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The Greens Debate
Mustard Greens, turnip greens, collard greens, etc. are high on the like/dislike food debate list. Most of the time you either love them or hate them. In our family, we love them and grow them in the garden every year. My Deep South Mustard Greens have always been a hit, so I wanted to share them with you.
When our children were little, it was hysterical to take them to a restaurant that served greens. Without fail, when choosing their sides, they would ask for one and sometimes two servings of greens! Many times our server would ask if Dad and Mom were making them eat their vegetables. They would always look confused and say, “No, I just love them!”
Here are some other posts you may enjoy.
- Miniature Pepper Jack Meatloaves
- Wild Rice Soup
- Cranberry Salad
- Chocolate Pie Recipe
- Homemade Laundry Detergent
Bring On the Flavor
I will say that I do not enjoy bland, flavorless greens. If that was your experience, then you owe it to yourself to make my Deep South Mustard Greens and give them another try. Greens are extremely healthy and are a huge benefit to the body.
Don’t let the sugar in this recipe scare you. It won’t make the greens sweet. It’s added to take out the bitterness. Some types of greens tend to be more bitter than others. I use it in all of mine with wonderful results.
Because we eat a lot of greens, I keep small portions of ham in the freezer just for that purpose. I just cut/shred up 1/4 of a baked ham each time I prepare one. Then I divide it into small portions (about 1 cup each ) and freeze.
No Ham? No Problem!
If you don’t have ham available, I can offer a couple of substitutions. I have used 2-3 slices of bacon/salt pork. You can also add 3 beef bullion cubes in place of the ham. Any of these will give your greens delicious flavor and keep them from being bland.
When cooking, bring to a boil then reduce the heat and simmer for at least half an hour. I like to simmer mine for an hour or two if I have time. It helps to enhance the flavor. If you do simmer it longer than 30 minutes, be sure to keep check that the water isn’t evaporating. Add a little more water if needed.
Deep South Mustard Greens
Ingredients
- 1 Quart of mustard greens
- 1 c. Shredded ham
- 1 Small onion – diced
- 1 Tablespoon of sugar
- 1 1/2 teaspoons of salt
- 1/4 teaspoon of pepper
Instructions
- Put all ingredients in a Dutch Oven, cover with water and bring to a boil.
- Reduce heat to low and simmer for at least 30 minutes, and up to 2 hours.
