01 Jul {Recipe} Southern Collard Greens

Sheral turned 60 last week. To honor our Mississippi born and raised friend, we created a Southern foods birthday party -complete with pimento cheese, fried green tomatoes, (she calls them tomatas), deviled eggs, strawberry salad, shrimp and grits, squash casserole, banana pudding, (puddin’) and chocolate creme pie. Oh, and the Bourbon spiked punch.

My charges were the strawberry salad and the greens. The salad was a cinch-I’ve made it at least 2o times before. The greens? Never. Novice. Not once. But I was willing to give it a try. With my recipe inspiration, I concocted my own version of this surprisingly easy and quite healthy dish.

Southern Collard Greens
serves 12

4 slices Applewood smoked, center cut bacon, diced into 1-inch pieces

3 cloves garlic, minced

1 large white or yellow onion, diced

3 bunch collard greens, washed, trimmed and sliced into ribbons (usually 1 1/2 – 2 pounds)

3-4 cups low sodium chicken broth (may need additional)

red pepper flakes, to taste

salt and pepper, to taste

1. In a large stock pot, cook bacon over medium heat until the fat renders out and the bacon is crispy. Remove the bacon with a slotted spoon and allow to drain on paper towels.

2. Turn the heat down to medium low and add the onions and garlic to the bacon fat. Stirring frequently,  saute until the onions are soft, about 10 minutes.

3. Add the greens to the onion/garlic and bacon fat mixture. Using tongs, gently turn them over and over until they begin to wilt.

4. Add the chicken stock to the pot and season with the red pepper flakes, salt and pepper.  Bring to a low simmer and cover. If liquid dissolves before the desired tenderness of the greens are achieved , add additional stock or water to the pot.

5. Once desired tenderness of the greens are achieved, remove pot from heat and add the bacon crumbles. Stir to incorporate. Taste for seasons and adjust as needed.

As to the success of this recipe: the true testament  was when the birthday girl from Mississippi  said they were divine. The highest seal of approval from a Southern girl!