Eastern Nc Collard Greens

Dive into the soulful flavors of the South with this Eastern North Carolina Collard Greens recipe, a time-honored classic that’s rich, smoky, and deeply comforting. Tender collard greens are slow-simmered with a savory smoked ham hock, fragrant garlic, and sweet onion in a broth infused with apple cider vinegar for a hint of tang, a touch of sugar for balance, and a pop of heat from crushed red pepper flakes. This one-pot wonder is simmered low and slow, allowing the greens to absorb all the robust, smoky essence of the pot liquor—the flavorful broth that’s perfect for sopping up with cornbread. Ready in under two hours, this warm and hearty side dish is a staple at Southern tables and pairs perfectly with fried chicken, pork barbecue, or your favorite soul food spread. Whether you’re looking for a taste of tradition or a comforting dish for a family feast, these Eastern NC collard greens are sure to impress!

Nutriscore Rating: 72/100

Prep Time:20 mins

Cook Time:90 mins

Total Time:110 mins

Servings: 6

Ingredients

• 2 pounds collard greens
• 1 smoked ham hock
• 1 medium onion
• 3 garlic cloves
• 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 0.5 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 0.5 teaspoon black pepper
• 6 cups chicken broth
• 2 cups water

Directions

Step 1

Wash the collard greens thoroughly to remove any dirt or grit. Trim off the tough stems and chop the leaves into bite-sized pieces.

Step 2

Peel and finely chop the onion and garlic cloves.

Step 3

In a large stockpot, combine the chicken broth, water, and smoked ham hock. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat.

Step 4

Reduce the heat to medium and add the chopped onion and garlic to the pot. Let them simmer for about 10 minutes to infuse flavor.

Step 5

Carefully add the chopped collard greens to the pot, stirring occasionally until they begin to wilt and fit into the pot.

Step 6

Stir in the apple cider vinegar, sugar, crushed red pepper flakes, salt, and black pepper.

Step 7

Cover the pot, lower the heat to medium-low, and simmer for 60-90 minutes, stirring occasionally. The collard greens should be tender, and the smoked ham hock should have imparted its flavor into the broth.

Step 8

Taste the greens and adjust seasoning if necessary. Remove the ham hock and shred any remaining meat from it into the greens, discarding bones and excess fat.

Step 9

Serve the collard greens hot as a side dish, drizzled with the pot liquor (the flavorful cooking liquid).

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	(3136.0g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	762.9

Total Fat 23.1g	0%
Saturated Fat 6.1g	0%
Polyunsaturated Fat 0g
Cholesterol 70mg	0%
Sodium 6745.2mg	0%
Total Carbohydrate 88.8g	0%
Dietary Fiber 39.1g	0%
Total Sugars 26.6g
Protein 65.6g	0%

Vitamin D 0IU	0%
Calcium 1489.9mg	0%
Iron 16.2mg	0%
Potassium 2881.6mg	0%

*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Source of Calories

Fat: 25.2%

Protein: 31.8%

Carbs: 43.0%