Meatless Southern Collard Greens

Meatless Southern Collard Greens

A meatless take on a Southern favorite dish. This Meatless Southern Collard Green recipe is full of flavor and tender and it's the perfect side dish for your holiday dinners.

Ingredients

  • collard greens

    or 1 bag

    1 bunch
  • olive oil

    or preferred cooking oil

    1 tbsp
  • onion

    diced

    1 large
  • garlic
    3 cloves
  • vegetable broth

    or more as needed

    5 c
  • smoked paprika
    2 tsp
  • red pepper flakes
    1 tsp
  • salt
    to taste
  • ground black pepper
    to taste
  • cholula chipotle hot sauce)

    for serving (optional

Directions

  1. 1

    Add in the onions to the large pot with a little cooking oil and let them sauté until golden brown. Then add in the garlic and stir until fragrant.

  2. 2

    Add the vegetable stock to the pot and bring to a boil.

  3. 3

    Toss in the cut collard greens to the vegetable broth, cover, and lower the temperature to medium heat and let simmer until nice and tender, anywhere from 1 to 2 hours (or more). If you notice the pot needing more liquid you can add in more vegetable broth (or water) as they cook. Add enough just to cover the tops of the collards.

  4. 4

    Add in the salt, black pepper, smoked paprika and red pepper flakes once the greens are tender. Adjust the seasonings as needed, to taste.

  5. 5

    Serve with Cholula Chipotle Hot Sauce.

  6. 6

    The greens will last in the fridge in an airtight container for 3 - 4 days.

Meatless Southern Collard Greens

Meatless Southern Collard Greens

18 cal

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About this Recipe

Craving the soulful flavors of Southern collard greens but prefer a meatless option? This Meatless Southern Collard Greens recipe delivers all the tender, savory goodness you love, perfect for enriching your holiday dinners without any meat.

The secret to this recipe's deep flavor lies in the aromatic base of diced onion and minced garlic, combined with the smoky warmth of paprika and a subtle kick from red pepper flakes. These ingredients create a rich, savory potlikker that thoroughly seasons the collard greens, ensuring every bite is full of delicious character.

What you'll experience is incredibly tender collard greens, braised until they melt in your mouth, infused with a hearty, smoky, and slightly spicy essence. This side dish offers a beautiful balance of earthiness from the greens and a complex, comforting warmth from the seasonings. Despite its rich taste, it's a wonderfully light option at just 18 calories per serving, making it an ideal companion to any main course.

Feel free to adjust the spice level to your preference; add more red pepper flakes for an extra kick, or dial it back for a milder experience. You can also experiment with different cooking oils, though olive oil offers a nice, light touch. Don't shy away from adding more minced garlic if you're a garlic lover!

This dish is a standout side for any celebratory occasion, especially during the holidays, bringing traditional Southern comfort to your table. Serve it warm, with a dash of Cholula chipotle hot sauce on the side for those who enjoy an extra layer of flavor and heat.

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