Yankee 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.

KICKIN' COLLARD GREENS

Steps:

• Heat oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. Add bacon, and cook until crisp. Remove bacon from pan, crumble and return to the pan. Add onion, and cook until tender, about 5 minutes. Add garlic, and cook until just fragrant. Add collard greens, and fry until they start to wilt.
• Pour in chicken broth, and season with salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes. Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 45 minutes, or until greens are tender.

SPICY SWEET COLLARDS

Steps:

• Add the oil to a large saute pan over medium-high heat. Add onions, garlic and the red pepper flakes. Cook until slightly caramelized for about 2 to 3 minutes. Stir in the greens and toss well to wilt. Add the sugar and broth and toss together. Turn the heat down and cover. Cook until liquid is evaporated and greens become glazed, tossing occasionally, about 6 to 8 minutes. Season with salt and pepper and transfer to a serving bowl. Serve.

QUICK SOUTHERN COLLARDS

Steps:

• Place the bacon in cold 12-inch skillet. Heat the pan over medium heat and cook until the bacon is crispy and the fat is rendered. Once crispy, set aside on a paper-towel-lined plate. To the leftover bacon fat, add the red pepper and cook until softened, 5 to 7 minutes.
• Stack the leaves of collards and roll tightly into a cigar shape. Then chop away.
• Add the collards to the pan along with the apple cider vinegar, red pepper flakes and some salt and pepper and cook until tender, but still bright green, 4 to 5 minutes. Adjust the seasoning if necessary. Toss with the reserved crispy bacon and serve.

STIR-FRIED COLLARDS

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Have a bowl of ice water ready. Wash and trim the greens, and cut into 2-by-3-inch pieces. Blanch in batches in the boiling water for 1 minute (begin counting after the water returns to a boil), then immediately transfer to the bowl of ice water. Drain well. Lift the greens up by handfuls and squeeze out the excess water, then spread out on a kitchen towel and pat dry.
• Heat a wok over high heat (medium-high if you have a powerful stove), then season with salt and let it brown lightly. Add the oil. When the oil is hot, add the garlic and stir until lightly browned. Add the greens and pepper and stir-fry for about 1 minute. Stir in 2 tablespoons oyster sauce and the sugar, then taste and adjust the seasoning. Serve immediately.

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.

SAUTEED COLLARDS

Steps:

• Rinse collards well and shake off excess water. Cut off bottom two inches of stems. Coarsely chop the rest.
• Heat the oil in a large, heavy skillet, add the garlic and saute until lightly browned. Stir in the collards and cook, stirring until the collards have wilted. Stir in the vinegar and pepper and season to taste with salt. Serve as a side dish.

COLLARDS

Steps:

• Remove the tougher, woody stalks from the collard leaves. Smaller stems are okay. Wash the leaves and cut them into half-inch-wide strips. You can roll them into cigars to speed this up.
• Put the bacon in a stock pot on high head to render its grease, 3 or so minutes. Add the onion and cook until translucent but not brown, about 5 minutes more. Add the collards and cover with cool water. Add the red pepper, salt, and the ham bone. Bring to a boil and cook for at least 2 hours. There are many conflicting opinions on this. To my mind, collards were not made for quick cooking. Undercook collards and you are asking to be strangled; they can't be properly chewed. On the other hand, overcook them and they will eventually turn to mush. Two hours seems about right, although this might give nutritionists pause. Taste for salt.
• Even people who love collards complain about the way they make the house smell while cooking. People have different cures for this: Place four pecans in the pot. Cover the top of the collards with slices of white bread. None of this works.

KIELBASA AND COLLARDS

Steps:

• Cut kielbasa in 2 inch pieces.
• Clean, trim, and chop collards.
• Put half the collards into a large pot. Add half the onions, half the carrots, and half the kielbasa with black pepper to taste. Repeat.
• Pour the chicken stock over the greens. Cover and bring to a simmer over medium to medium-high heat. It will not look like enough chicken stock, but the collards will cook down and the other ingredients will cook in the steam.
• Continue to simmer, stirring several times, about 45 minutes until collards are tender and carrots are cooked through.
• Serve accompanied by potatoes, slabs of crusty rye or sourdough bread, or squares of cornbread (try Recipe #277295).

YANKEE COLLARDS

Steps:

• Heat olive oil gently in a large, heavy skillet (I use the cast iron chicken fryer).
• Saute the collards, onions, and garlic slowly and gently in the olive oil. Give it plenty of time since collards are tough if not slow-cooked -- letting them stew in their own juices until tender.
• Serve with balsamic vinegar and parmesan.
• Tip -- add cooked chicken or cooked pork and serve with Italian bread or cornbread to make a complete meal.