Southern Greens

My mama is from Hazard, KY and grew up in Harlan, KY. Yep, Harlan from the show Justified. It gets kindof a bad rep on there though. So we're all about good ole southern food. You know, things like cornbread, chitlins - don't judge us!, and collard greens. I grew up loving my mama's greens.

So when it came time to pick a recipe that started with G or H for the Eating the Alphabet Challenge, I knew I'd go with greens. As in collard, kale, mustard, or even Swiss chard. I found a recipe online that used all of them so I was drawn to it. Plus the reviews were pretty good. 

Don't let the amount of greens fool you. They shrink down when cooked.

Southern Greens
adapted from Michael Symon

• 1 lb bacon, diced
• 2 yellow onions, sliced
• 4 garlic cloves, minced
• 2 lbs collard greens
• 1 lb kale
• 1 lb mustard greens
• 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
• 1 large pinch of salt
• 1/8 cup red wine vinegar
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• sriracha hot sauce, optional 

In a large pot, add bacon and cook over medium heat until fat begins to render. When the bacon is almost crisp, add sliced onions and cook for 3-5 minutes. Add the minced garlic and cook for an additional minute.

Remove the tough stems of the greens and discard. Rinse greens. Roughly chop the greens and add them to the pot with the red pepper flakes and a large pinch of salt. Cover and cook for 10 minutes over low heat.

Remove the lid and add the vinegar and sugar. Put the lid back on and cook for an additional 30 minutes.

Remove from the heat and add sriracha hot sauce if desired.

Printable Recipe

I sprinkled a little parmesan cheese on top. Just cuz.

Most recipes I've known for making greens involve a hamhock, but this one didn't so I was intrigued to see if it would have the same flavor.

And it did! PJ really liked them too. I think he said these were the best he's had. I dunno if that's an insult to my mama or a compliment to me (and Michael Symon). I'll pretend I didn't hear that.

Love me some greens. It's a southern thang.

P.S. It's so hard to make greens look good. But the taste.... the taste....  just make them and see for yourself.

Oh, and there's bacon :)

Check out my past Eating the Alphabet posts!

And check out the other posts in the blog hop below: 


Peace, and bacon grease!