Quick Southern Collards Recipes

QUICK COLLARD GREENS

Steps:

• To prepare the collards: Cut out the thick center rib out of each collard green. Stack the rib-less greens and roll them up into a cigar-like shape. Slice over the "cigar" as thinly as possible (⅛″ to ¼″) to make long strands. Shake up the greens and give them a few chops so the strands aren't so long.
• Heat a large, heavy-bottomed skillet over medium-high heat, then add the olive oil. Once the oil is shimmering, add all of the collard greens and the salt.
• Stir until all of the greens are lightly coated in oil, then let them cook for about 30 seconds before stirring again. Continue stirring in 30-second intervals until the greens are wilted, dark green, and some are starting to turn browns on the edges (this is delicious). This will take between 3 to 6 minutes.
• Once the collards are just about done, add the garlic and red pepper flakes (if using). Stir to break up the garlic and cook until it's fragrant, about 30 seconds. Remove the pan from the heat.
• Immediately divide the cooked collards onto plates, and serve with a lemon wedge each.

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.

TANGY QUICK COLLARDS

Steps:

• Remove the large center stems from the collard greens. Stack the leaves on top of each other and roll them as tightly as possible. Use a sharp chef's knife to slice the leaves as thinly as possible.
• Use a vegetable peeler to remove three 1-by-2-inch strips of peel from the lime. Finely chop the peel.
• Heat the olive oil in a large, wide pot over medium heat. Add the ginger, garlic, mustard, jalapeno and 1/2 teaspoon salt and cook, stirring occasionally, until very fragrant and the garlic is pale golden, about 3 minutes. Add the vinegar and simmer until almost completely reduced. Increase the heat to medium-high and add the collard greens. Cook, tossing with tongs, until just slightly wilted, about 3 minutes. Serve warm.

FLAVORFUL SOUTHERN COLLARD GREENS

Steps:

• Wash collard greens, removing all grit. Remove and discard hard stems. Place greens together in small bunches; roll up. Cut crosswise into wide strips; set aside.
• Cook bacon in large skillet on medium heat to desired crispness. Remove bacon from skillet with slotted spoon, reserving 3 Tbsp. of the drippings in skillet. Set bacon aside. Add onion and garlic to drippings; cook and stir until tender.
• Add greens, water, sugar, salt and crushed red pepper to skillet. Reduce heat to low; simmer 45 min. to 1 hour or until greens are tender, stirring occasionally. Stir in bacon.

EASY COLLARD GREENS

Steps:

• Combine collard greens, bacon, salt, garlic powder, onion powder, sugar, and cayenne pepper in a stock pot. Pour enough water over the greens mixture to cover completely. Bring the water to a boil, reduce heat to low, and cook at a simmer until the greens are tender, about 2 hours.