Eastern Nc Collard Greens Recipes

EASTERN NC COLLARD GREENS

Steps:

• Using large nonreactive pot, bring water, vinegar, salt, red pepper flakes & ham hocks to a boil.
• Reduce heat to simmer, cover pot & simmer 2 hours until ham hocks are falling apart.
• Cool liquid & ham hocks.
• Pick bones from meat & skin - chop both roughly & return to pot.
• Bring liquid to simmer & lay the collard stalks in the bottom of the pot. Next layer in the torn leaves, putting the largest, thickest on the bottom above the stalks & finish with the tender innermost leaves. There should be about 4 cups of liquid in the bottom of the pot - not all the leaves are submerged!
• Gently braise collards with lid on pot for an hour. Low heat is key - high heat causes release of sulfur compounds (as same other members of Brassicaciae family -cabbage, broccoli), stirring occasionally.
• Expect the leaves to initially brighten & then slowly turn a dark forest green - and smell really good!
• Add additional heat with pickled peppers or Texas Pete (made in NC) hot sauce & vinegar as you wish at the table - Mmmmmm good! Freezes well in freezer bags.

BROOKLYN-STYLE COLLARD GREENS

Steps:

• Place turkey wing or hocks in a very large pot and add just enough water to cover. Bring to a boil, turn heat to medium and simmer until water is reduced by about half.
• Meanwhile, plunge greens into a sink full of lightly salted cold water, drain and then rinse well with cold fresh water. Trim or remove biggest stems. Place five or six leaves on top of one another and roll like a cigar, lengthwise. Cut collards into inch-wide ribbons, then, keeping collards rolled, cut ribbons in half.
• Turn heat under pot to high. Add vinegar, one teaspoon salt and the garlic, then add as many greens as pot will hold. Wait until greens cook down, then add remaining greens. Turn heat to a simmer, cover and cook until greens for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• Add sugar, onion and crushed red pepper, cover again and continue to simmer until tender, another 15 to 30 minutes; time will vary depending on toughness of greens. Serve.

CREAMY COLLARD GREENS DIP WITH SHITO

Steps:

• Heat the broiler with the rack 6 to 8 inches from the heat source.
• Heat oil in a large, deep skillet over medium-high. Add onion, bell pepper and jalapeño. Season with salt and pepper and cook, stirring occasionally, until vegetables are lightly browned at the edges, 2 to 3 minutes. Add garlic and cook, stirring, for 1 minute.
• Deglaze the pan by adding chicken stock and stirring and scraping up browned bits. Add heavy cream and cream cheese and simmer, stirring occasionally, until cream cheese is melted. Add 1/2 cup shito and stir to combine, then stir in collards. Reduce heat to medium and simmer rapidly, stirring occasionally, until liquid is reduced to a thick, creamy consistency that coats the greens without being soupy, 5 to 7 minutes.
• Remove from heat and add 1 1/2 cups Cheddar and the lemon juice. Stir until cheese melts. Season to taste with salt and pepper. You can keep the dip in the skillet if the pan is ovenproof, or transfer the dip to a 2-quart baking dish and spread evenly. Combine panko with the remaining 1/2 cup Cheddar and sprinkle over the dip.
• Broil until golden on top, 1 to 2 minutes. Remove from oven and spoon remaining 2 tablespoons shito over dip. Serve hot or warm, with baguette, if you'd like.

BEST EVER COLLARD GREENS

Steps:

• Trim the center ribs from the collards; wash well.
• Halve, stack, halve again, and cut into approximately 1/2" shreds.
• Peel, halve, and slice onion thinly.
• In very large pot, heat oil.
• Saute onion until caramelized.
• Add greens with their water; toss and cook until wilted.
• Strain mandarin oranges, reserving juice.
• Add orange juice to collards in pot.
• Lower heat and cover.
• Cook for 5 to 10 minutes until tender.
• Add vinegar and season with salt to taste.
• Cook just a few minutes more.
• Add mandarin oranges and toss until heated through.