COLLARD GREENS RECIPES FOR WEIGHT LOSS

Collard green recipes are healthy dishes with fantastic flavor. It’s main ingredient, collard greens, are members of the cabbage family. They usually have dark green leaves and tough stems that must be removed before cooking. Most times, leafy greens like kale and collard greens are usually referred to as the powerhouse of nutrition. They contain essential minerals, fiber, and vitamins to keep you from getting hungry often and helping you lose weight. Collard greens recipes contain a lot of potassium and magnesium that regulates blood pressure. They also have a large amount of vitamin c, k, and dietary fiber. It is advisable to wash and cut off tough stems of collard greens before cooking. Below are some collard green recipes that have the healthiest cooking process. This process includes steaming lightly for about 5 minutes or sautéing with olive oil and seasoning. 

Collard Greens Recipes

1.    Creamed Parmesan Collard Greens

Creamed parmesan collard greens are excellent for a dinner party. They are healthy and tasty.

      Preparation Time: 10 minutes

      Cook Time: 20 minutes

      Total Time: 30 minutes

       Serves: 12

       Ingredients

• 2 cups of whole milk
• 1 teaspoon of salt
• 2 cups of chicken stock
• 1 garlic clove, minced
• ½ tablespoons of thyme leaves
• 3 tablespoons of all-purpose flour
• 4 bunches of collards sliced collard greens
• ½ cup of parmesan-Reggiano cheese
• 1 shallot

Preparation

1. First, bring a pot filled with water, add salt, and bring to a boil.
2. Then boil collard greens until it is light green and tender for about 5 minutes.
3. After boiling, strain it and transfer it into a bowl of ice water.
4. Next, place a sauté pan over medium heat and add shallot and garlic. Cook for 2 minutes.
5. Then add flour, cook for 2 minutes again before adding chicken stock, cheese, thyme, and milk. Reduce the heat and simmer
6.  Now, collard greens, cook for 10 minutes or until greens are very tender and your sauce has thickened.
7. Then add salt and pepper to adjust the taste if necessary.
8. Transfer collards into a plate and serve or refrigerate until you are ready to eat.

        Nutritional Facts

        Fat 9g; Carbohydrate 2.6g; Protein 7g; calories 216 kcal.

2.    Collard Greens with Cornmeal Dumplings

Collard greens with cornmeal dumplings have an excellent flavor. It is one of the most delicious collard greens recipes.

      Preparation Time: 1 hour

      Cook Time: 3 hours

      Total Time: 4 hours

       Serves: 6

       Ingredients

 For smoky soul stock

• 2 medium onions
• ½ teaspoon of black peppercorns
• 2 smoked turkey wings
• 4 celery stalks with leaves
• 2 trimmed carrots
• Garlic cloves (2)
• 2 bay leaves

Greens and dumplings

• 1 garlic clove
• ¾ teaspoon of salt and more to taste
• 1 ½ quart of smoky soul stock
• 2 small dried red chile peppers
• ½ cup of all-purpose flour
• 2 tablespoons of unsalted butter
• 1 teaspoon of granulated sugar
• Black pepper
• 1 teaspoon of baking powder
• 1 ½ cups of coarsely ground cornmeal
• ½ cup of chopped onions
• Salt to taste

Preparation

1. For smoky soul stock, put 3 quarts of water in a large stockpot, add smoked meat, celery, onions, carrots, garlic, bay leaves, and peppercorn. Bring to a boil.
2. Then reduce the heat and cover partially until the flavors are well blended for 2 hours.
3. For a more robust flavor, let the broth simmer for longer minutes.
4. When you remove the broth, let it cool, then pull off its bones, skin, and fat. Chop the meat and sieve the stock. Put the stock in a refrigerator. When fat floats to the top, use a spoon to remove
5. For collard greens with cornmeal dumplings, put water in a saucepan, put onion and garlic. Boil over high heat
6. Now reduce the heat and prepare your greens.
7. Wash your greens and trim their stems. Next, discard stems, slice three leaves crosswise into ¼ inch wide ribbons.
8. Then, place your chile and greens in the broth and leave to simmer. Cook for about an hour and half to have a tender green. (if you prefer greens with more chew, you can cook them for lesser minutes.
9. Next, season with black pepper and salt. Use a spoon to remove a cup of the cooking broth and set it aside.
10.  Now, whisk baking powder, sugar, ¾ teaspoon of salt, flour, cornmeal together in a small bowl. Also, melt the butter, add the chicken broth you set aside, and heat up.
11. Remove it from heat and whisk half of it with the dry ingredients in the small bowl.
12. Let it stand for about 5 minutes. When it is cool enough, use wet fingers to shape your dough into 6 dumplings.
13. Then drop cornmeal dumplings into the pot with greens during the last 15 minutes of its cooking time.
14. Cover your pot and simmer until dumplings are cooked.
15. Transfer greens and dumplings into serving bowls with plenty of chicken broth.

        Nutritional Facts

        Fat 5g; Carbohydrate 22g; Protein 4g; calories 143 kcal.

3.    Collard Greens with Cumin and Paprika

It is lovely for a Mediterranean taste, and collard greens are the best to use for this recipe

      Preparation Time: 10 minutes

      Cook Time: 20 minutes

      Total Time: 30 minutes

       Serves: 6

       Ingredients

• 2 teaspoon of ground cumin
• 1 tablespoon of olive oil
• 2 garlic cloves
• ½ cup of chopped parsley
• 2 tablespoons of chopped shallot
• 6 cups of greens
• 2 teaspoons of paprika

Preparation

1. First of all, remove stems and tough ribs of greens.
2. Then roll up the leaves to make them tubelike and slice them crosswise.
3. Place a large pot of water, add salt and leaves, then bring to a boil.
4. After 7 minutes or when greens become tender, drain it well and set aside.
5. Next, put oil in a wide skillet. When it gets hot, add shallots, garlic, and greens.
6. Cook and continuously stir until all its moisture evaporates completely.
7. Finally, Serve.

        Nutritional Facts

        Fat 7g; Carbohydrate 28g; Protein 11.8g; calories 199 kcal.

4.    Collard Greens and Macaroni Cheese

Collard greens add a bold flavor to your mac and cheese recipes. It also boosts the calcium in your meal.

      Preparation Time: 10 minutes

      Cook Time: 20 minutes

      Total Time: 30 minutes

       Serves: 4

       Ingredients

• ½ teaspoon of salt
• 4 cups of chopped collard greens
• ¼ teaspoon of ground pepper
• 8 ounces of whole-wheat elbow noodles
• 1 ¾ cups of low-fat milk
• 3 tablespoons of all-purpose flour
• 2 ounces of reduced-fat cream cheese
• ¼ cup of panko breadcrumbs
• A cup of shredded extra sharp cheddar cheese
• ½ teaspoon of paprika
• 1 tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil

Preparation

1. First of all, put water in a large pot and bring it to a boil.
2. Then, add pasta and collards, cook pasta as directed by the manufacturer. After cooking, drain well.
3. Next, place a large skillet over medium high heat and heat 1 ½ cups of milk.
4. Combine salt, pepper, ¼ cup of milk, flour in a small bowl and whisk.
5. Then, add the flour mixture into your heated milk. Continuously whisk until it becomes thick or for about 2 minutes.
6. When it is thick, remove it from heat and add cheddar and cream cheese. Whisk until cheese melts.
7. Add pasta and collards into your sauce and stir. Placeyour rack in the upper third of the oven then, preheat to high heat.
8. Then, combine oil, breadcrumbs, paprika in a small bowl.
9.  Sprinkle it over your pasta and broil until it turns golden brown in about 3 minutes.
10. Remove from oven and serve.

        Nutritional Facts

        Fat 18g; Carbohydrate 57g; Protein 22.4g; calories 470 kcal.

5.    Garlic Sauteed Collard Greens

Garlic sauteed collard greens require only 10 minutes of steaming. This recipe would help reduce the bitterness of your vegetable.

      Preparation Time: 15 minutes

      Cook Time: 25 minutes

      Total Time: 30 minutes

       Serves: 4

       Ingredients

• ¼ teaspoon of crushed red pepper flakes
• 6 garlic cloves
• 2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil
• 2 heads of collard greens
• Coarse salt
• ½  cup of water

Preparation

1. First of all, heat your oil over medium heat in a large sauté pan.
2. Then add garlic and cook, continually stirring for 3 minutes until it becomes golden.
3. Next, add red pepper flakes and cook till it fragrant or for about 30 seconds.
4. Now, add collard greens and a teaspoon of salt.
5. Then, reduce the heat to medium-low, add water, and cover until greens are tender.
6. After 10 minutes, if there is still water in the pan, raise the heat to medium-high and cook without covering it. When all the water evaporates, transfer into a bowl and serve.

        Nutritional Facts

        Fat 3g; Carbohydrate 8g; Protein 4g; calories 69 kcal.

Collard green recipes are best enjoyed when they are not overcooked, be cautious of that. These vegetables can be stored in a plastic bag and kept in the refrigerator for about five days before cooking. They can work well if tossed into pasta and soups. Adding a bit of vegetable into your meal is very healthy.