How to Make Collard Greens With Bacon and Cider Vinegar

Name: How to Make Collard Greens With Bacon and Cider Vinegar
Prep time: 30 min
Total time: 1 h 15 min
Yield: 12 serving(s)
Ingredients: 3 lb. collard greens; 4 slices bacon, cut into 1/4-inch-wide strips; 1 medium onion, coarsely chopped; 2 tbsp. cider vinegar; 1/4 tsp. salt; 1/4 tsp. coarsely ground black pepper

These aren't your grandma's collard greens, that's for sure.

By Heather Finn and The Good Housekeeping Test KitchenUpdated: Nov 21, 2018

Yields:

12 serving(s)

Prep Time:

30 mins

Total Time:

1 hr 15 mins

Jump to recipe

For many Americans, collard greens are synonymous with Grandma's holiday cooking. But with a tasty twist or two, you can whip up a fresh new version of the classic Southern side dish: In our Test Kitchen's favorite recipe, for example, smoky bacon and tangy cider vinegar are the real stars of the show, acting as the perfect complement to the hearty greens. Yum.

To wow all your dinner guests (including Grandma!) this holiday season, keep our experts' top tips in mind while you cook:

Chop your collard greens like a pro. Start by folding the leaves in half and cutting along the stem. Then, try stacking several leaves and rolling them slightly into a bunch — we find that it's easier (and faster) to chop them this way.
Make it vegetarian. To make this recipe vegetarian-friendly, simply add another chopped onion, substitute the bacon fat with 2 tbsp. of olive or vegetable oil, and throw in a smashed garlic clove, if desired.
Consider doubling the recipe if you're cooking for a crowd. You might feel like you're making a ton of collard greens when you first get started, but they'll shrink down to almost nothing while they cook. When making a bigger bunch, start with a big stockpot or cook them in batches.

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Ingredients

3 lb.
collard greens
4
slices bacon, cut into 1/4-inch-wide strips
1
medium onion, coarsely chopped
2 Tbsp.
cider vinegar
1/4 tsp.
salt
1/4 tsp.
coarsely ground black pepper

Directions

1. Step 1Discard tough stems from collard greens.
2. Step 2Coarsely chop and then rinse greens.
3. Step 3In 8-quart sauce pot, add bacon and onion.
4. Step 4Cook over medium heat until onion is tender and bacon is browned, about 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.
5. Step 5Increase heat to medium-high and gradually add collard greens to pot. Stir until wilted.
6. Step 6Reduce heat to medium-low. Cover and cook until tender, about 10 minutes.
7. Step 7Increase heat to medium-high. Uncover and cook, stirring, until most of liquid evaporates.
8. Step 8Stir in vinegar, salt, and coarsely ground black pepper.