Country-Style Greens

These tasty boiled greens with bacon can be used as a side dish or as a light lunch when on the go.

45 minutes Prep: 15 minutes Cook: 30 minutes

127 calories per serving view nutrition facts

6 servings suggest servings

Be the first to add a photo of this recipe!

Ingredients

2	bn	collard greens	turnip, or, fresh mustard greens
1	tablespoon	lard	or rendered bacon fat
1	medium	onion	minced
1/4	pound	bacon	smoked slab, or ham, cut in 1/2-inch dices or 1/2 pound ordinary sliced bacon
2	cups	water
1	x	salt and black pepper	salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
1	x	red hot pepper sauce (eg. Tabasco)

Directions

Trim away and discard the tough stems of greens. To loosen grit, place the leaves and the remaining tender stems (you should have about 2 quarts) in a large bowl, cover with lukewarm water, and soak for 5 minutes. Rinse several times in lukewarm water to wash away any remaining sand.

Melt lard in a large, heavy, nonreactive pot with a lid. (Do not use an aluminum pot; if possible, use one with an enamel coating.) Add onions and bacon. Fry together over medium-high heat, stirring often, until onions wilt and bacon starts to brown (about 5 minutes).

Add greens and the water and bring to a boil over high heat. Cover, lower heat to medium, and cook until greens are tender, with just a little crunch (about 20 minutes).

Uncover, raise heat to high, and boil off some of the excess water (about 5 minutes). Add salt, pepper, and hot sauce to taste, and serve hot (dish should be slightly soupy).

Serves 6.

Notes: Contrary to rumor, greens do not need hours of boiling in a sea of liquid, as this Mississippi recipe proves. What they do need, however, is the flavor of smoked slab bacon or ham; if you must substitute ordinary bacon or ham, you'll need twice as much. Greens are the traditional accompaniment to pork or ham; they also pair up well with corn bread or candied yams.

Add your comment

Categories this recipe belongs to

Nutrition Facts

Serving Size 118g

Amount per Serving

Calories 127 70% of calories from fat

	% Daily Value*
Total Fat 10.0g	15%
Saturated Fat 3.0g	17%
Trans Fat 0.0g
Cholesterol 23mg	8%
Sodium 441mg	18%
Total Carbohydrate 2.0g	1%
Dietary Fiber 0.0g	1%
Sugars 1.0g
Protein 7.0g	14%