking often. Stir in greens; reduce heat to low. Simmer, stirring often, until greens are tender and sauce thickens, about 30 minutes. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Transfer creamed greens to a serving dish; garnish with reserved bacon.

COLLARD GREENS WITH BACON

Steps:

• Working in batches, stack greens; cutcrosswise into 2-inch-thick strips. Gatherstrips; cut crosswise into 2-inch pieces.Transfer to a large bowl of cold water;swish to remove grit. Transfer greens toa colander using a slotted spoon; letdrain. Repeat until greens are free of grit.
• Heat oil in a very large skillet overmedium-high heat. Add onion andbacon; cook until onions are translucent,about 4 minutes. Add greens; cook, stirring,until greens begin to wilt and arereduced in volume.
• Raise heat to high; add vinegar. Cook,scraping up brown bits from bottom ofskillet, until vinegar has evaporated,about 1 minute.
• Add stock; reduce heat. Simmer, covered,until greens are just tender, 12 to 14minutes. If making ahead, refrigerate,covered; reheat over low heat.