The Soul Food Pod Episode 11: Soul Food Southern Collard Greens Recipe
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“You know, we cover all things collared greens!”
-Shaunda Necole on The Soul Food Pod: Soul Food Southern Collard Greens Recipe
All things collard greens!
On this episode of The Soul Food Pod, host Shaunda Necole delves into the world of Southern collard greens, covering “all things collard greens!” Everything from preparation and flavoring to cultural traditions surrounding the dish.
Shaunda discusses how many Black Americans have specific family members assigned to make this ever-essential dish for gatherings.
She also interviews her friend Teresa, an XTREME Hip Hop fitness trainer, about her favorite way to prepare these beloved greens and the nutritional value of collard greens. Listeners will learn popular dishes to pair with soul food collard greens, and even a recipe for the Southern classic, Hoppin’ John.
The episode ends with a discussion of what is pot liquor (pot likker, potlikker) and its traditional use in Southern cooking.
If you’re a fan of Southern soul food or want to learn more about the culture behind it, this is an episode you won’t want to miss. A must-listen for anyone looking to expand their knowledge of authentic African American soul food recipes!
Apple Podcasts: Soul Food Southern Collard Greens Recipe
Spotify: Soul Food Southern Collard Greens Recipe
What you’ll learn in this episode?
- What are collard greens?
- Traditional Southern dishes and assigned roles
- How to make collard greens
- Tips for cooking collard greens
- How to clean collard greens
- The nutritional value of collard greens
- What can you serve with Southern collard greens?
- The importance of being invited to bring specific African American recipes to family gatherings
- What is pot likker?
- How do you make the best Instant Pot collard greens?
- Soul food Southern collard greens cooking tips
What are collard greens?
Collard greens are a beloved vegetable in the South.
They’re both nutritious and delicious, especially when prepared the Black folks’ way – soul food seasoned to perfection!
Collard greens are edible green vegetables from the cabbage family, such as broccoli, kale, cauliflower, and Brussels sprouts.
The plants reach a height of more than 1 meter and have a vertical or climbing growth pattern.
The leaves have a rough texture and grow in a ruffled shape. Raw collard leaves taste bitter and pungent.
What are 4 types of greens used in soul food dishes?
The most common types of cruciferous greens are collard greens, mustard greens, turnip greens, and cabbage.
Black folks’ soul food collard greens recipe is a mainstay of traditional Southern cooking. Southerners often cook them with various meat additions for that unique soul food flavor.
From fatback to bacon or bacon grease. Smoked ham hock or smoked turkey leg. Then add vinegar, salt, and red pepper flakes. The result is rich green leaves that are so good that, as they say in the South – “Make you wanna slap yo mama!” (But please don’t.)
What is a soul food collard greens recipe?
Black folks’ collard greens are the quintessential dish of any Southern soul food dinner. And with good reason!
Black folks have mastered the way collards soak up sauce and seasonings. Collards are one of those foods you can eat on their own or as a complement to just about anything else on your plate.
Soul food Southern collard greens recipe FAQs
Are soul food collard greens good for you?
“Food for the body is not enough. There must be food for the soul.”
The nutritional benefits of collard greens are that they’re an excellent source of calcium – unbelievably more than cow’s milk per serving!
Why are collard greens popular in the South?
Why do Southerners eat collard greens?
Southern cuisine features soul food collard greens as the main staple ingredient to any proper soul food meal.
But why?
The availability of these leafy greens all year round has also made it an integral part of Southern Black folks’ cuisine.
Collards have a robust flavor that pairs well with many spices – garlic, paprika, mustard seeds, or other spices common for cooking down South. Even including other vegetables like tomatoes, potatoes, and turnip greens.
What is pot likker?
Pot likker (sometimes spelled potlikker or pot liquor) is the liquid broth left over after cooking beans or greens – like Southern collard greens!
Simmering until the meat drippings, onions, and garlic combine to form a rich, delicious, and tender pot likker stew.
A Southern collard greens recipe’s broth is seasoned with onion, a host of Southern soul food seasonings, and apple cider vinegar.
Why do you put vinegar in collard greens?
Vinegar may appear to be an unusual addition to collard greens if you have never prepared them before.
But it lends the dish tangy notes that balance the savory flavors. Adding red pepper flakes and hot sauce will spice up the greens.
Vinegar also helps to tenderize the greens while cooking and cuts the bitter taste.
Southern collards are hearty enough to be a meal by themselves. Yet it’s also light. Spicy but also sweet.
You can easily make a Southern-style collard greens recipe a main meal.
Can you use frozen collard greens?
Even better, if you’re in a pinch, you can use frozen, pre-washed collard greens!
Ensure frozen greens are thawed and drained before using.
How long does it take to cook collard greens?
Seasoned to perfection in their broth (the pot likker stew), you can simmer collards on the stovetop for a few hours. Or pressure cook them in a matter of minutes with an Instant Pot (15 minutes to be exact)!
It’d take about 4 hours on high or 7 hours on low to cook the collard greens in a Crockpot. The same is true for slow cooking in an Instant Pot on the ‘slow cook’ setting.
You’ll need 2-3 hours cooking the traditional way on the stovetop.
How do you make the best Instant Pot collard greens?
Follow the recipe instructions below for flavor, seasonings, and how to cook collard greens in the Instant Pot!
Because it takes only 15 minutes to cook a Southern collard greens recipe in an Instant Pot, followed by a 15-minute pressure release.
This means no more stewing over a hot pot all day at the stove just to enjoy this classic dish!
How many collard greens do you need?
Following this recipe, you’ll need 2 pounds (3 bundles) of collard greens.
How do you clean collard greens?
Greens are surprisingly easy to clean.
Clean them by running each leaf under cold water and discarding any limp leaves.
Do you leave the stems on collard greens?
Before cooking, chop the collards and remove the stems.
What are the best seasonings for collard greens?
The Soul Food Pot’s 5-star collard greens recipe includes apple cider vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, honey, hot sauce, red pepper flakes, salt, garlic, and more!
How do you make Patti LaBelle collard greens?
Ms. Patti uses chicken stock, onions, salt, pepper, seasoning salt, and smoked turkey in her recipe.
What do you serve with Southern collard greens?
So what goes with collard greens for dinner?
Fan favorites to pair with collards include Southern favorites like candied yams, baked macaroni and cheese, cornbread dressing, sweet potato pie, and black-eyed peas.
Links & resources mentioned in the episode:
- Black folks soul food collard greens recipe
- Black folks soul food Hoppin John recipe
- Black folks Southern black-eyed peas recipe
Transcript Ep. 11:
The Soul Food Pod – Episode 11 Transcript
Where to listen to the podcast:
Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts | Amazon Music
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Equipment
- Instant Pot electric pressure cooker
- or a large stockpot with a lid
Ingredients
- 2 pounds collard greens 3 bundles
- 1 turkey leg pre-cooked/smoked (this ingredient is optional)
- 1 cup yellow onion diced
- 2 cups tomatoes diced
- 4 cups chicken stock use vegetable stock to make vegan and vegetarian-friendly
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 3 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 1 tablespoon hot sauce or sriracha sauce
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- ½ teaspoon Old Bay seasoning or Cajun or Creole seasoning
- 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 1 tablespoon salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
Instructions for a Southern collard greens recipe in the Instant Pot
- Clean the collard greens and cut off the stems.
- Then roughly chop the leaves in half through the midline and then into bite-sized pieces.
- Open the Instant Pot lid and add the wet ingredients (chicken stock, vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, honey, and hot sauce to the stainless-steel inner pot.
- Next, add the onion, tomatoes, garlic, Old Bay or Cajun seasoning, red pepper flakes, salt, pepper, and stir to combine the ingredients.
- Finally, add the collard greens, followed by the cooked turkey leg.
- Press down to sink the greens as much as you can into the liquid broth.
- Close the Instant Pot lid (make sure the valve is up – in the position for sealing) and pressure cook on high for 15 minutes.
- When the cooking time is finished, allow a natural pressure release for at least 15 minutes.
- To open the Instant Pot lid, move the valve to ‘venting’ and manually release any remaining pressure, if applicable.
- Serve Black folks’ soul food collard greens right away and enjoy!
Instructions for Southern collard greens on the stovetop
- Add the smoked turkey leg, onion, red pepper flakes, sautéed vegetables, and chicken stock to a large stockpot over medium heat.
- Cover the pot with the lid and simmer for 1 hour.
- Then, add the collard greens, tomatoes, apple cider vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, honey, hot sauce, garlic, Old Bay seasoning, salt, and pepper.
- Stir to combine the ingredients. (The collards will wilt down as they cook.)
- Cover the pot with the lid and simmer for 2 hours.
- Serve this soul food Southern collard greens recipe right away and enjoy!
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