Easy Collard Greens Recipe with Ham • Steamy Kitchen Recipes Giveaways (2024)

I don’t know what I like most about this Easy Collard Greens recipe: the collard greens, the rich pot liquor or digging out the bits of smoky meat from the ham hock! Easy to make, delicious and hearty!

Why This Easy Collard Greens Recipe Is So Good

• Simplicity in Preparation: With only 10 minutes of prep needed, this easy recipe is a breeze to put together. It’s perfect for those busy days or when you want a classic southern side dish without spending a lot of time in the kitchen.
• The Smoky Delight of Ham Hock: The smoked ham hock is the star of this dish, infusing the greens with a deliciously deep and smoky flavor. It’s a game-changer that elevates this dish, making it more than just your average collard greens.
• Rich and Flavorful Broth: What sets this recipe apart is the deep and flavorful liquor that the collards simmer in. The combination of ham, onions, garlic, and apple cider vinegar melds beautifully, creating a broth that’s rich in taste and perfect for sopping up with some crusty bread.
• Ideal for Gatherings: Whether it’s for those cozy Sunday dinners or feeding a lot of people at a family gathering, these soul food collard greens are always a hit. They pair wonderfully with many a main course and are a staple at the dinner table.
• Accessible Ingredients: Everything you need for this recipe can be found at your local grocery store, especially in the produce section. It’s a convenient and easy way to bring a bit of Southern charm to your meals.
• Cook Time that Pays Off: While the cook time is a bit longer, it’s mostly hands-off, allowing you to focus on other parts of your meal or to simply relax. The cooking time is key to developing those tender leafy green vegetables.
• A Southern Classic: This dish is a quintessential example of a classic Southern side dish. It’s a comforting, hearty addition to any meal and is sure to be your next favorite thing!

Ingredients

How To Make This Easy Collard Greens Recipe – Step By Step

1. Thoroughly clean each collard leaf, removing the thick stems and rib. Tear each leaf in half.
2. In a large pot, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the onion and saute for 5 minutes. Add in the garlic and saute for another minute until fragrant.
3. Add in the tomatoes, ham hocks and ham. Pour in the water and apple cider vinegar and bring to a simmer. Add in the collards, tamping down with a wooden spoon to get all of the greens in the pot. Cover and simmer for 1 1/2 hours.
4. Season with 2 teaspoons of kosher or sea salt (use 1 teaspoons table salt) and black pepper. Taste and add additional salt and pepper if needed. I used about 3 teaspoons of kosher salt. Don’t be shy with the salt – remember, this recipe serves 8!

What Are Collard Greens?

Collards are members of the cabbage family (Brassica oleracea), and a staple side dish in Southern cooking. They are a cruciferous vegetable and feature dark green leaves and tough stems that need to be removed before eating. The flavor of collards is a cross between cabbage and hearty kale, similar to Swiss chard.

An Easy Collard Greens Recipe

Throw in a couple handfuls of hearty smoked meats, add the collard greens, pour in water and apple cider vinegar and let it simmer for an hour and half or until the greens are as soft as you like them. Collard Greens are just as much about the simmering sauce as they are about the hearty greens.

The Most Delicious Comfort Food!

The savory, smoky, vitamin-rich pot liquor (or “pot likker”, as some people call it) is so full of rich flavor that you’ll savor every last drop. In fact, spoon your collard greens onto your plate, right next to theroasted garlic mashed potatoes. Forget the gravy – the pot liquor will find its way over and bleed into the soft mashed potatoes. I guarantee my kids will be forming a mashed potato moat, just so the pot liquor doesn’t escape.

Top Tips For This Easy Collard Greens Recipe

• Most likely, you’ll have to tamp down the greens with a wooden spoon, unless you have giantungus pot. Don’t worry, all the greens will eventually fit in. Cram ’em in! They don’t mind. Simmer for an hour and half, longer if you wish.
• Vegetarian version of Collard Greens? You bet. My good friend Lisa of Homesick Texan has a secret ingredient, one that actually made me say out loud, “No. Way. Really????”
• Serve with a side of mashed potatoes – you can’t go wrong!

FAQ: Easy Collard Greens with Ham Hock Recipe

Q: How should I store leftover collard greens?
A: Leftover collard greens can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator. They typically keep well for up to 3-4 days.

Q: Can I add hot sauce to this recipe?
A: Absolutely! Adding hot sauce is a popular way to enjoy traditional Southern collard greens. You can add it while cooking or drizzle it on top when serving.

Q: Is it better to use fresh greens or pre-packaged greens?
A: While pre-packaged greens are convenient, using fresh greens can enhance the flavor and texture. Fresh leafy greens, especially in peak season, often provide the best taste and nutritional value.

Q: Where can I find a smoked ham hock for this recipe?
A: Smoked ham hocks are usually available at your local butcher or in the meat section of many grocery stores. You can ask your butcher for the best options available.

Q: What is the best way to cut the collard greens?
A: The best way to prepare collard greens is to remove the tough stem and rib, then tear the leaves in half or cut into small pieces. This helps them cook evenly and makes them easier to eat.

Q: What makes this a traditional Southern collard greens recipe?
A: The use of smoked ham hock, slow cooking method, and the rich flavor profile are all hallmarks of traditional Southern collard greens. This recipe stays true to those roots while being easy to prepare.

Check Out These Delicious Sides

• Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Cranberry Pistachio Pesto
• Roasted Tofu and Vegetables
• Warm Bacon Potato Salad
• Chinese Long Beans

Have you tried this Easy Collard Greens Recipe? Feel free to leave a star rating and I’d love to hear from you in the comments below!

The Collard Greens recipe is from my good friend and fellow food blogger, Lisa Fain, who writes the blog, Homesick Texan. She’s a 7th generation Texan who moved to New York City for a job and one day found herself scouring the city in search of Ro-Tel tomatoes, the only brand of tomatoes fit for true Tex-Mex Chile Con Queso.

Of course, she couldn’t find any, and thus the Homesick Texan blog was born. Lisa has just come out with her very first cookbook, The Homesick Texan Cookbook.

It’s one of my favorite cookbooks this year – after no less than 4 trips to the Lone Star state this year alone – I’ve been craving Tex-Mex foods like crazy.

Even though Lisa lives 1,200 miles from me, I see her more often than friends down the street. Every trip to NYC is incomplete without sharing a meal with Lisa – we’ve done sushi, Jamaican, sushi and more sushi.

And those red cowboy boots she’s wearing? Only Lisa could be responsible for this.

Did you try this recipe? Please leave a star rating in the recipe card below and leave a review in the comment section! I always appreciate your feedback and I know other readers do, too!

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