Southern-Style Collard Greens

There are many delicious ways to cook collard greens, but this is the best-known way to do it in the South: low and slow in a stockpot (or slow cooker) with plenty of bold, smoky ingredients to amp up the flavor of the greens.

These collard greens may take a few hours to simmer, but they only require a few minutes of hands-on cooking time. And they can be made ahead and reheat beautifully. In fact, they taste even better on the second or third day.

Traditionally, Southern collard greens are made with pork. In this recipe, chopped bacon is cooked until almost crisp, and the drippings are used to sauté chopped onions, which form the foundation of the dish with chopped smoked ham and garlic.

Don't forget to add apple cider vinegar to the broth. This might seem like an unusual addition if you're new to making collard greens, but the vinegar adds a welcome tangy note that brightens the dish and balances out the salty, savory flavors. A tablespoon of sugar also helps balance out the greens' potential bitterness. If you like your greens on the spicy side, add a tablespoon of red pepper flakes, or serve the finished dish with hot pepper vinegar or hot sauce on the side.

What Are Collard Greens?

If you've never visited the South or are new around here, you may not be familiar with collard greens, a Southern side-dish staple. The veggie has dark green fan-like leaves, similar to the more commonly consumed kale or spinach. Collard greens are also part of the Brassicaceae family, including cabbage and broccoli.

Ingredients for Collard Greens

This recipe relies on a few heavy hitting ingredients, so it's not an extensive ingredients list. Here's what you'll need:

• Bacon slices: Smoky bacon fat is used to cook and tenderize the onions.
• Onion: This provides a savory flavor for the greens.
• Smoked ham: We prefer the smoked ham flavor over a glazed or sugary ham so that it balances the rest of the dish's flavors.
• Garlic cloves: Deepen the greens' flavor.
• Chicken broth: Helps to tenderize the greens but provides more flavor than water.
• Fresh collard greens: Necessary for collard greens. Keep reading for tips on buying the freshest options.
• Apple cider vinegar: The tanginess cuts through the fat of the bacon and smoked ham.
• Sugar: Sugar blunts any bitterness from the collard greens.
• Salt and pepper: For the final seasoning.
  

How To Choose Your Collard Greens

You can buy collard greens all year, but they are harvested in the winter. The leafy greens are available at the grocery store or your local farmers' market.

Look for dark green leaves with sturdy stems. Avoid wilting or yellowing leaves.

How To Trim and Clean Collard Greens

Some folks like to leave the stalks and stems on collard greens, while others prefer to remove them. Chalk this up to personal preference, though the stems can be tough and fibrous.

Unless you buy pre-bagged and washed collard greens, you must clean them before preparation. Here's our guide:

• Step 1. Cut off any roots with a knife. Fold each leaf in half and run a knife along the stem to remove it. Alternatively, rip leaves from the stem.
• Step 2. Fill a large bowl with water, and dunk collard green leaves. Swish the leaves in the water until clean. Repeat as needed.
• Step 3. Empty the water, and refill with clean water until the leaves are clean and no grit falls from the leaves. Pat leaves dry with a clean cloth or paper towel.

How To Make Collard Greens

While collards must simmer for a while, this recipe doesn't require a lot of hands-on time. Here's a brief outline of the recipe. The entire recipe is further below:

• Step 1. Cook the bacon, and reserve the drippings in the stockpot.
• Step 2. Add the chopped onion to the bacon drippings. Sauté until just tender. Add the garlic and ham.
• Step 3. Stir in the remaining ingredients—broth, collard greens, apple cider vinegar, sugar, salt, and pepper.
• Step 4. Reduce the heat, and simmer on low for about 2 hours, or until the collard greens are as tender as you prefer.
  

What Do Southern-Style Collard Greens Taste Like?

A little bitter, sour, and sometimes even spicy, Southern-style collard greens are beloved for their contrasting flavors. Part of their appeal is nostalgia; collard greens taste like home to many Southerners as the recipe is often served at Thanksgiving or on New Year's Day for good luck. The dish is also especially appealing in contrast to the other rich food served with it, like fried chicken, mac and cheese, or biscuits and gravy.

How To Store Collard Greens

Leftover collard greens are perhaps better than freshly-cooked collards. The leaves have tenderized a bit more, soaking up the liquid and flavorings. Store any collard greens in an airtight container up to 3 days, and warm in the microwave or in a saucepan.

Editorial contributions by Alexandra Emanuelli.