Collard Greens Recipe (2024)

Southern Style Collard Greens are one of those recipes that are fairly easy to learn how to cook and super delicious!

I find precooking the ham hock in broth and seasonings provides the maximum amount of flavor with out sacrificing excessive cooking time for the greens.

The tougher larger old Collard Greens usually found at the store will hold up better to a longer simmer in the ham hock broth. The older large leaves have a tendency to be waxy and take longer to cook. If you happen to have young tender greens the cook time will need to be reduced, until just tender.

If your hesitant to try Collard Greens thinking they will be slimy and gross like over cooked spinach rest assured they are delicious. The smokey ham hock and chili flakes impart an amazing flavor that shouldn't be missed!

Here's how I make my Collard Greens:

In a large pot add 2 tablespoons Butter and melt over medium-high heat.

Stir in 1 whole medium Onion sliced into four and sliced. Cook until onion starts to caramelize.

Add 4-5 cloves Minced Garlic and 1/4 teaspoon Crushed Red Pepper Flakes. Stir until garlic starts to soften and become fragrant.

Brown 1 1/2 pounds Ham Hock on both sides to start releasing flavor.

Try to find a meaty ham hock if possible. These were full of flavor but definitely lacking in the meat department. We have a local butcher that smokes all their own meat and usually have some pretty amazing ham hocks, but I had to have Lorna grab these at the store, and could definitely tell the difference.

Stir in 2 cups Chicken Broth and 3 cups Water. Cover pot and reduce heat too low. Simmer for 1 1/2 hours.

Meanwhile prepare 3 large bunches Collard Greens.

It's really important to wash the greens well. Even if they look clean it's amazing how much grit will come off of them.

The first time I place them in a clean sink filled with cold water, and swish them around really good. Then I remove them, and spray the sink down. I then add 1 tablespoon Baking Soda, and add enough warm water to dissolve it. I then finish filling the sink with cold water and add the Collard Green. Swish the greens around in the water really good and allow to sit for 5-10 minutes. I then rinse them off, and remove again from the sink. Then clean the sink out again and rinse one last time in cold water. The water should be clear at this point. If not repeat.

Cut or rip out the tough rib out of the center. I usually remove it until it's about the size of the other veins.

Make a stack of about 4-5 collard leaves and roll into a tube.

Slice into ribbons that are about 1/2" thick.

Fill the pot working in batches, and stirring greens to help them shrink.

Add a little additional water or broth if needed to just barely cover collard greens.

Once all greens are in the pot cover and simmer 25- 40 minutes, until tender. Mine were tougher and done around the 35 minute mark.

Remove from heat and remove ham hock from pot.

Remove the meat off the ham hock bone and dice.

Stir the ham hock meat back into the collard greens.

Taste Collard Greens and add salt if needed. This usually depends on my ham hocks and chicken broth if I will need it.

You can also stir in 1 tablespoon Apple Cider Vinegar or Red Wine Vinegar if you like, or a little hot sauce for a little more kick.

What starts out as a huge amount of greens cooks down to just enough to feed 6-7 generous portions.

If you haven't had Collard Greens before you'll be surprised how quickly these will get devoured. So delicious!

A few other favorite Southern recipes we love with Collard Greens in no particular order are:

Shrimp and Sausage Gumbo
Chicken and Sausage Gumbo
Red Beans and Rice
Shrimp and Sausage Jambalaya
Cajun Shrimp Sausage Pasta

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Collard Greens, Southern Collard Greens, Recipe, Ham Hock, Side Dish, Christmas, Thanksgiving

Southern

Yield: 6

Author: Serena Bakes Simply From Scratch

Collard Greens Recipe

Collard Greens simmered Southern-style with ham hock, red pepper flakes, and chicken broth from Serena Bakes Simply From Scratch.

Ingredients

2 tablespoons Butter
1 whole Medium Sized Onion, Cut into fourths and sliced
4-5 cloves Garlic, Minced
1/4 teaspoon Crushed Red Pepper Flakes
1 1/2 pounds Ham Hock
2 cups Chicken Broth
3 cups Water
3 large bunches Collard Greens
Salt If Needed
1 tablespoon Apple Cider Vinegar or Red Wine Vinegar (optional)

Instructions

In a large pot over medium-high heat melt butter. Stir in onion, and cook until caramelized.
Add garlic and red pepper flakes. Stir until garlic starts to soften and becomes tender.
Add ham hock and brown on both sides. Stir in chicken broth and water.
Bring to a simmer, cover, and reduce heat to low. Simmer for 1 1/2 hours.
Meanwhile prepare collard greens. In a clean sink fill with cold water. Add greens and swish them around really good. Drain sink, remove greens, and clean sink.
Add 1 tablespoon Baking to sink with enough warm water to dissolve. Finish filling sink with cold water. Add collard greens swish around and allow to soak for 5-10 minutes. Rinse greens off and remove. Clean sink again and fill the sink 1 final time with cold water. Swish greens around and rinse well. If water is still dirty continue washing until water is clear.
Cut the tough rib out of the center of each collard green leaf.
Stack 4-5 leaves at a time and roll into a tube. Slice into 1/2" ribbons.
Once ham hock is done stir in collard greens in batches until they shrink down.
If needed add just enough additional water or broth to barely cover collard greens.
Cover pot and return to a simmer for 25-40 minutes until greens are tender.
Remove from heat. Remove ham hock and dice ham from ham hock. Stir back into pot.
Taste collard greens and add additional salt if needed.
Stir in vinegar if desired and serve.

Nutrition Facts

Calories

344.34

Fat (grams)

19.97

Sat. Fat (grams)

7.72

Carbs (grams)

8.13

Fiber (grams)

4.09

Net carbs

4.05

Sugar (grams)

1.52

Protein (grams)

32.95

Sodium (milligrams)

547.08

Cholesterol (grams)

115.02

The nutritional information and metric conversions are calculated automatically. I cannot guarantee the accuracy of this data. If this important to you, please verify with your favourite nutrition calculator and/or metric conversion tool.

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FAQs

How to make collard greens very tender? ›

Season with salt and serve straight from the skillet. If you prefer extra-tender greens, add 3 cups water to greens in the skillet; season with salt. Bring to a boil and cook for 1 hour, adding more water as needed.

What does adding vinegar to collard greens do? ›

When vinegar is added to collard greens, it helps to break down some of the tough fibers in the greens and tenderize them. Additionally, the acidity in the vinegar can help to enhance the flavors of other ingredients in the dish, such as onions, garlic, and smoked meats.

Show Me More ›

What takes the bitterness out of collards? ›

The foods that help reduce bitterness are: Salt while cooking and/or while eating (like on bitter salad greens) Sweet or Spicy. Sour or Acids like lemon or vinegar.

What do you soak collard greens in before cooking? ›

Prepare the collard greens bath by filling your kitchen sink with cool water and adding vinegar and salt. Place the collard greens into the prepared water bath and swish them around several times, scrubbing them to help loosen up any dirt. Let the collard greens soak for 15-20 minutes, giving them a scrub midway.

Learn More Now ›

How long should green be cooked? ›

Boiling: For most greens, such as collard, turnip or mustard greens, it takes about 6-10 minutes to boil them. Steaming: For greens such as kale, spinach, or chard, it takes about 3-5 minutes to steam them. Sautéing: For greens such as kale, spinach, or chard, it takes about 2-3 minutes to sauté them.

Can you overcook collard greens? ›

It is important to not overcook collard greens or kale, as they tend to give off a sulfur smell and taste bitter. Cut the leaves into one-half inch strips and steam for 5 minutes on the stove. Collard greens make a great addition to eggs and bean soup or can be served alone as a steamed vegetable with a dressing.

Why are my collard greens mushy? ›

Yes you can overcook collard greens. If cooked too long, they turn mushy, not so much the stalks, but the thinner leaves.

Keep Reading ›

What is the best meat for collard greens? ›

The most authentic collard greens, in my opinion, are made with smoked ham hocks or bacon. But, as time has passed, society has gotten more health conscious. So, many families began using alternatives such as smoked turkey necks, wings, and tails.

Read On ›

Can you put too much water in collard greens? ›

Make sure you let the water drain out of you collard greens as much as possible. Too much water in your pot will ruin your greens.

Read The Full Story ›

Why does collard greens take so long to cook? ›

Long cooking time.

Slowly cooking collard greens not only softens the tough leaves, it also tames the leaves' bitter flavor.

Discover More ›

Does baking powder make greens tender? ›

Should collards be soaked before cooking? ›

Soaking collard greens for about 30 minutes to an hour is common. This helps to loosen any dirt or debris and can make them easier to clean. After soaking, be sure to wash the leaves thoroughly under running water.