Learn to reduce collard greens plus the place to purchase them and how one can decide, clear, and retailer recent collard greens on this information. Additionally, uncover the numerous causes and methods to eat them.
Collard greens are a staple in soul meals and in southern cooking. This hardy, nutritious inexperienced can take a while to wash and reduce them earlier than cooking. Plus, the best way you narrow you narrow your collards – how thick or skinny – impacts cook dinner time.
The time it takes is value each second. I’m going to stroll you step-by-step via how one can prep and reduce collard greens to make vegan collard greens, these simple honey cider collards, a wholesome weeknight aspect dish or so as to add to soup or stew.
You’ll see precisely how one can clear, reduce, and cook dinner this southern staple vegetable each in photos and a fast video!
Why are collard greens wholesome?
Collard greens are nutritious. They supply calcium, vitamin Okay, fiber, and plenty of polyphenols which will contribute extra well being advantages comparable to defending our physique’s cells from injury.
Collards are additionally versatile within the kitchen. I want them as a aspect dish however have additionally added them to soups and stews. You possibly can blanch the leaves and use as a sandwich wrap or to steam fish inside. Although you should utilize collards for a salad, they’re greatest cooked in my view.
Collard greens are in season throughout the cooler months and style greatest in December and January. So, now could be the right time to seize a bunch of those wholesome winter greens.
The place to purchase collards
Collard greens are plentiful within the winter. I search for small bunches of younger collard greens that are extra tender and take much less time to cook dinner. The large bunches of collards with the extra mature leaves are additionally advantageous. Simply know that you just’ll have to cook dinner them longer and the cleansing and reducing course of could be a bit extra cumbersome.
I like to recommend recent greens for many recipes and keep away from pre-cut bagged ones since these have a tendency be more durable in texture.
Select collard greens which are a darkish inexperienced colour with no limp, cracking, or yellowing leaves. The leaves and stems ought to really feel supple and agency not wilting, splitting or dry.
You may as well purchase frozen collard greens on the grocery store. These are good for tossing into soup, stew, stir-fry, one-pot rice dishes, or smoothies.
Cleansing collard greens
This can take a while. And there are two major strategies. I want the primary methodology however the second would possibly save somewhat water.
Methodology One
– Separate the bunch of collard greens into particular person leaves.
– Rinse every leaf fastidiously underneath cool working water. Take care to rub away any soil or particles that may accumulate on the leaf and particularly across the stem on the entrance and bottom. As soon as clear, put aside to arrange to slice.
Methodology Two
– Swish and soak the greens in a big bowl of cool water (or a sanitized sink). The grime will settle to the underside of the bowl.
– Change the water a number of instances. You’ll know the greens are clear when the water is obvious.
Whether or not you employ cool working water or the soaking methodology, be sure you take a look at every leaf to verify there’s no clinging grime or particles. Due to the best way they develop, collard greens will be troublesome to wash. And imagine me nobody desires gritty greens!
Play some music and take the time to wash your greens. Prep an additional bunch when you’re at it!
Storing recent greens
Prep forward: Clear a few collard bunches at a time. The clear, sliced and dry greens will maintain for every week or longer within the fridge.
In case your greens are moist. Use a salad spinner to take away any clinging moisture earlier than inserting in an hermetic bag or container and into the fridge.
TIP: Prep your New 12 months’s Day collard greens the week earlier than on the identical time you’re cleansing and reducing your Christmas greens.
Greatest strategy to retailer greens
Contemporary, unwashed collard greens will final a couple of week within the fridge. The hot button is ensuring the greens are dry. So wash them proper earlier than you’re able to cook dinner them.
You may as well put together the greens this manner. Wash, reduce, and spin the greens dry. Retailer in a plastic bag with a paper towel to soak up any lingering water.
As soon as the greens are cooked, eat them inside 1-2 days.
Slicing collard greens step-by-step
As soon as your greens are clear, it’s time to chop them. Whereas a paring knife can work for essentially the most expert cooks, I exploit a reducing board and chef’s knife.
Step One: Stack the leaves inserting the most important ones on the underside of the pile. I’ve eliminated the stems however you may maintain the thinner stems in, when you want.
Step 2: Roll the greens into a good roll, being cautious to tuck all leaves inside. The ultimate roll ought to appear like a fats cigar.
Step 3: Maintain the roll firmly towards the reducing board. Use the knife to slice via the collards creating skinny strips.
For uniform cooking, slice your greens into evenly-sized ribbons.
Use your sliced greens in your favourite collard recipes. This dimension slice is ideal for a fast saute. Use thicker slices for longer cooking recipes.
Use your collard greens for a fast aspect dish recipe or conventional braised collard greens and extra!
The right way to Lower Collard Greens
Step-by-step information to choosing, cleansing, reducing and storing collard greens.
Servings: 1 small bunch
Value: $2
Notes
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