Gina's Best Collard Greens

Recipe courtesy The Neelys

Show: Down Home with the NeelysEpisode: Southern Hospitality

Rated: 4 stars out of 5Rate itRead users' reviews (64)

RECIPE
COMMENTS & REVIEWS(64)

Cook Time:
2 hr 0 min
Level:
Intermediate
Yield:
8 to 10 servings

Times:

Prep: 15 min
Inactive Prep: --
Cook: 2 hr 0 min
Total:: 2 hr 15 min

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Ingredients

5 bundles collard greens
4 cups salted water
3 large smoked ham hocks
1 cup sugar
Salt
1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes

Directions

Thoroughly wash collard greens. Be sure to pull leaves apart and remove any sand. Chop collard greens.

In a medium saucepan, bring 4 cups of salted water to a simmer. Place smoked ham hocks in salted water and cover for about 90 minutes. Cook ham hocks until slightly tender. In the same saucepan, add remaining ingredients and collard greens.

Cover and cook greens for 1 to 1 1/2 hours.

*Cook's Note: Make sure at least half of ham hocks are covered with water. If not, add additional water.

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Comments & Reviews

recipe Gina's Best Collard Greens
Marianne Austin, TX 03-19-2010
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Delicious!
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

I like sweet and savory/spicy mixed together, and I also love my greens, so this preparation was perfect for me!
recipe Gina's Best Collard Greens
D. Anderson, SC 03-19-2010
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Got everyone in my family asking for seconds!
Rated: 4 stars out of 5

I followed this recipe completely; however, I reduced the sugar and salt. I felt the recipe called for a whole lot of salt... but maybe that depends on how many greens are prepared. My children still enjoyed them as well as I. The next time I cook my greens I will be reducing the salt amount even more due to the salt taste already comes from the ham hocks. I really loved these collard greens!. Thanks Pat and Gina! I am always looking for more recipes to try from your show.Read more
recipe Gina's Best Collard Greens
shannon DIberville, MS 03-11-2010
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Now you talking!!
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

Wow, I was so suprised by all the people that dont use sugar when cooking fresh greens. The use of the sugar is to cut the... brine or tang that collards can have when they are fresh. Only thing missing from this recipe that was passed on from generations and generations in my family steming from way back in Atmore-Brewton Alabama. Yeah reall country!! Only thing we do different is fry those ham hocks in som bacon grease if you got it, if not regular veggie oil. For those who think this is strange to add the sugar you are missing out. The thing with the sugar u have to make sure you balance it out with your other seasons. You should be tasting while you are cooking and as salt to taste. If you can cook real down home food this balance is easy for you! Dont knock or count out this receipe. This is a receipe that you can get right with trial and error. I have found people that have been cooking greens for years and still cant get it right. Great recipe Gina keep up the good job!!!Read more
recipe Gina's Best Collard Greens
Karen Westwego, LA 03-06-2010
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GREAT RECEIPE ! !
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

This is a very good recipe- as everyone else considered in the reviews to cut the sugar down - I did - added more red pepper... flakes and an onion and they were OUTSTANDING! I agree that this is not to rate the show "Down home with the Neelys" but to rate this receipe - I think if you have comments or concerns about the show maybe you should write the show and express your thoughts there....GREAT RECIPE! As someone else stated if you are any type of cook - you add and delete ingredients as you go or to your tasting. Read more
recipe Gina's Best Collard Greens
James Jacksonville, FL 03-01-2010
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WAY TOO SWEET
Rated: 1 stars out of 5

I followed this recipe to the LETTER unfortunatly. The only thing that remained on everyones plate. Everyone was too... polite. The sweetness just over-powered th taste of the greens.Read more
recipe Gina's Best Collard Greens
Marquis Pearson, GA 02-10-2010
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NOT TRUE SOUTHERN GREENS
Rated: 1 stars out of 5

OK BEFORE YOU GO WASTE YOUR GROCERIES ON THIS I WOULD LIKE TO TELL YOU...THAT IS ENTIRELY TO MUCH SUGAR TO PUT IN GREENS, I... DONT CARE HOW MANY YOU HAVE. YOU'RE COOKING COLLARD GREENS, NOT CANDIED YAMS. I DONT PUT ANY SUGAR IN MY GREENS AND MY WHOLE 200+ MEMBER FAMILY YET RAVES ABOUT THEM. AND TRUE SOUTHERN GREENS DO NOT USE CHICKEN STOCK, NOR GARLIC. THAT IS JUST SOMETHIN NEW PEOPLE HAVE COME OUT WITH. WHEN YOU BOIL YOUR HAM HOCKS, SKIM THE FOAM OFF, AND LET THEM BOIL SLOWLY FOR A GOOD WHILE (THE LONGER THE BETTER), THAT IS WHAT IS SEASON YOUR GREENS, YOU DONT WANT GREENS THAT TASTE LIKE CHICKEN OR THAT ARE SWEET AS CANDY. THE USE OF TURKEY IS FOR HEALTH REASONS, BUT REALLY AND TRUELY, PORK GIVES THE BEST "DOWN HOME TASTE."Read more