My Grandma’s Collard Greens
Happy Fiesta Friday #31, all! I’m super glad to be headed to today’s party hosted by Angie@TheNoviceGardener. I wanted to save this recipe for a Fiesta Friday because it’s not only one of the best things I’ve ever made, but also because it is very, VERY special to me and my family heritage. A few weeks back, I made a full-blown Southern Meal for my family with Triple Dipped Fried Chicken and Hushpuppies on the side- but as delicious as both the chicken and hushpuppies were, they just wouldn’t have been complete as a meal without this dish.My Grandma’s parents were farmers in Jefferson Davis County, Mississippi. I was too young to be able too be there in their hey-day and see the farm as it was when they weren’t older and infirm, but I’ve heard plenty of stories from my Grandma, Mom and Aunts.
Even though they all lived in Michigan, every summer my Grandpa would take my Grandma and their three daughters down to Mississippi for the summer to visit my Great-Grandparents on their farm. My mom didn’t really like it, for a number of reasons:
First, she was a self-described “city girl”. My great-grandparents’ farm was literally a on a dirt road in the middle of nowhere. Because it was the summertime in the Deep South in the mid 70’s, there was (of course) no air conditioning, and the majority of the windows were left open at all hours of the day and night in order to allow the breeze to cool down the house. My mom (having just read In Cold Blood by Truman Capote) was convinced that a serial killer was going to break into the house and murder everyone and tells me that she used to walk around the house, checking and re-checking doors and windows for intruders.
Second, my mom couldn’t get into the whole ‘ farm experience’. My great-grandpa’s enormous hunting dogs on the porch frightened her by running up to the car and surrounding it every time they drove up to the house. Apparently the chickens were demon possessed and chased her around everywhere. Plus, a lot of the food that got served on the table at my great-grandparents’ house came from the farm itself- including the meat. My mom had a hard time eating the chicken that she saw get shot, decapitated, plucked, and butchered just a few hours ago.
One thing she consistently talks about, are the big ‘Meetins’ that they all used to attend. For those who aren’t Southern or aren’t familiar with the Baptist tradition, the big ‘Meetins’ (you have to say it just like that, no ‘g’s allowed) consisted of large gatherings of the local Churches where they would all hold one, long service that LITERALLY lasted all day long, then conclude with a pot-luck style feast composed of all the dishes that each of the women would make before hand and bring to share.
At any true Southern church meetin, you’re guaranteed to find a pot of greens. They’re almost like a symbol of the South itself. When you eat them, you can practically taste all the history and soul that they come from with every bite.
My Grandma’s greens are the thing of legend. Collard Greens, Mustard Greens, Turnip Greens, and (my personal favorite) Cabbage Greens. She does them all, and she does them all perfectly. I’ve said it before on the blog, and I’m gonna say it again: her greens would be on the menu of foods I would have to eat if I was on Death Row and given a last meal to eat. Give me a big bowl of greens and two hunks of her cornbread, and I don’t even need meat. They’re really that good.
The greens that she makes for the family come straight out of her backyard garden, but I’ve also made this recipe with greens that I’ve bought at grocery stores and farmer’s markets- however, if you know someone who grows greens or can get to a farmer’s market, then I do strongly recommend that you get them that way. The quality of homegrown greens is so much better than the ones you get in the stores.
My grandma usually uses whole ham hocks to flavor her greens, but because I know that not everyone can get their hands on those (and because depending on where you live, they can get pretty pricey), I adapted this recipe so that it’s do-able for just about anywhere using regular bacon (note: you CAN also use turkey bacon, or even smoked turkey instead of the pork). This recipe is also one where you’re going to have to use your personal taste-testing skills to judge how much or how little seasoning you add. I judge what to add or not add by tasting the liquid given off by the greens after they’ve been cooking half-way through or so (we call that stuff the Pot Likker in the South, and it’s friggin awesome). When they’re done, i do have to emphasize that cornbread with greens is a must- one hunk for dipping in the pot likker, and another hunk for crumbling over the greens themselves.Oh, and if you have access to some zesty, jarred Southern Cha Cha (some people call it Chow Chow), then you need to sprinkle some of that on top too. It’ll send your bowl of greens and cornbread over the edge and into the galaxies of awesomeness.
I’ve got this down to a science, can’t you tell?
Try this dish, guys. I don’t care if you have so-called ‘picky eaters’ in your house- I was one of those people growing up too. And I STILL couldn’t get enough of these greens.
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My Grandma’s Collard Greens
CLICK HERE FOR PRINTABLE VERSION
Ingredients
- 6 bunches of collard greens, washed, stems removed, and sliced into about 1/2 inch thick strips
- 1 medium sweet onion, diced
- 16 oz. thick cut bacon
- Onion powder
- Sugar
- Salt and black pepper
- About 1 1/2—2 cups low sodium chicken broth
Directions
1. Preheat oven to 450°. Arrange bacon on a cookie sheet and bake for about 10-12 minutes. (The bacon is not supposed to be crispy– it’s okay if it’s still a little floppy or limp.)
2. Remove bacon from tray and roughly chop into lardons, or large chunks. Set aside.
3. Drain the remaining drippings and grease from the sheet pan into a bowl and set aside.
4. Place the greens in a large stockpot over medium heat. Add the chicken broth, onion and bacon and mix together. Season the greens with onion powder, sugar, salt and pepper to taste.
5. Cover and allow to cook until greens are tender and wilted, about 35-45minutres, depending on how tender or firm you like them. Make sure the liquid doesn’t get absorbed, or they’ll scorch!
6. Taste the juice the greens are cooking in and adjust for seasoning.
I really enjoyed reading this post and hope you continue with the stories. It’s one of my favorite things about food blogs, not so much the actual recipes and pictures, but the stories that go along. I love cooked greens too, so must give this a try!
Thank you Sue- I totally agree with you, the story behind food is almost just as good as the food itself, isn’t it? 😉
Sounds interesting and loved your clicks Jess can’t bet the taste though…..happy FF. ..
Thank you Chitra!
I have always wanted a family recipe for real Southern Greens. My Mom made them and they were good but not like this. I can’t wait to try this recipe. I’m going to try to find a ham hock if I can, I remember when we lived in the South for a short time having greens and black eyed peas and catfish, I didn’t appreciate it when I was little but now I would. Thank you for bringing this to FF and sharing your families great recipe with us.
You’re most welcome Suzanne,thank YOU for commenting. I hope you like this recipe- it’s the real deal 🙂
This is the real deal. 🙂 SO GOOD!!
Thank you- yes I agree, it’s true Southern Greens, at their very best!
I have never made my own collard greens, so I need to try these! They sound great with cornbread!
YES, Nancy, combined with cornbread they really are some of the best food I’ve ever had (and I don’t say that lightly lol) Thank you!
What a great post, Jess! I loved the bit about your mum checking windows and doors after reading Capote 😉 We have a similar dish with potatoes, at the end I mash it a bit and we call it ‘slosh’ because of the sound. Needless to say, it’s been my son’s favourite since he was tint!
Thanks Ginger, that potato dish sounds good, maybe you’ll share? 🙂
I do so love hearing about your family, Jess. Such a rich history and thank the Lord that you are around to record it! The recipe sounds fabulous too and I shall have to give the greens a go! Happy Fiesta Friday!
Thank you Selma, I love sharing with all of you- it’s really a big part of why I wanted to start a food blog in the first place:-)
I love the stories in your posts Jess! This is an amazing read!
Aww thank you- I’ve heard all these stories so many times before it’s easy and fun to share!
Everyone should grow up with such fond memories of a dish like this. This sounds like a great way to prepare collard or other greens. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you Hilda- food is a huge part of my family’s history, and when I cook and eat things like this I can’t help remembering all the memories we’ve built over the years 🙂
My mouth is watering! I have not had collard greens in so long! Your recipes always remind me of childhood and my mom’s southern cooking …so good! We usually had a good pot of pinto beans, cornbread and collard greens. Yum!! Thanks for sharing this. 🙂
Thank you Arlene, that’s like one of the best compliments someone could give me 🙂
Yum! Love me some good greens!
Thank you- so do I!
So, I saw this earlier on FB… and it stayed with me all day. I knew that I had to stop by to check out the recipe…but as soon as I started reading your story, I laughed all the way through it. What an awesome story to go with a delicious recipe… wonderful memories of demon chickens and serial killers! Awesome awesome post… wonderful recipe that I cannot wait to try. Thank you for sharing your lovely family with us… LOVE. <3
Thanks Prudy, I hope you’ll like it <3
I love collard greens! So much that I grow them in my backyard. First time this year. Darn groundhog apparently loves them, too! Okay, so I have no collard greens from my garden, but I can always get fresh ones from this market in town. When I do, I shall make your grandma’s greens, and then when I devour it, I’ll think about your grandma and your mom and the farm and the dogs and Truman Capote and all. This dish comes with quite a history. <3
Haha, oh noooo, I’m sorry the groundhogs like your greens so much! Thanks Angie 🙂
Wonderful post, Jess! <3 I love that you've begun sharing stories of family more…such a joy to read! I've already bookmarked your recipe (I think I may have to serve a full "Jess" meal soon)! Your recipe sounds simple, yet delicious…yum.
Thanks Nancy, I love writing more family-oriented posts I’m finding, so I think I’m gonna find ways of working them in more often!
I call this comfort food. Great blog!
Thank you very much- yes, this food is the ultimate comfort for me 😀
It looks insanely delicious! I love collard greens! great job!
Thanks a lot!
I love collard greens, so southern and so yummy! There’s a pizza place in Atlanta called Jack’s and they have a pizza called Soul Food and it’s fried chicken, mashed potatoes, collard greens and gravy on the pizza and it’s one of my favourite things in the world. I could definitely eat up your grandma’s collard greens all by itself though!
Thank you Michelle- my aunt lives in Atlanta so I’ll have to remember to check out Jack’s the next time I’m there 🙂
You definitely should they have amazing pizza, it’s in old fourth ward/inman park
Haha! Love the Death Row bit…I totally trust you, will be making these soon! 🙂
Awesome, I hope you enjoy Bonnie!
Looks amazingly delicious, and with the chicken and hushpuppies – yum! btw I’m with your mom, I don’t camp or do farm and I always make sure I lock my doors just in case there is a local psycho lurking around lol
Haha, yeah I totally picked up that trait from her. I’m not a nature girl by any means. I’ll camp…just as long as it’s in an air conditioned, enclosed mountain lodge lol Thanks Lily 😉
I prefer mine with a splah of balsamic or malt vinegar and a sprinkle of Old Bay……