Collard Bread Recipes

SOUTHERN-STYLE COLLARD GREENS

Steps:

• Brown 4 slices diced bacon in a pot; drain on paper towels. Add 1 cup diced onion to the pot and cook 3 minutes. Add 1 pound thawed frozen collard greens, 1 cup chicken broth and water to cover; simmer 20 minutes. Stir in the bacon, some butter, salt and pepper.

MEDITERRANEAN STUFFED COLLARD GREENS

Steps:

• For the lemon yogurt sauce: Add the yogurt, lemon juice, dill, coriander and some salt and pepper to a bowl. Mix together, then drizzle some olive oil on top and garnish with a sprig of dill.
• For the collards: Bring a large pot of water to a boil and have a bowl of ice water ready. Boil the collard leaves until bright green and pliable, about 1 1/3 minutes. Transfer to the ice water to cool. Gently squeeze the leaves dry.
• Lay out the leaves one at a time on a paper towel to blot, and use a sharp knife to cut out the thick center stems, cutting about three-quarters of the way to the top and making sure to leave 2 to 3 inches uncut at the top. Set the trimmed leaves aside.
• Heat 2 tablespoons of the oil in a medium skillet over medium heat. Add the onions and garlic and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 6 minutes. Add the rice, raisins and allspice and cook, stirring, until the rice is well coated, about 1 minute. Add 3/4 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of pepper and remove from the heat. Stir in the dill, parsley, mint and lemon zest.
• Lay out one collard leaf with the intact end pointing towards you and the trimmed stem end pointing away. Spoon 2 level tablespoons of the rice filling in the center of the side facing you. Fold the sides of the leaf over the filling, then roll the leaf up tightly away from you like a burrito, starting from the bottom and finishing seam-side down. Repeat with the remaining leaves and rice filling. (Some of the larger leaves may need to be trimmed slightly if they appear too bulky when rolled up.)
• Add a splash of the remaining 3 tablespoons oil to a medium saucepan. Arrange the collard rolls in a single layer on the bottom of the pan. Top with enough water to just cover the rolls, then drizzle in the remaining olive oil and the lemon juice. Cover the rolls directly with a round of parchment paper. Bring the liquid to a boil over medium-high heat, then reduce to a low simmer and cook, covered with a lid, for 1 hour. Remove the rolls from the liquid, drain on a paper towel-lined plate and let cool to room temperature. Serve with lemon wedges and the lemon yogurt sauce.

GRANDMA'S COLLARD GREENS

Steps:

• Cook onion and bacon in a large pot over medium-high heat until onions are soft, 5 to 7 minutes. Add chicken stock, vinegar, brown sugar, and pepper flakes and cook and stir until brown sugar has completely dissolved, 2 to 3 minutes.
• Add 1/2 of the collard greens, reduce heat to medium, and cook until greens are slightly wilted, about 10 minutes. Add remaining greens, toss to combine, and simmer over medium-low heat until tender, about 30 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.

COLLARD BREAD

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F Spray 11x7-inch or 8-inch square baking dish with cooking spray; set aside. In large bowl, place collard greens; stir in bell pepper and green onions; set aside.
• In medium bowl, stir together eggs, milk, flour and seasoned salt. Stir into collard green mixture. Stir in cheese and 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper. Spread mixture in baking dish.
• Bake 11x7-inch uncovered about 25 minutes, 8-inch square uncovered about 30 minutes or until slightly set. Meanwhile, in large bowl, stir together Topping ingredients just until moistened; spread evenly over mixture in baking dish. Bake 11x7-inch 35 to 40 minutes longer, 8-inch square 40 to 45 minutes longer or until deep golden brown. For an appetizer, cool completely; cut into 1-inch squares. For a main dish, cool 5 minutes, cut into 8 squares; serve warm on lettuce with sliced tomatoes.

MAIN CHALLENGE: SPICY SOUTHERN COLLARD GREENS WITH SWEET MAPLE CORNBREAD

Steps:

• Heat the olive oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. Add the pork pieces and brown on both sides, about 6 to 8 minutes. Add the onion, cut sides down, and brown, about 5 to 6 minutes. Stir in the chicken broth. Season with chili flakes, salt, vinegar and garlic powder. Bring to a boil, then turn down the heat to a simmer. Adjust seasoning, if desired. Add the collard greens and garlic cloves, stir to combine and cover. Cook until greens are tender, approximately 35 to 45 minutes. Remove the onion halves, garlic cloves, pork pieces, for better presentation. Transfer the greens to a serving bowl.
• Heat the oven to 375 degrees F. Coat an 8 by 8-inch baking pan with cooking spray.
• In a large bowl, whisk together all the ingredients except the butter and pour into the pan. Bake for 18 to 20 minutes, until the cornbread is lightly golden brown.
• Once baked, remove from the oven and brush with butter. Serve immediately.

BREAD STUFFING WITH CRAWFISH, BACON, AND COLLARD GREENS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375°F. Cut bottom crust and short ends off bread; discard. Cut remaining bread with crust into 1-inch cubes (about 10 cups loosely packed). Place in very large bowl. Add oil, thyme, and garlic; toss. Spread cubes out on large rimmed baking sheet. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Bake until golden and slightly crunchy, stirring occasionally, 20 minutes. Return to same very large bowl.
• Melt butter in large skillet over medium-high heat. Add next 3 ingredients. sauté until soft, about 10 minutes. Add crawfish; sauté 2 minutes. Transfer to medium bowl. sauté bacon in same skillet over medium-high heat until crisp. Using slotted spoon, transfer bacon to bowl with vegetables. Pour off all but 1 tablespoon bacon fat from skillet. Add greens and 1 cup broth. Cover and simmer until greens are almost tender, about 5 minutes. Add greens and broth in skillet to vegetable mixture. Add parsley. DO AHEAD Bread cubes and vegetable mixture can be made 1 day ahead. Cover separately. Store bread at room temperature. Chill vegetable mixture.
• Preheat oven to 375°F. Butter 13x9x2-inch glass baking dish. Stir vegetable mixture into bread. Add remaining 3/4 cup broth; toss. Transfer to prepared dish. Cover with buttered foil, buttered side down. Bake until heated through, 25 minutes. Uncover; bake until top starts to brown, 25 minutes longer.