Creamed Collards Recipe Southern

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.

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.

QUICK SOUTHERN COLLARDS

Steps:

• Place the bacon in cold 12-inch skillet. Heat the pan over medium heat and cook until the bacon is crispy and the fat is rendered. Once crispy, set aside on a paper-towel-lined plate. To the leftover bacon fat, add the red pepper and cook until softened, 5 to 7 minutes.
• Stack the leaves of collards and roll tightly into a cigar shape. Then chop away.
• Add the collards to the pan along with the apple cider vinegar, red pepper flakes and some salt and pepper and cook until tender, but still bright green, 4 to 5 minutes. Adjust the seasoning if necessary. Toss with the reserved crispy bacon and serve.

CREAMY COLLARD CASSEROLE

Steps:

• In a medium saucepan over medium-low heat, mix soup and milk until combined.
• Add Swiss cheese and stir until melted.
• Add 1/2 can of french fried onions.
• Stir in bacon.
• Mix in collard greens, Worcestershire, and salt and pepper until well combined.
• Spread into a 9 inch pie plate that has been coated with nonstick cooking spray.
• Bake at 350°F for 15 minutes.
• Add remaining french fried onions.
• Bake additional 5 minutes or until onions are toasted.

SOUTHERN STYLE COLLARD GREENS

Steps:

• Combine onions, ham hocks, and garlic in a stockpot; add chicken broth. Cook mixture over medium heat until meat is falling off the bone, about 2 hours.
• Stir collard greens, vinegar, sugar, salt, and pepper into the broth mixture; cook until greens have reached desired tenderness, about 2 more hours.

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.