How to Cook Collard Greens 2 Ways (With Vegan Option)

Do you want to know how to cook collard greens? Below, we’ll show you how you can cook this leafy vegetable, along with some important tips to keep in mind.

Collard greens have become a popular delicacy in the United States — and for good reason. This leafy vegetable provides a range of benefits. For starters, collard greens are packed with vitamin K, which helps your body to absorb calcium, alongside vitamins A and C. They are also a natural source of folate, an important vitamin that promotes healthy growth, and contain antioxidants.

This popular green and leafy vegetable can be cooked in a variety of different ways, and the possibilities are endless. Not only is it versatile, but it is also easy to add to stews, wraps, and stir-fries. Below, we’ll take a look at how to cook collard greens, including a tasty vegan recipe. Let’s get started!

Where to Buy Collard Greens

Before you get your chef’s hat on, you need to purchase your collard greens. So, where can you buy them? It is important to note that you should always try to buy fresh and locally sourced produce. Many grocery stores stock items that have traveled over longer distances, emitting more carbon emissions than a locally sourced product would.

You should also make sure to buy organic, fair-trade, and in-season produce where possible. First, fair trade ensures that a product is both produced and traded fairly, while organic produce is often produced with far fewer pesticides. Not only is this better for your health, but it is also better for the environment, as pesticides can often seep into the soil and can also pose harm to surrounding wildlife.

If you can, try shopping at a local market. If you can’t, look out for fair-trade and organic labels to ensure you’re purchasing the correct product.

Trader Joe’s, Whole Foods Market, and Sprouts Farmers Markets are all great places to start as each of these stores offers a wide range of organic produce.

How to Cook Collard Greens

The process is fairly simple, however, there is one important tip that you should keep in mind. While it is easy to jump straight to boiling veggies, this often reduces their nutritional benefits, as the water soaks up many of the vitamins and minerals. Instead, it is better to steam them. This way, you won’t lose as much of your vegetable’s nutritional value.

Here is how to cook collard greens to retain the most nutritional value:

Method 1:

1. Remove the stems of the collard greens and slice them to your desired size before rinsing.
2. Add your collard greens to a steamer for between 5-10 minutes. Alternatively, add about 1 inch of water into a pot and bring it to a boil. Add your collard greens and reduce to a simmer, covering with a lid. Leave them to steam for 3-5 minutes.
3. Remove your collard greens.
4. If you want to add a bit of extra flavor, add some red pepper flakes, olive oil, and garlic to your pot and cook until fragrant. Ensure your collard greens are removed from the pot for this step.
5. Add your collard greens and mix them together.
6. Serve.

While not nearly as healthy, stir-frying your collard greens is an incredibly tasty way to prepare them. You can cook collard greens using the following method.

Method 2:

Ingredients

• Collard greens
• Tomatoes
• Onions
• Apple cider vinegar
• Garlic
• Paprika
• Avocado oil
• Salt and pepper

Instructions

1. Prepare your collard greens and remove the stems.
2. Heat oil in a pan and add your garlic and onion. Cook for around eight minutes.
3. Add your tomatoes and cook until soft. Add the rest of the ingredients and stir until your collard greens are thoroughly coated.
4. Reduce your heat to low and add extra seasoning if you wish with salt and pepper.
5. Stir until your collard greens are dark green and wilted for around 15 minutes.
6. Serve.

You can either cook collard greens as a side dish or add some protein to make it a meal, either vegan or non-vegan. The quickest method to cook your collard greens is to simply steam them for around five minutes, or less if you prefer an al dente style. If you want to experiment, you can try our two easy broccoli leaf recipes. Much like these methods, they are fairly straightforward.

Read more:

• Cauliflower: Handy Tips on How to Plant, Grow, Harvest, and Eat it
• 10 Best Gordon Ramsay Vegan Recipes 
• How to Cook Pumpkin: 2 Easy Methods 

** Links to retailers marked with ** or underlined orange are partially partner links: If you buy here, you actively support Utopia.org, because we will receive a small part of the sales proceeds. More info.

Tags: Cooking Food Guide How-To's recipe Vegan Vegetables