Mommas Homegrown Collards 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.

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.

BRAISED COLLARD GREENS

Steps:

• Heat the olive oil in a large, heavy-bottomed pot with a lid over medium-high. When hot, add ham hocks. When they're sizzling, flip and crisp the other side.
• Add the onions and stir so they are coated in the fat and nestled under and around the hocks. Turn the heat down to medium and cook, stirring occasionally, until onions are soft, 6 to 8 minutes.
• Add the garlic, paprika, cumin, cayenne, salt and brown sugar, and stir until fragrant, about 2 minutes.
• Pour in the chicken stock and hard cider and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 2 hours, until the ham hocks are very tender.
• Remove the ham hocks and allow to cool slightly. Skim the fat off the surface of the stock. When cool enough to handle, remove the meat from the bone (discard the fat and the skin) and chop into 1/4- to 1/2-inch pieces and set aside.
• Bring the stock back to a boil, then add the greens in large handfuls, pressing them down to wilt in the hot stock before adding more leaves. Add the reserved ham hock meat.
• Reduce heat to low, cover the pot, and simmer for 25 to 30 minutes, until the greens are silky and tender. Season with salt and serve with hot sauce and a splash of apple cider vinegar, if desired.

COLLARDS

Steps:

• Place potatoes in a large pot with enough water to cover. Bring to a boil over medium heat. Before the potatoes are finished, add the collards to the pot.
• Place bacon in a deep skillet over medium-high heat. Cook until evenly browned, about 10 minutes. Remove bacon to paper towels to drain, and saute the onion in bacon grease until tender. Drain onions of grease, and add to the greens. Crumble in the bacon, and stir in the wine vinegar. Simmer over low heat until greens are tender, about 1 hour.

GRANDMA'S COLLARD GREENS

Steps:

• Cook onion and bacon in a large pot over medium-high heat until onions are soft, 5 to 7 minutes. Add chicken stock, vinegar, brown sugar, and pepper flakes and cook and stir until brown sugar has completely dissolved, 2 to 3 minutes.
• Add 1/2 of the collard greens, reduce heat to medium, and cook until greens are slightly wilted, about 10 minutes. Add remaining greens, toss to combine, and simmer over medium-low heat until tender, about 30 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.

DOWN HOME COLLARD GREENS

Steps:

• Put collard greens in a pot full of lightly salted water; bring to a boil, reduce heat to medium-low, and cook until tender, about 1 hour. Drain.
• Cook bacon in a large skillet over medium-high heat until crisp, about 10 minutes. Drain the bacon on paper towels.
• Melt butter in a large pot over medium heat. Cook and stir onion in melted butter until tender, 7 to 10 minutes. Stir bacon, chicken bouillon, water, garlic, oregano, thyme, and savory into the onion; bring to a boil. Stir collard greens into the mixture and simmer 5 minutes. Pour milk over the mixture, stir, and cook another 5 minutes.

FRIED CABBAGE WITH COLLARDS

Steps:

• In a large cast-iron skillet over medium heat, cook the bacon until crisp, 8 to 10 minutes. Remove from the pan. Sauté the bell pepper and onions in the same pan until tender and browned in spots, for 2 minutes. Add the shredded collard greens and cook on low heat until softened, for 4 minutes. Add the cabbage, chicken bouillon, salt, Creole seasoning, garlic paste and black pepper and cook on medium heat for an additional 10 to 15 minutes or until the cabbage and greens are tender. Add some water if the mixture is too dry. Put the bacon back into the pan, stirring it in for even distribution. Cover until ready to serve. Serve with chow-chow on the side, if desired.

MAMA'S COLLARDS

Steps:

• Boil chicken about 20 minutes. Add collards and seasoning. Lower heat, cook about 2 hours or until greens are tender.

DOWN-HOME COLLARD GREENS

Steps:

• In a large pot, combine the broth, water, ham hocks, garlic, vinegar, sugar and red pepper. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Add the collard greens in batches, covering the pan and waiting for each batch to wilt before adding the next batch. Transfer to a 3 1/2 quart slow cooker. Cover and cook until the greens are very tender, 4-5 hours on low. Remove the ham hocks, remove and discard the skin. Remove the meat from the bones, coarsely chop the meat, and return to the slow cooker. Season the greens with salt to taste.

BRAISED SMOKED COLLARD GREENS WITH PEPPER VINEGAR

Steps:

• To make the pepper vinegar: Bring the vinegar and sugar to a boil and stir to dissolve. Add the chiles and cool in the fridge for at least 2 hours to overnight.
• Smoke the collards in 2 batches: Preheat the oven to 200°F. To create a smoker, use two large aluminum pans. First, heat the wood chips in a cast-iron pan over hight heat, until they begin to smoke. Remove the cast-iron pan from the heat and place the hot wood chips in one of the aluminum pans. Then, using a small but sharp knife, punch holes in the bottom of the second pan and place it on top of the first pan with the wood chips inside. Add the collards to the top pan, place in the oven, and smoke for 15 minutes. Remove from the oven and set aside.
• In a Dutch oven, sweat the red and white onions, leeks, and shallot with 2 cups of the olive oil and a nice pinch of salt. Add the smoked collards in increments until they cook down, then add more. Once all of the collards are in the pot, add the remaining oil and 8 cups of water. Cook, covered, on low heat, until done, about 1½ to 2 hours.
• To serve: Dress the collard greens with the pepper vinegar to taste.

BIG MAMA'S COLLARD GREENS

Steps:

• Boil turkey pieces in chicken broth for 15-20 min. to soften turkey meat. Add onions, vinegar, salt and pepper, and sugar. Boil for another 5 minutes.
• Add cleaned and cut collard greens and 2 cups of water. Lower heat to low/medium and cook for about 2 hours or until greens are very dark colored.

GRANDMA'S SOUTHERN COLLARD GREENS

Steps:

• In a 6-qt. stockpot, heat 1 tablespoon lard over medium heat. Add onion and garlic; cook and stir until tender. Add ham hocks, water, seasoned salt, pepper flakes, and sugar. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, until meat is tender, 55-60 minutes., Add collard greens, wine, and remaining 1 Tbsp. lard. Return to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, until greens are very tender, 55-60 minutes. Remove meat from bones; finely chop and return to pan. Discard bones. Serve with a slotted spoon.

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.

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.