Description
Southern comfort shines in Paula Deen’s collard greens, a hearty recipe steeped in traditional flavors. Smoky bacon, tender greens, and rich broth create a soul-warming side dish that connects you to classic Southern cooking.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1 large bunch collard greens
- ½ lb (226 grams) smoked meat (ham hocks, smoked turkey wings, or smoked neck bones)
Seasonings and Flavorings:
- 1 tablespoon Paula Deen’s Seasoned Salt
- 1 tablespoon wet chicken base
- 1 tablespoon Paula Deen’s Hot Sauce
Cooking Fat:
- 8 tablespoons (1 stick) (113 grams) butter
Instructions
- In a generously sized stockpot, combine 3 quarts (2.8 liters) of water with smoked meat, infusing liquid with seasoned salt, chicken base, and hot sauce to create a robust flavor foundation.
- Carefully cleanse collard greens under cool running water, meticulously removing tough stems by gently stripping leaves from their central ribs, preserving more delicate, younger sections.
- Gather stripped leaves into compact stacks, then roll tightly and slice into graceful 1/2 to 1-inch (1-2.5 cm) ribbons, ensuring uniform cutting for consistent cooking.
- After meat has simmered for 60 minutes, gently introduce sliced collard greens into the fragrant liquid, allowing them to nestle and integrate with the seasoned broth.
- Reduce heat to medium-low, allowing greens to simmer and tenderize for 45 to 60 minutes, periodically stirring to prevent sticking and promote even cooking.
- Evaluate the flavor profile, adjusting seasonings with additional salt, pepper, or hot sauce to enhance the dish’s depth and complexity.
- During final moments of cooking, incorporate cold butter, stirring until completely melted and seamlessly blended, creating a luxurious, glossy finish to the collard greens.
- Transfer the richly flavored greens to a serving dish, ensuring each portion captures the succulent meat and vibrant vegetable essence.
Notes
- Dive deep into cleaning methods to remove all dirt and sand from tough collard leaves.
- Select robust, smoky meats like ham hocks or turkey wings to infuse rich flavor throughout the greens.
- Simmer greens slowly for nearly an hour to break down tough fibers and create melt-in-your-mouth tenderness.
- Finish with a pat of butter to elevate the overall richness and depth of the Southern-style side dish.
- Sample and tweak seasonings at the end, ensuring a perfectly balanced and mouthwatering result.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour
- Category: Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Boiling
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 63
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 22 mg
- Fat: 1 g
- Saturated Fat: 0.2 g
- Carbohydrates: 11 g
- Fiber: 8 g
- Protein: 5 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg