Short Cut Collard Greens Recipes

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.

SOUTHERN COLLARD GREENS RECIPE

Steps:

• Cook bacon in a large stockpot or Dutch oven over medium heat for 10-12 minutes, or until almost crisp. Add onion, and sauté until translucent, about 7-8 minutes.
• Stir in garlic and sauté 1 more minute. Add broth, collard greens, vinegar, sugar, salt, and pepper. Use a wooden spoon to stir, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pot.
• Simmer (uncovered) over low heat for about 1 ½ hours, stirring occasionally (or until collards reach desired level of tenderness).
• Taste and season with additional salt and pepper, if necessary. Garnish with crushed red pepper flakes or hot sauce.

SMOKY COLLARD GREENS

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the onions, paprika, and cayenne and season with salt and pepper, to taste. Cook stirring occasionally, until the onions are softened, about 5 minutes. Add 1/2 cup water to the pot and once the water is simmering, add the greens (you may have to pack them in). Season generously with salt and pepper, cover with a lid and cook for 10 minutes. Remove the lid, toss the greens well with tongs, and continue simmering on low heat, until the greens are completely cooked and nearly all of the liquid has evaporated, about 10 minutes more.
• Taste and adjust seasoning. Transfer to a serving bowl and serve warm.

SHORT-CUT COLLARD GREENS

Steps:

• Remove the stems and center ribs from the collard greens and discard. Cut the leaves into 1/2-inch strips. Place the greens into a large, microwave-safe bowl with the water and cover tightly. Microwave on high for 5 minutes.
• In the meantime, preheat a large skillet and cook the bacon for 2 minutes on each side. Remove the bacon from the pan, chop, and set aside. Add the oil and onion to the pan and cook until onions have softened, about 2 minutes. Add the collard greens and stir in the vinegar, maple syrup, red pepper flakes, and broth. Bring to a simmer and cook, covered, for 30 minutes. Add the chopped bacon to the pan, and season with salt.

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.