Discover ways to minimize collard greens plus the place to purchase them and how you can decide, clear, and retailer contemporary collard greens on this information. Additionally, uncover the various 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 scrub and minimize them earlier than cooking. Plus, the way in which you narrow you narrow your collards – how thick or skinny – impacts prepare dinner time.
The time it takes is value each second. I’m going to stroll you step-by-step by how you can prep and minimize 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 you can clear, minimize, and prepare dinner this southern staple vegetable each in footage and a fast video!
Why are collard greens wholesome?
Collard greens are nutritious. They supply calcium, vitamin Ok, fiber, and plenty of polyphenols which will contribute extra well being advantages similar 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 may blanch the leaves and use as a sandwich wrap or to steam fish inside. Although you should use collards for a salad, they’re greatest cooked in my view.
Collard greens are in season through the cooler months and style greatest in December and January. So, now’s the proper 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 prepare dinner. The massive bunches of collards with the extra mature leaves are additionally advantageous. Simply know that you simply’ll must prepare dinner them longer and the cleansing and reducing course of is usually a bit extra cumbersome.
I like to recommend contemporary greens for many recipes and keep away from pre-cut bagged ones since these have a tendency be harder in texture.
Select collard greens which might be a darkish inexperienced coloration 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 essential strategies. I want the primary methodology however the second would possibly save a little bit water.
Technique 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 which may acquire on the leaf and particularly across the stem on the entrance and bottom. As soon as clear, put aside to organize to slice.
Technique 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 evident.
Whether or not you utilize cool working water or the soaking methodology, make sure you have a look at every leaf to ensure there’s no clinging grime or particles. Due to the way in which they develop, collard greens may be troublesome to scrub. And consider me nobody needs gritty greens!
Play some music and take the time to scrub your greens. Prep an additional bunch when you’re at it!
Storing contemporary greens
Prep forward: Clear a few collard bunches at a time. The clear, sliced and dry greens will hold 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.
Finest solution to retailer greens
Contemporary, unwashed collard greens will final a couple of week within the fridge. The secret is ensuring the greens are dry. So wash them proper earlier than you’re able to prepare dinner them.
You may as well put together the greens this fashion. Wash, minimize, 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.
Reducing 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 take advantage of 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 possibly can hold 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 to be a fats cigar.
Step 3: Maintain the roll firmly towards the reducing board. Use the knife to slice by 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!
Tips on how to Reduce Collard Greens
Step-by-step information to choosing, cleansing, reducing and storing collard greens.
Servings: 1 small bunch
Price: $2
Notes
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