Bacon Cheese Grits With Collard Greens Recipes

SOUTHERN GRITS AND GREENS CASSEROLE

Steps:

• In a medium-size pot, cook collard greens in water (amount called for on package) and 1 tsp salt. Cook for 15 minutes, then drain and squeeze out excess moisture.
• Meanwhile, in a large heavy bottomed pot bring chicken broth, half and half and garlic salt to a boil. Whisking constantly add grits in a single stream. Lower heat to medium-low and cover. Cook, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking, for 20-25 minutes or until creamy. May add more broth or half and half to thin, if needed.
• After frying bacon, remove to paper towels and crumble. Cook onion in 1 Tbsp drippings until softened, about 2 minutes.
• Remove grits from heat, add cream cheese and 2 Tbsp butter. Stir until fully melted. To the grits add greens, 1 cup shredded cheese, 1/2 Parmesan cheese, 1/2 cooked bacon, hot sauce and black pepper. Mix until fully combined.
• To bake: Preheat oven to 350°F. Butter a 13 x 9 inch baking dish using 1 Tbsp butter or spray with cooking spray. Pour grits and greens into the dish. Top with remaining shredded cheese, Parmesan cheese and bacon. Bake for 20 minutes or until bubbly and cheese is lightly golden. May broil to brown further, if desired.
• Let stand 5 minutes, garnish with green onion and serve with additional hot sauce on the side, if desired.

GRITS AND GREENS CASSEROLE

Steps:

• 1. Preheat the oven to 350.
• 2. Dice bacon and cook in a medium skillet until it is nice and crisp. Drain bacon on a paper towel and set it aside.
• 3. In the same skillet as the bacon was cooked, pour most of the bacon grease out leaving about a Tablespoon. Dice the onion and cook it in the reserved bacon grease until the onion is translucent and set aside.
• 4. In a large pot combine 1/2 and 1/2 and 6 cups of chicken broth. Bring to a boil, stir in grits, bring back to a boil, cover, and reduce heat to simmer. Stir often to keep from burning. Cook for about 10-15 minutes. You want normal grits consistency. I use a whisk to get the lumps out.
• 5. While grits are cooking, cook greens. Cook approx 10 min or until tender. If I use spinach, I cook them in the microwave in the steamer bag. Drain and squeeze out all the liquid.
• 6. Add butter, both kinds of cheese, onion, and salt and pepper to the grits. When butter is melted, stir in the greens.
• 7. Pour mixture in a greased 13x9 dish. Top with crumbled bacon and a little reserved cheese.
• 8. Bake in a preheated oven for 30 minutes.

GRITS AND GREENS CASSEROLE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Spray a 9-by-13-inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray and set aside.
• In a large pot or Dutch oven, combine the half-and-half and 6 cups of the chicken stock and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Once up to a boil, stir in the grits. Bring it back up to a boil, and then reduce the heat to low and cover. Simmer, stirring frequently, until the mixture has slightly thickened (it should resemble cooked oatmeal in thickness), 10 to 15 minutes. Use a whisk to break up any lumps that have formed.
• Meanwhile, in a large saucepan, cook the bacon over medium-high heat until just turning crispy, about 7 minutes. With a slotted spoon, remove the bacon and place it on a paper towel, patting it to remove any excess fat. Using the same saucepan, add the onions to the leftover bacon drippings and saute until translucent, 5 to 7 minutes. Then add the collard greens and the remaining 2 cups chicken stock and cook until tender, another 10 minutes. Drain the collards and onions in a colander.
• Once the grits are done, add the Parmesan, butter, salt, pepper and 1/2 cup of the Monterey jack. Stir until the butter has melted and all the ingredients are well combined. Then add the drained collards mixture and stir.
• Transfer the grits mixture to the prepared baking dish and top with the crumbled bacon and the remaining 1/2 cup Monterey jack. Bake until the cheese is melted and bubbly, about 15 minutes.

GRITS AND GREENS

Steps:

• Make the grits: In a medium saucepan, heat the vegetable stock and 2 cups water over medium-high until boiling. Once boiling, slowly pour in the grits while whisking to reduce lumps. Once the grits come to a boil, reduce the heat to maintain a simmer and cook, whisking frequently, until thickened, 5 to 8 minutes.
• Remove the pan from the stove. Season the grits with the pepper, then stir in the milk and cheese until the cheese melts. Season to taste with salt. Set aside and cover to keep warm.
• Meanwhile, make the greens: Heat the oil in a large Dutch oven or heavy-bottomed pot over medium-high. Add the shallot and garlic, and cook, stirring often, until softened, 2 to 3 minutes. Add the red-pepper flakes, collards and chard. Toss to combine until wilted, 3 to 5 minutes. Season with salt, add the vegetable stock and bring to a simmer.
• Reduce the heat to maintain a simmer, and cook, stirring occasionally, until the greens are very tender, 10 to 15 minutes. Stir in the vinegar, and season again to taste with salt and pepper. Divide the grits among plates and top with the greens and a dash of hot sauce.

COLLARD GREENS WITH BACON

Steps:

• Place bacon in a heavy pot and cook over medium-high heat, turning occasionally, until fat begins to render, about 5 minutes. Drain off 1/2 of the bacon grease.
• Reduce heat to medium and add onion. Cook, stirring often, for about 5 minutes. Add garlic, red pepper flakes, salt, and pepper; cook and stir for 2 minutes.
• Increase heat to high and immediately pour in 3 cups water. Bring to a boil, stirring to scrape up browned bits from the bottom of the pot. Add chopped collard greens and 1 more cup of water. Bring back to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer until greens are tender, about 1 hour.

BAKED TWO-CHEESE & BACON GRITS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°. In a large saucepan, cook bacon over medium heat until crisp, stirring occasionally. Remove pan from heat. Remove bacon with a slotted spoon; drain on paper towels., Add water, stock, garlic powder and pepper to bacon drippings; bring to a boil. Slowly stir in grits. Reduce heat to medium-low; cook, covered, 5-7 minutes or until thickened, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat., Add Velveeta and butter; stir until melted. Stir in milk. Slowly stir in eggs until blended. Transfer to a greased 13x9-in. baking dish. Sprinkle with bacon and shredded cheese. Bake, uncovered, 40-45 minutes or until edges are golden brown and cheese is melted. Let stand 10 minutes before serving. Freeze option: Cool unbaked casserole; cover and freeze. To use, partially thaw in refrigerator overnight. Remove casserole from refrigerator 30 minutes before baking. Bake grits as directed, increasing time to 50-60 minutes or until heated through and a thermometer inserted in center reads 165°.