When I’m looking for an easy and flavorful side dish that I know everyone will enjoy, I turn to favorites such as corn fritters, baked beans and these savory mustard greens. Pair your greens with classic recipes like Hoppin’ John for a dinner that will earn rave reviews!
Mustard Green Ingredients
When you make mustard greens you will need bacon, onion, garlic, mustard greens, chicken broth, sugar, hot sauce, apple cider vinegar, salt and black pepper. These greens are fantastic with hearty main dishes like scalloped potatoes and ham, Mississippi pot roast and hamburger steak.
How Do You Make Mustard Greens?
To make mustard greens, first wash your bunch of greens well in cold water. Make sure to remove all dirt and grit. Slice the stem out of each piece, then roughly chop the leaves. Cook diced bacon until crisp, then remove half the bacon to use as garnish. Add onion and garlic to the bacon grease in the pan, and cook until tender. Place the greens in the pot, along with some chicken broth and seasonings. Simmer until the greens are very tender. Stir in the hot sauce and vinegar, then garnish with reserved bacon and serve immediately.
Tips For The Perfect Dish
Chop your mustard greens into pieces that are about the same size so that they cook in about the same amount of time. Your greens can be cleaned and prepped up to three days before you plan to use them. Make sure the greens are dry when you store them in the refrigerator crisper drawer. You can also buy a bag of pre-prepared greens to save some time. This dish stays fresh in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. I don’t recommend freezing this recipe as the greens will be watery when thawed. I recommend serving your greens with cornbread on the side for a taste treat.
Flavor Variations
While I love this dish as written, there are many ways to change up the flavor to customize it to your tastes.
Meat: Instead of bacon, try another smoky meat such as ham hocks, smoked sausage, diced ham steak or smoked turkey wings. If you use ham hocks or smoked turkey wings, you’ll want to simmer them until tender before you add them to the greens. Be sure to cut the meat off the bones to stir it into the finished dish. Greens: This recipe also works with other varieties of greens such as kale, spinach, collard greens, turnip greens or dandelion greens. You can even use a combination of different types of greens. Spicy: For spicier greens try adding extra hot sauce or some red pepper flakes.
Give these greens a try, it’s the best way to eat your veggies and enjoy them too!
Mustard Greens Video
