Preparing Collard Greens For Christmas: How Early Can You Start?

If you're planning your Christmas menu and want to include collard greens, you might be wondering how far in advance you can cook them. Well, wonder no more! With proper preparation and storage, you can enjoy delicious collard greens that have been made ahead of time. Here's a guide to help you plan your Christmas feast.

First, it's important to note that collard greens are a popular side dish, especially in Southern cuisine. They are often cooked with bacon, ham hocks, or smoked turkey, and seasoned with ingredients like garlic, onion, red pepper flakes, and apple cider vinegar. The greens are typically slow-cooked or simmered for a couple of hours to achieve a tender and flavourful result.

Now, onto the main question: how far ahead of Christmas can you cook collard greens? The good news is that collard greens are actually known for tasting even better on the second or third day after cooking. This means you can comfortably cook them one or two days in advance and simply reheat them before serving. If you're looking to prepare them earlier, you can also freeze cooked collard greens for up to 12 months. However, if you're planning to freeze them, it's recommended to blanch the greens before cooking and freezing them in small plastic bags.

So, if you're aiming to serve freshly cooked collard greens on Christmas day, you can prepare and cook them one to two days in advance. This will save you time on the day itself and allow you to focus on other dishes or festivities. Just remember to store them properly in an airtight container in the refrigerator and reheat them gently before serving.

How to cook collard greens

Ingredients

You will need the following ingredients to cook collard greens:

• Collard greens
• Bacon slices
• Onion
• Garlic cloves
• Chicken broth
• Apple cider vinegar
• Sugar
• Salt and pepper
• Red pepper flakes (optional)

Preparing the Collard Greens

Before cooking the collard greens, it is important to clean and prepare them. Here are the steps:

• Cut off any roots and remove the stems: You can either cut the stems with a knife or rip the leaves from the stems.
• Wash the collard greens: Fill a large bowl with water and dunk the collard green leaves. Swish the leaves in the water to remove any grit. Repeat this process until the leaves are clean.
• Dry the leaves: After washing, pat the leaves dry with a clean cloth or paper towel.

Cooking the Collard Greens

• Cook the bacon: In a large pot or skillet, cook the bacon slices over medium heat until they are crisp.
• Sauté the onion and garlic: Remove the bacon from the heat and crumble it. Add the chopped onion to the bacon drippings and sauté until tender. Then, add the garlic and cook until fragrant.
• Add the collard greens: Put the fresh cut collard greens into the mixture and cook them gently until they start to wilt.
• Pour in the broth and seasonings: Add the chicken broth, apple cider vinegar, sugar, salt, and pepper to the pot.
• Simmer the collard greens: Reduce the heat and let the collard greens cook on low for about 45 minutes to 2 hours, depending on your desired level of tenderness.

Serving and Storing

Collard greens go well with Southern dishes such as fried chicken, country ham, barbecue chicken, and cornbread.

Before cooking, fresh collard greens can be stored in the refrigerator for up to five days. Cooked collard greens can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to three days and reheated in the microwave or on the stovetop. They can also be frozen for up to 12 months.

How to prepare collard greens

Preparing collard greens is a process that requires a bit of time and effort, but the end result is a delicious and tender dish that can be made ahead and reheated. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to prepare collard greens:

Step 1: Choosing and Cleaning the Greens

Look for dark green leaves with sturdy stems, avoiding any wilting or yellowing. Fill your sink with lukewarm water and dunk the greens, spreading the leaves to remove any grit. Repeat this process until the water is clear, then pat the leaves dry with a clean cloth or paper towel.

Step 2: Trimming the Greens

Cut off any roots with a knife. You can choose to remove the stalks and stems as they can be tough and fibrous, or keep them for extra texture. To remove them, fold each leaf in half and cut along the stem, or simply rip the leaves from the stem.

Step 3: Cooking the Meat (optional)

If you're including meat in your collard greens, such as bacon, ham hock, or smoked turkey, cook it until tender. You can cook the meat in a separate pot and add it to the greens later, or cook it directly in the pot with the greens.

Step 4: Sautéing the Aromatics

In a large pot, cook chopped bacon or other fatty meat until almost crisp. Reserve the drippings in the pot. Add chopped onions and sauté until tender. You can also add garlic and continue cooking until fragrant.

Step 5: Adding the Greens and Liquids

Add the collard greens to the pot, along with chicken broth or water. You can also add apple cider vinegar, sugar, salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes to taste. The vinegar and sugar help balance the bitterness of the greens.

Step 6: Simmering the Greens

Reduce the heat and simmer the collard greens over low heat for about 2 hours or until they reach your desired tenderness. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed.

Step 7: Serving and Storing

Collard greens can be served as a side dish with cornbread, fried chicken, or other Southern classics. They are even better the next day as the flavours meld and deepen. Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-5 days, and reheat in the microwave or on the stovetop.

Preparing collard greens is a simple process that just requires a bit of time and patience. By following these steps, you'll be able to create a delicious and tender dish that can be enjoyed as a comforting side.

How to store collard greens

Storing collard greens is simple. If uncooked, they can be kept in the refrigerator for four to five days. If you're planning to cook a large batch, you can freeze them in small plastic bags for up to 12 months.

For cooked collard greens, store them in an airtight container for up to three days and warm them in the microwave or in a saucepan.

What to serve with collard greens

Collard greens are a Southern side-dish staple, often served with fried chicken, mac and cheese, or biscuits and gravy. They are also commonly paired with barbecue chicken and cornbread.

If you're looking for side dishes to serve with collard greens, here are some ideas:

• Cornbread: A skillet of golden, buttery cornbread is a classic pairing with collard greens. The rich, meaty flavours of the greens go well with the sweetness of cornbread.
• Southern Classics: Collard greens are a versatile side dish that can be served with a variety of Southern classics, such as smothered pork chops, buttermilk fried chicken, or a crispy chicken-fried steak.
• Mashed Potatoes: Creamy mashed potatoes, whether they be garlic mashed potatoes, sour cream mash, or cream cheese mash, are a perfect side dish to soak up the delicious pot likker (broth) that is created when cooking collard greens.
• Traditional Southern Desserts: To round off the meal, a traditional Southern dessert like pecan pie, banana pudding, or peach cobbler with a scoop of vanilla ice cream is a perfect choice.
• Roasted potatoes: Whether roasted, mashed, baked, or fried, potatoes are a versatile and comforting side dish.
• Bread: From crusty bread to garlic bread or homemade biscuits, bread is always a welcome addition to the table.
• Vegetables: Steamed, roasted, or sautéed vegetables like broccoli, Brussels sprouts, asparagus, or zucchini can add some colour and nutrition to your meal.
• Salads: A spinach salad or Mediterranean chickpea salad can provide a lighter option to balance out the richness of collard greens.

With their versatility and ability to be prepared in advance, collard greens are a great choice for a holiday or weeknight dinner. Don't forget to save that pot likker!

The history of collard greens

Collard greens are a staple side dish in the South and are often served at Thanksgiving or on New Year's Day for good luck. They are part of the Brassicaceae family, which also includes kale, spinach, cabbage, and broccoli. While collard greens can be purchased and enjoyed year-round, they are typically harvested in the winter.

The process of cooking collard greens involves simmering them for a couple of hours to achieve a tender, silky texture. This slow cooking method is a hallmark of Southern cooking and allows the greens to develop a full flavour. In terms of ingredients, collard greens are often cooked with bacon, onion, garlic, chicken broth, and apple cider vinegar. The vinegar adds a tangy note that brightens the dish, while sugar helps balance out any bitterness from the greens.

Additionally, collard greens are known for their health benefits. They are a good source of vitamins and minerals, including vitamins A, C, and K, as well as calcium, iron, and fibre. Collard greens also contain antioxidants and have been linked to improved heart health and lower cholesterol levels.

In conclusion, collard greens have become an integral part of Southern cuisine and culture, with a rich history that dates back generations. Their versatility, nutritional value, and unique flavour profile make them a beloved vegetable in the South and an increasingly popular dish across the country.

Frequently asked questions