Coconut-Braised Collard Greens Recipe (2024)

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Cooking Notes

Leanne

I do not like greens. I dislike collards the most.I had seconds.

Tia

So quick to make with a bag of precut and cleaned kale. I did make changes based on what I had available (kale and leeks). Added garlic and fresh ginger based on other reviews. And a can of chick peas because I wanted additional protein. Delicious.

Rachel

Added 3 cloves of garlic, half a yellow onion, 2in of grated ginger, and 2 tbsp of chili oil. Sautéd at the beginning of the recipe w the scallions. Did half a bag of chopped kale / half a bag of spinach instead of collards and served over wild rice. This was wonderful!

Britt

Loved this so much. Great way to get your dark leafy greens in that’s not a basic sauté. Used a mixture of mostly collards and some spinach I had on hand. Took note of some additions in the reviews and added lots of minced ginger, which was SO good! Added some shallots as well. I’ve never not cooked greens like my southern grandmother taught me, low and slow, so I let this cook down for over an hour with a stir here and there. Total hit in my house. Will be a regular go-to.

Julia

I added a tablespoon of fish sauce after loving the original recipe. The fish sauce brought out so many new flavors! It was a very happy addition.

Jackie

I feel like the cook time on this was too short... I'm still cooking these 10 minutes later and my collards are still chewy. Going to try another 5-10 minutes in my dutch oven covered.

FLBelle

Yes! Kale is so tough. I left mine braising for thirty minutes. I also used full fat coconut milk. Much richer!

Jefferson B

Grew up in East Tennessee and NC. This is the best collards I’ve ever had. Substitute yellow onions. Easier and more flavorful in the butter/oil I thought. Tossed in a few scraggly end bits of ginger I had to the simmer and removed before serving. You can’t mess this up. Do not remove stems.

Sami

Yes! Definitely make this with full fat coconut milk. I made this once with low fat coconut milk and the texture was all wrong (instead of a nice creamy texture, the low fat coconut milk created a mucous-like texture).

Heather

This was surprisingly excellent. I looked at comments and added garlic in the beginning per suggestions. Also added some vegetable stock for more braising liquid and a can of rinsed chickpeas. Cooked all for 45 minutes in the Dutch oven. The greens were silky and so flavorful! I topped with chili oil. It made a complete meal for 2 people. Next time I will only use 1/2 can of beans, I thought there were too many for the cooked down greens. But otherwise absolutely perfect.

Matt

This is a beautiful recipe. I love collards and wanted to try a new preparation. I’m so glad I found this one. Collards have a stem / spine that I cut away from the leaves. I saved those and cut into 1/2” lengths, sautéed them in the oils until they were crisp-tender, then added the green onions and proceeded with everything else as instructed. I added plenty of salt and pepper and a few dashes of hot sauce, and topped with toasted sesame seeds alongside white rice. Superb.

Rose

This was delicious. I cut out all the veins and it cooked in 30 minutes. I also added some curry and ginger. Served over brown rice, it was a hit.

GiGi

I used collard greens and cooked these for much longer than the recipe called for. I thought they needed some acid and added a splash of rice vinegar. Delicious.

Robin

We marinated tofu in soy sauce, sherry vinegar, salt and a little organic sesame oil with a light taste, while preparing the collard greens. Added a tsp of Chile crisp, as well as ginger and garlic as others suggested and sautéed those with the scallions. Then followed the recipe, and added the marinated tofu toward the end. The end result was balanced flavors of salty, spicy, and softly sweet. Delicious!

Abby Z

I am not a collards person but I got a bunch in my winter CSA box and was determined to eat them. I only wanted to make them tolerable to eat, but this recipe made them delicious! I will definitely cook this again.

mombadil

So simple, so good. Even the toddler gobbled them up!

kate

I hate to be someone who comments with a review of an entirely different recipe.... nonetheless this is an incredibly adaptable recipe. We didn't have coconut oil or scallions, so I used peanut oil and garlic instead. I also added a few halved fingerling potatoes because I had them on hand. It was delicious! The star of the show was the rich coconut broth, which we soaked up with bread.

Teague

I've been sorta bummed about collards since we went to a plant diet, bacon or ham made them so much better. Well, this is IT. Delicious, guess those vegan collards just needed more richness. We ate them all and licked the bowl.

Shannon

We loved this. Will definitely make again. So simple and flavorful. Agree with others: use full fat coconut milk.

Betsy

This is great. I added ginger, garlic, cayenne and red pepper flakes and garbanzo beans as per the other comments. Also braised the greens for about 56 minutes. Delicious vegetarian meal served over rice.

L&D

Simply delicious!

Nick Hodson

This is one of those dishes that creates its own flavor profile distinct from its ingredients. Who would have thought kale, coconut milk, onions and soy sauce could be so fascinating?I didn’t have coconut milk and used coconut cream with half a cup of water; that certainly added richness. I also simmered the mix for about 45 minutes, tasting the kale for tenderness (past chewy but still with a bite) and even though the sauce was great, added a tablespoon of gochujang. Amazing!

Michael

Per some of the other comments, Added some fish sauce, a couple cloves of garlic and a little lemon before serving to give it acid. Awesome.

jen

Made as directed, but cooked longer, about 30 min. There is a slight sweetness from the coconut milk, but I can’t say it was an improvement over traditional collards, it was just different and rather bland, in my opinion.

Roubi

I don't understand how this dish gets so many 5 star reviews. I found it so bland. I had to add ginger and curry to give it some flavor.

Jamie M.

Very satisfying and super easy! I skipped the butter to make it a little lighter and subbed coconut aminos for the soy. Served over brown rice and topped with a chili crisp-fried egg. Garnished with green onion and furikake. Leftovers will be breakfast!

Vanessa Lyman

This was stunningly delicious. Have I never combined soy sauce and coconut milk and butter? Where has this been all my life? So simple, it was tastier than it had any right to be. I'll try adding ginger next time, based on the reviews.

Paula

This is delicious. I love collards, but even if you don't this is a great one.

Kathy

Cooked as recipe described. Really liked it a lot!

SaratogaTB

This was the best greens recipe I’ve ever tried. I literally could not stop eating this. We used Kale and will make with collards soon. Will use our CSA chard this way too. We served it alongside Tajin grilled chicken.

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Coconut-Braised Collard Greens Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What does adding vinegar to collard greens do? ›

When vinegar is added to collard greens, it helps to break down some of the tough fibers in the greens and tenderize them. Additionally, the acidity in the vinegar can help to enhance the flavors of other ingredients in the dish, such as onions, garlic, and smoked meats.

Should collards be soaked before cooking? ›

One of the easiest ways to begin the washing process for collard greens is to thoroughly soak the leaves in cold water for about 10 to 15 minutes. This will loosen any dirt clinging to the leaves and remove any bugs that may be hiding.

Why does collard greens take so long to cook? ›

Long cooking time.

Slowly cooking collard greens not only softens the tough leaves, it also tames the leaves' bitter flavor.

Which vinegar is best for collard greens? ›

Fresh collard greens: Necessary for collard greens. Keep reading for tips on buying the freshest options. Apple cider vinegar: The tanginess cuts through the fat of the bacon and smoked ham. Sugar: Sugar blunts any bitterness from the collard greens.

What kills the bitterness of greens? ›

The foods that help reduce bitterness are: Salt while cooking and/or while eating (like on bitter salad greens) Sweet or Spicy. Sour or Acids like lemon or vinegar.

Why put baking soda in collard greens? ›

Baking soda has infinite uses in cooking and beyond: It's a leavening agent, an odor neutralizer, and an antacid to name a few. In the case of collard greens, baking soda's utility is threefold, serving as a flavor enhancer, a tenderizer, and a color protector.

What is the best meat for collard greens? ›

Fully-Cooked Smoked Turkey Leg- This is the best alternative for those who prefer not to use pork. The smoked turkey leg will add flavor and smokiness to the greens. If you prefer pork, use ham hocks or thick-cut cooked bacon. Chicken Broth- Chicken broth creates a richer, more flavorful broth.

Do baking soda make collard greens tender? ›

Tasting Table staff deem baking soda the secret weapon to keep boiled greens like broccoli, green beans, and peas from turning brown. All you need to do is add a teaspoon of baking soda to your boiling water or stock to ensure that your collard greens are flavorful, tender, and vibrant.

Can you overcook collard greens? ›

It is important to not overcook collard greens or kale, as they tend to give off a sulfur smell and taste bitter. Cut the leaves into one-half inch strips and steam for 5 minutes on the stove. Collard greens make a great addition to eggs and bean soup or can be served alone as a steamed vegetable with a dressing.

Can you put too much water in collard greens? ›

Make sure you let the water drain out of you collard greens as much as possible. Too much water in your pot will ruin your greens.

How do I make sure my collard greens are not bitter? ›

Braise Them

Many bitter greens such as collards, kale, and mustard greens can be very fibrous, and often braising these greens for a lengthy amount of time is essential to making them more tender. But braising has a secondary benefit too: It also helps with cutting down the bitterness.

What season does collard greens do best in? ›

In warm climates, collards do best when planted in the fall, as this allows them to mature during cooler weather. (They will bolt in the heat of summer!) Plus, collard greens taste even better when “kissed” by frost and will grow through snow.

How do you know when collard greens are ready? ›

Harvest leaves when they are up to 10 inches long, dark green, and still young. Old leaves may be tough or stringy. Pick the lower leaves first, working your way up the plant. You can even harvest leaves when frozen in the garden, but be careful because the frozen plant is brittle.

How long should green be cooked? ›

Reduce heat to a simmer and cook, stirring occasionally, until greens are tender, 45 minutes to 1 hour.

When should I add vinegar to my collard greens? ›

Cook for 30 to 45 minutes, then remove the lid, increase the heat to high, and add the vinegar and a teaspoon of hot sauce. Adjust the seasoning, if needed, then put it into a serving bowl.

Why do you soak greens in vinegar? ›

However, if you're looking for a green and cost-effective way to clean up that produce, our favorite way is to washing vegetables wiith vinegar and water. Research suggests that this simple trick can remove pesticides and kill up to 98% of bacteria.

Does vinegar take the bitterness out of greens? ›

Acids, like vinegar and citrus juice, help to brighten up bitter greens and provide a light contrasting flavor.

What to do if I put too much vinegar in my greens? ›

If you have added too much vinegar to a recipe, you can try adding a bit of sugar or honey to help balance the acidity. You could also try diluting the vinegar by adding more of the other ingredients in the recipe.

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