Description
Tender, smoky Southern Collard Greens slow-simmered with smoked turkey, onion, and garlic, then finished with apple cider vinegar. A one-pot soul food side for holidays and Sunday dinner.
Ingredients
2 lb fresh collard greens (about 2 large bunches), stemmed and chopped
1½–2 lb smoked turkey wings
1 large yellow onion, diced
4 garlic cloves, minced
6 cups low-sodium chicken broth
2 cups water
½ tsp red pepper flakes
1 tsp ground black pepper
1 tbsp brown sugar (optional)
2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
Kosher salt, to taste
Instructions
1. Fold each collard leaf along the stem and cut the thick rib away. Stack, roll, and slice into 1-inch ribbons. Wash in cold water, lifting the leaves out and repeating 2–3 times until the water runs clear.
2. Combine turkey wings, onion, garlic, red pepper flakes, black pepper, broth, and water in a 6- to 8-quart Dutch oven. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a low simmer.
3. Cover and simmer 45–50 minutes, until the meat pulls easily from the bone.
4. Remove the wings, shred the meat, discard bones and skin, and return the meat to the pot.
5. Add greens in batches, pressing them under the liquid as they wilt.
6. Cover and simmer 50–60 minutes on low, until a leaf mashes easily against the pot and the color has deepened to olive green.
7. Stir in vinegar and brown sugar. Season with salt to taste and serve with pot likker.
Notes
Salt only at the end — smoked turkey varies widely in saltiness.
Frozen collards can go in unthawed; reduce their simmer to 30–40 minutes.
Store with the pot likker for 4–5 days refrigerated, or freeze up to 3 months.
Substitute 2 smoked ham hocks or a leftover ham bone for the turkey.
Use a heavy 6- to 8-quart pot to prevent scorching over the long simmer.
Keep the pot at a bare simmer — a rolling boil breaks the leaves apart instead of tenderizing them.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 210 kcal
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 520mg
- Fat: 10g
- Saturated Fat: 3g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 12g
- Fiber: 5g
- Protein: 18g
- Cholesterol: 45mg