Smothered Greens Recipes

SMOTHERED GREEN BEANS

Steps:

• Place bacon in a large, deep skillet. Cook over medium high heat until the fat begins to render. Stir in onions and garlic; let cook for 1 minute. Stir in beans and water. Let the beans cook until the water has evaporated and the beans are tender. If the beans are not tender once the water has evaporated, add a small amount more water and let them cook until tender. Season with salt and pepper (to taste) and serve.

SMOTHERED COLLARD GREENS AND CABBAGE

Steps:

• Fry the bacon with the onion in a large skillet over medium heat until the bacon is crisp, about 10 minutes. Stir in the chopped collard greens, sprinkle with salt, black pepper, and 1/2 teaspoon of the greens seasoning; cook and stir for 5 minutes.
• Add in the darker chopped cabbage leaves, and cook and stir until almost tender, about 5 minutes. Stir in the remaining cabbage; season with salt, black pepper, sugar, and the remaining greens seasoning. Stir well; cover and cook until tender, stirring occasionally so that the greens do not scorch, about 10 minutes.

SMOTHERED GREENS

Steps:

• In a large nonstick saute pan, melt the butter with the oil. Saute onion for about 5 minutes, without coloring.
• Stir in the assorted greens, and cook over medium-high heat, until the vegetables are wilted and tender, about 8 to 10 minutes. If mixture becomes dry, add a little chicken stock.
• Stir in the vinegar, and season with salt and pepper and hot sauce, if desired.

SMOTHERED PORK CHOPS WITH COLLARD GREENS

Steps:

• Season each chop with salt and pepper, then dust with flour. Heat a cast iron skillet just large enough to hold the pork over a medium heat. Add the reserved pork fat and brown the pork chop well-approximately 4 minutes per side. Remove the chops from the pan and set aside. If the pan is dry, add another tablespoon of fat. Add the onions and peppers. Increase the heat to medium high in order to brown the vegetables well. Sprinkle flour over the vegetables and cook, stirring constantly, for 5 minutes. Remove pan from the flame and stir in the hot hock stock until thickened and smooth. Bury the pork chops in the gravy. Cover the skillet and place in a 300 degree oven. Cook 2 hours, or until pork is very tender;
• Collard Greens: Place hock stock in a large sauce pot over a medium high heat. Bring hock stock to a rapid simmer. Pack collards into the stock with the onion and jalapeno. Simmer 2 hours. Season to taste with salt, pepper and malt vinegar.;
• Ham hock stock: Place ham hocks in a stock pot large enough to hold the hocks, leaving 6 inches of free space at the top of the pot. Pour enough cold water over the hocks to cover by 3 inches. Bring to a rapid simmer over a medium high heat. A thick foam will build on the top of the stock. Carefully remove all of the foam. Reduce heat to low and simmer 6 hours. Constantly skim the clear fat that builds at the top of the stock. Reserve the fat for cooking.

SMOTHERED GREENS

Steps:

• Place all ingredients except greens into large saucepan and bring to a boil.
• Prepare greens by washing thoroughly and removing stems.
• Tear or slice leaves into bite-size pieces.
• Add greens to turkey stock. Cook 20 to 30 minutes until tender.

SMOTHERED GREENS & CORN

Steps:

• Separate the chard ribs from the leaves.
• Chop the leaves coarsely and chop the stems into 1/2-inch pieces.
• In a large skillet, heat olive oil over moderately low heat.
• Add onion and saute until slightly softened (about 3 minutes).
• Add ham (if used), chard leaves and ribs, mustard greens and stock.
• Bring to a simmer, cover, and reduce heat to maintain a simmer.
• Cook 10 minutes.
• Uncover skillet; add corn.
• Cook, uncovered, until corn is done and greens are tender (about 5 more minutes).
• Stir in parsley, salt and pepper, and a few drops lemon juice.
• To serve, offer cider vinegar and hot pepper sauce on the side.

LENTIL-SMOTHERED GREENS ON FRIED BREAD

Steps:

• Heat ⅔ cup oil in a large Dutch oven or other heavy pot over medium. Add onion, fennel, celery, and smashed garlic and cook, stirring often, until softened but not browned, 8-10 minutes. Add red pepper flakes, 1½ tsp. paprika, and 1 tsp. salt and stir to combine. Add lentils and 1¼ cups water and stir again, scraping down sides of pot so that all of the lentils are submerged. Lay greens on top of liquid, but do not stir or toss them in. Cover pot, reduce heat to medium-low, and cook until lentils are just cooked through and greens are wilted, 10-15 minutes.
• Uncover pot and stir mixture a few times to coat greens. Simmer until most of the liquid is evaporated and lentils are saucy (not brothy), about 2 minutes. Squeeze juice of a lemon half into lentils. Taste and season with more salt if needed. Cover and keep warm.
• Heat 1 Tbsp. oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-low. Add 2 slices of bread and cook until golden and crisp underneath, about 5 minutes. Transfer to plates and turn fried side up. Repeat with 1 Tbsp. oil and remaining bread. Rub fried side of each slice with remaining whole garlic clove; season with salt.
• Generously spoon lentil mixture over toast; drizzle with oil and lightly sprinkle with more paprika. Cut remaining lemon half into wedges and serve alongside for squeezing over.