Winter Greens And Bacon Recipes

WINTER GREENS WITH BACON BUTTER

Steps:

• Heat grill to a medium-high setting. Cook the bacon under the grill until really crisp, turning halfway through cooking. Remove, drain on kitchen paper and leave to cool.
• Put the bacon in a food processor and whizz until finely chopped. Add the butter and some black pepper, and blend again until combined. Transfer to a dish, or roll in cling film and chill for up to 3 days, or freeze for 2 months.
• Bring a large pan of salted water to the boil. Add the kale and cook for 3-4 mins until tender. Drain well, then top with half the butter (see tip, below), and toss to help it melt and coat the kale.

WILTED GREENS WITH BACON

Steps:

• Trim and chop 2 bunches dandelion greens, watercress or baby kale. Cook 3 slices chopped bacon until crisp; transfer to paper towels using a slotted spoon. Add 1 each sliced garlic clove and shallot to the drippings; cook, stirring, 1 minute. Add 3 tablespoons cider vinegar and 1 tablespoon sugar; stir until dissolved. Add the greens in batches, tossing to wilt. Season with salt and pepper; top with the bacon.

WILTED GREENS WITH BACON VINAIGRETTE

Steps:

• Place romaine in a serving bowl. In a skillet over medium heat, cook bacon until crispy. Remove bacon and crumble over greens. To the pan, add sugar and vinegar, and simmer until sugar is dissolved, scraping up bacon bits that cling to the bottom of the pan. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Pour hot dressing over greens and toss. Serve immediately.

COLLARD GREENS WITH BACON

Steps:

• Place bacon in a heavy pot and cook over medium-high heat, turning occasionally, until fat begins to render, about 5 minutes. Drain off 1/2 of the bacon grease.
• Reduce heat to medium and add onion. Cook, stirring often, for about 5 minutes. Add garlic, red pepper flakes, salt, and pepper; cook and stir for 2 minutes.
• Increase heat to high and immediately pour in 3 cups water. Bring to a boil, stirring to scrape up browned bits from the bottom of the pot. Add chopped collard greens and 1 more cup of water. Bring back to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer until greens are tender, about 1 hour.

BROWN-BUTTER CREAMED WINTER GREENS

Steps:

• Melt 2 tablespoons butter in a heavy medium saucepan over medium heat, then add flour and cook, stirring, 1 minute.
• Add milk in a stream, whisking, then add shallot, bay leaf, and peppercorns and bring to a boil, whisking. Simmer, whisking occasionally, 5 minutes. Strain béchamel sauce through a fine-mesh sieve into a bowl, discarding solids, and cover surface with parchment paper.
• Discard stems and center ribs from greens, then coarsely chop leaves.
• Cook lardons in a wide 6- to 8-quart heavy pot over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until golden-brown but not crisp, about 8 minutes. Transfer to paper towels to drain, then pour off fat from pot and wipe clean.
• Heat remaining 1/2 stick butter in pot over medium-low heat until browned and fragrant, about 2 minutes, then cook onion, stirring, until softened, about 3 minutes.
• Increase heat to medium-high, then stir in greens, 1 handful at a time, letting each handful wilt before adding next. Add béchamel, cream, garlic, red-pepper flakes, 3/4 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper and boil, uncovered, stirring, until sauce coats greens and greens are tender, about 10 minutes.
• Stir in lardons, vinegar, and salt and pepper to taste.

QUICK-BRAISED GREENS AND BEANS WITH BACON

Steps:

• Prepare the greens: Cut the tough stems out of the greens and discard. Stack the leaves, roll tightly crosswise and slice into 3/4-inch-wide ribbons. Transfer to a large bowl, cover with cold water and swish to remove grit. Transfer greens to a colander, cleaning them a second time if the water remaining in the bowl is visibly dirty.
• Cook 2 bacon slices in a large Dutch oven or other heavy pot over medium heat, turning occasionally, until browned and crisp, about 6 minutes. Transfer the cooked bacon to a paper towel-lined plate. Meanwhile, cut the remaining 2 bacon slices crosswise into 1/4-inch-wide strips.
• Add the 1/4-inch bacon strips to the hot bacon fat and cook, stirring, until the fat in the bacon strips starts to render, about 1 minute. Add the onion and a pinch each of salt and pepper and cook, stirring often, until golden brown around the edges, about 3 minutes. Add the garlic and sage and cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 1 minute.
• Stir in the stock, scraping up any browned bits on the bottom of the pot. Cover, reduce the heat to low and simmer, 5 minutes.
• Increase the heat to medium, add the greens, season with salt and pepper and stir until just wilted, about 2 minutes. Cover and cook until tender with a little bite, about 3 minutes.
• Uncover and add the beans and hot sauce. Stir until the beans are heated through, 2 to 3 minutes. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Divide among serving dishes and crumble the cooked bacon slices on top. Serve with more hot sauce.

GREENS WITH HOT BACON DRESSING

Steps:

• In a salad bowl, toss spinach, lettuce, celery and onion; set aside. In a large skillet, cook bacon until crisp; remove with a slotted spoon to paper towels to drain. Discard all but 2 tablespoons drippings. In a small bowl, beat egg; add water and mix well. Add to the drippings. Combine vinegar, sugar, cornstarch, salt and pepper; add to skillet. Bring to a boil; stirring constantly. Remove from the heat; pour over salad. Add bacon. Toss and serve immediately.

TURNIP GREENS WITH BACON

Steps:

• Place bacon and onion in a large skillet and cook over medium heat, covered, turning occasionally, until evenly browned and onions are translucent, 8 to 10 minutes.
• Place turnip greens into the skillet, a handful at a time if necessary, until wilted down, 5 to 7 minutes. Add coffee, vinegar, garlic powder, salt, and pepper.
• Taste the liquid and adjust seasonings if necessary. Reduce heat to low or medium-low, cover, and simmer for 20 to 25 minutes more.
• Uncover and cook until liquid has reduced and greens are tender, about 10 minutes more.

SPRING GREENS WITH BACON

Steps:

• Bring a large pan of water to the boil, add spring greens and cook for about 5 mins until tender, then drain well.
• Meanwhile, heat a non-stick frying pan, add bacon and cook until crisp. Tip in the greens, toss and warm through. Grate over nutmeg, season, and serve.

MIXED GREENS WITH BACON AND HERBS

Steps:

• Cook bacon in heavy large skillet until crisp. Transfer to paper towels to drain.
• Toss escarole, mixed greens, onions, basil, cilantro, and tarragon in large bowl. Add oil; toss. Add vinegar; toss. Season salad with salt and pepper. Divide among 6 plates. Sprinkle with bacon and serve.

WILTED GREENS WITH BACON VINAIGRETTE

Steps:

• Place romaine in a serving bowl.
• In a skillet over medium heat, cook bacon until crispy.
• Remove bacon and crumble over greens.
• To the pan, add sugar and vinegar, and simmer until sugar is dissolved, scraping up bacon bits that cling to the bottom of the pan.
• Season with salt and pepper, to taste.
• Pour hot dressing over greens and toss.
• Serve immediately.