Braised Collard Greens with Tomatoes
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Braised Collard Greens with Tomatoes is a simple new spin on collard greens. This Italian-inspired recipe might be the first step to getting your family to eat their greens.
Braised Collard Greens with Tomatoes Recipe:
Last year while on vacation in Gulf Shores, I ate at a yummy restaurant who served a delicious Swamp Soup featuring collard greens. I ran home to recreate it (find that recipe here), and ever since, I’ve been a big fan of collards.
I don’t buy them regularly, but when I see them on mark down at Kroger, I snatch them. Since it’s a tad too hot to be eating soup, I went about looking for a new way to make them. I turned to my Vegetables on the Side cookbook for inspiration. While I didn’t find an exact recipe, I did come up with this Italian-Style Collard Green recipe.
The braising liquid is a combination of canned diced tomatoes and vegetable (or chicken broth), and the Italian flavor comes from dried Oregano. I love how versatile this recipe is. Use white wine or water for the braising liquid, try fresh oregano instead of dried, or swap in dried thyme or rosemary if that’s what you have on hand.
Braising allows the collard leaves to get tender and absorb all the Italian-flavors. This is a great healthy alternative if you are craving carb-heavy spaghetti or Lasagna.
How to Make Italian Collard Greens:
Instructions:
- In a large skillet, heat olive oil, onions, canned diced tomatoes and garlic. Simmer for 5 minute or until onions are translucent.
- Add collards, broth, dried oregano and salt and pepper; simmer for 15 to 20 minutes, stirring often until the collards are wilted and fork tender.
- Taste and add more salt and pepper if needed.
For the full recipe for Italian-Style Collard Greens, scroll to the bottom of this post.
Notes About Braised Italian Collard Greens:
- I prefer to buy bags of prepared collard greens. They are pre-washed, ribs removed and chopped into smaller pieces. If you want to buy a bunch of collards instead, wash until all the grit is removed. Take out the hearty stem, roll up like a cigar and cut into shreds.
- Substitute fresh oregano for dried or use other Italian herbs such as rosemary or thyme.
- I used vegetable broth, but chicken broth, dry white wine or water (in a pinch) would work for the braising liquid.
- Do not drain the can of diced tomatoes.
- This can easily fit the bill of a clean eating recipe if you are participating in a 30 Day Clean Eating program such as the Arbonne 30 Days to Healthy Living. To find out more about that, click here. (I receive a small commission for purchases through this link.)
- Use organic ingredients and sub regular salt for Pink Himalayan Salt to make this a clean meal.
More Italian-Inspired Recipes:
Braised Collard Greens with Tomatoes
Ingredients
- 3 Tablespoons olive oil
- 1 small onion, diced
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 28 ounces diced tomatoes (do not drain)
- 1 pound bag of collard greens, washed and chopped
- 1 1/2 cups vegetable or chicken broth
- 2 teaspoons dried oregano
- salt and black pepper, generously to taste
Instructions
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet; add diced onions, minced garlic and undrained tomatoes. Simmer for 5 minutes or until the onions are translucent.
- Add collards, broth, dried oregano, salt and pepper. Simmer over medium to medium high heat, stirring from time to time until the collards wilt down and are tender.
- Taste, and add more salt and pepper if needed.
Notes
- I prefer to buy bags of prepared collard greens. They are pre-washed, ribs removed and chopped into smaller pieces. If you want to buy a bunch of collards instead, wash until all the grit is removed. Take out the hearty stem, roll up like a cigar and cut into shreds.
- Substitute fresh oregano for dried or use other Italian herbs such as rosemary or thyme.
- I used vegetable broth, but chicken broth, dry white wine or water (in a pinch) would work for the braising liquid.
- Do not drain the can of diced tomatoes.
- This can easily fit the bill of a clean eating recipe if you are participating in a 30 Day Clean Eating program such as the Arbonne 30 Days to Healthy Living. To find out more about that, click here.
- Use organic ingredients and sub regular salt for Pink Himalayan Salt to make this a clean meal.
- Love collards? Try Collard Greens and Bean Soup.
Nutrition
