Description
Southern comfort meets hearty “Collard Greens” on a plate where smoky bacon and tender leaves dance together in a rich, slow-simmered broth. Soulful flavors invite you to savor traditional Southern cooking with warmth and depth.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 2 lbs collard greens (chopped, rinsed, and tough stems removed)
- 12 ounces (340 grams) bacon, chopped
- 1 large yellow onion, chopped
Liquid Ingredients:
- 1 cup beer (or substitute with extra chicken stock)
- 1 cup chicken stock
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
Seasoning and Extras:
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons sugar (optional)
- Salt & black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Render bacon in a spacious pot over medium-high temperature until golden and crisp, developing rich flavor and releasing rendered fat.
- Sauté diced onions and minced garlic in bacon drippings, allowing vegetables to become translucent and fragrant.
- Deglaze the pot with beer, chicken stock, vinegar, and sugar, creating a complex braising liquid that will tenderize and season the greens.
- Gradually introduce collard greens into the liquid, gently pressing each batch to ensure complete submersion and wilting.
- Reduce heat to a gentle simmer, cover pot partially to allow some steam escape, and let greens braise slowly.
- Periodically stir the mixture, ensuring even cooking and preventing bottom ingredients from scorching.
- Continue cooking until collard greens reach a tender consistency, approximately 1-1.5 hours, with liquid reducing and flavors concentrating.
- Alternatively, transfer preparation to a slow cooker and cook on low setting for 3-4 hours for a more hands-off approach.
- Season the finished dish with salt and freshly ground black pepper, adjusting to personal taste preferences.
- Serve the braised collard greens warm, allowing diners to appreciate the depth of flavors developed during slow cooking.
Notes
- Bacon Choice: Opt for thick-cut bacon for deeper flavor and more substantial texture in the dish.
- Vegetarian Swap: Replace bacon with smoked paprika or liquid smoke to maintain the rich, smoky undertone without meat.
- Liquid Variation: Experiment with different beer styles like dark ale or amber beer to create unique flavor profiles in the greens.
- Cooking Time Flexibility: Longer simmering develops more tender greens
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: Cook Time:
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: Southern Cuisine
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 250
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 6 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 16 g
- Fiber: 5 g
- Protein: 12 g
- Cholesterol: 30 mg