Old Fashioned Turnip Greens Recipes

SOUL FOOD TURNIP GREENS

Steps:

• Melt butter in a large stock pot.
• Add onions and red peppers.
• Cook until tender and then add garlic.
• Cook garlic until fragrant and golden.
• Stir in chicken broth, hot sauce, red pepper flakes, and diced smoked turkey.
• Taste broth and season with salt & black pepper. Broth should taste very well seasoned and delicious.
• Let broth simmer for 10 minutes.
• Add turnips greens to pot and allow them to cook down slightly.
• Stir, cover and simmer for 1 hour (stirring occasionally)
• Remove lid and taste to adjust seasonings again. (I usually add a bit more salt, black pepper and hot sauce)
• Stir in baking soda and liquid smoke. (this will help further lessen the bitterness)
• Cover and simmer for an additional 10- 20 minutes or until greens are tender to your liking.
• Serve hot.

COUNTRY TURNIP GREENS

Steps:

• Put the ham in a large stockpot over medium heat. Cook until the ham is crispy and the fat is rendered, about 8 minutes. Pour in the apple cider vinegar and scrape the bottom of the pot with a wooden spoon to lift up any brown bits.
• Meanwhile, rip the greens into large pieces to make it easier to fit all of them into the stockpot.
• Add the greens to the pot and season generously with black pepper. Pour in the chicken stock and stir to combine. Bring the greens to a simmer and cover the pot. Reduce the heat to medium low and cook until the greens are tender and the liquid is reduced by half, about 45 minutes. Remove the lid and continue to cook, stirring occasionally, until the liquid is nearly gone, about 10 minutes more. Serve immediately.

TURNIP GREENS AND CORNMEAL DUMPLINGS

Steps:

• Place smoked meat in water along with spices and bouillon. Cook over low heat for 1 1/2 hours. Strip turnip leaves free of the big stem that runs down the center of each leaf. Wash in a sink full of clean water. Drain and wash twice more, since greens can often be sandy. Peel and slice or quarter roots. Add greens to meat; cook for another 30 minutes, stirring often. Add roots and continue to cook for approximately 15 minutes, or until roots are tender. (Reserve 2/3 cup turnip liquid for the dumplings.) Add butter and sugar.
• For dumplings: Mix cornmeal, salt, onion, and egg. Dipping by teaspoonfuls, gently roll batter in the palms of your hands into approximately 1-inch balls; drop into boiling turnip liquid Make sure each dumpling is completely covered in liquid by shaking the pot gently; do not stir. Boil for about 10 minutes.