Collard Greens

Inventory, 24 ct : 2.73
This item was last sold on : 01/24/23

• 29 Featured Restaurants

• 38 Recipe Ideas

• 16 ShareMarket®

Description/Taste

Collard greens are a headless forming cabbage, similar to kale. Their leaves are broad, paddle-shaped and grey green to deep green in color with contrasting succulent white ribs and veins. Their flavor is assertive, almost alkaline and true to its family, cruciferous in nature. Collard greens should be chewy in texture, a sign of good water content and freshness. Late winter and early spring provide the sweetest and most tender Collard greens.

Seasons/Availability

Collard greens are available year-round with peak season in late winter.

Current Facts

Collard greens are members of the economically important Brassicaceae family, known for its cruciferous vegetables such as cabbage, broccoli and kale. Collard greens contain a chemical compound called phenylthiocarbamide, known more simply as PTC. This compound is responsible for the bitterness that people taste when they eat Collard greens. Specific human genes determine whether a person can taste this bitterness. Not all humans can taste the compound's bitter tendencies, though it is a dominant trait in about 70% of the human population. Those who do taste the bitterness either enjoy bitter foods or absolutely dislike it.

Nutritional Value

Collard greens are loaded with health benefiting vitamins and compounds. They contain anti-inflammatory properties in the form of Omega-3 fatty acids and Vitamin K. They also contain the antioxidants beta carotene, Vitamins C and E and detoxifying glucosinolates, compounds that are being studied for their abilities to prevent cancer as well as cardiovascular disease.

Applications

Collard greens are synonymous with slow cooking and simmering in a pot with ham hocks. The broth created after about 90 minutes of simmering is known as pot liquor and it is equal parts vitamin rich, smoky and delicious. This ages old application is a benchmark for cooking Collard greens but there are many other ways to enjoy the greens. A quick braise or blanch allows for full nutritional retention and maximum flavor. They can also be added to baked dishes as well. Though many may say the bitterness is off-putting when eaten raw, Collard greens can add flavor and texture to salad mixes. Complimentary ingredients include garlic, pork, chicken, grilled steak,, mushrooms, potatoes, apple cider vinegar, lemon, bay leaves, bacon fat, soy sauce, ginger, sesame oil, tomatoes and chiles.

Ethnic/Cultural Info

Although most Americans associate Collard greens with Southern Soul Food Cooking and its historical and cultural slave trade roots, they are also historically linked to to Asian cooking as well as Greek and Roman cooking. Collard greens are most popular in the Kashmir state of India, where they are literally a household staple of the entire population and eaten for their leaves and roots.

Geography/History

Collard greens are an ancient green native to Asia Minor with cultivation dating back to circa 5000 BC. From Asia Minor via trade routes, Collard greens expanded to Africa and Europe and eventually the Americas. By 1600 Collard greens had become globally cultivated. Today their distribution is vast and wide, making them a highly valued yet low cost global culinary commodity. Collard greens can be found in almost any market throughout all hemispheres.

Featured Restaurants

Restaurants currently purchasing this product as an ingredient for their menu.

Chateau Lake San Marcos	San Marcos CA	760-670-5807
Bishop School	San Diego CA	858-459-4021
The Plot	Oceanside CA	422-266-8200
Encontro North Park	San Diego CA	310-955-6333
The Santaluz Club Inc - Main Dining	San Diego CA	858-759-3150
Miho	San Diego CA	619-365-5655
Peace Pies	San Diego CA	619-618-6960
Rustic Root	San Diego CA	619-232-1747
Tartine	Coronado CA	619-435-4323
The Glen at Scripps Ranch	San Diego CA	858-444-8500
Morgan Run Resort and Club	Rancho Sante Fe CA	858-759-5473
San Diego Humane Society	San Diego CA	619-299-7012
UCSD Food & Nutrition Department La Jolla	San Diego CA	858-761-1269
Georges at the Cove	San Diego CA	858-454-4244
Paradisaea Restaurant	La Jolla CA	732-915-6669
Louisiana Purchase	San Diego CA	619-255-8278
Luce	San Diego CA	619-275-2094
AToN Center Inc.	Encinitas CA	858-759-5017
Beaumont's	San Diego CA	858-459-0474
Flying Pig Pub & Kitchen	Oceanside CA	619-990-0158

the other 9...

Ridgeview Health Center	San Diego CA	858-293-3950
Pete's Premade Paleo	San Diego CA	770-359-8274
Pitchers	San Diego CA	858-472-1251
La Costa Glen South	Carlsbad CA	760-704-1000
UCSD Food & Nutrition Department Hillcrest	San Diego CA	619-380-9840
Artifact at Mingei	San Diego CA	619-846-2164
Pacific Regent La Jolla	San Diego CA	858-597-8008
Higher Grounds Coffee + Cafe	San Diego CA	831-247-5395
Wrench and Rodent	Oceanside CA	760-840-1976

Recipe Ideas

Recipes that include Collard Greens. One

is easiest, three is harder.

Nyssa's Kitchen		Rainbow Collard Green Spring Rolls with Shrimp
The Edible Perspective		Coconut Curry with Potatoes, Carrots & Crispy Collards
Cookie and Kate		West African Peanut Soup
wok & Skillet		Ethiopian Collard Greens
Rick Bayless		Mustard Greens Soup With Poblano And Almond
Simply Quinoa		Quinoa & Veggie Collard Wraps
Evolving Table		Rainbow Raw Veggie Hummus Wrap
Local Milk		Garlic & Ginger Collard Greens with Eggs and Feta
Steamy Kitchen		Collard Greens with Ham and Smoked Hock
I Heart Recipes		Hoppin John

the other 28...

Mind Body Green		Blanched Collard Greens as Wraps
Eat The Gains		Asparagus Collard Wraps with Whipped Feta
Budget Bytes		Vegetarian Mustard Greens
I Heart Recipes		Collard Greens & Smoked Turkey Cornbread Dressing
Begin Within Nutrition		Savory Grits with BBQ Tempeh & Collard Greens
Honest Fare		Collard Wrap
Southern Bite		Pulled Pork & Collard Green Egg Rolls with Alabama White BBQ Dipping Sauce
The Blond Cook		Southern Style Collard Greens
Minimalist Baker		Vegan & Gluten Free Falafel
Vanilla and Bean		Black Eyed Peas with Smokey Collards & Cheesy Grits
The Fit Cookie		Cajun Collard Chips
12 Tomatoes		Caldo Verde
Running In A Skirt		Vegetarian Crock Pot Black Eyed Peas and Collard Greens Soup
Primavera Kitchen		Warm Collard Green & Quinoa Salad
The Edible Perspective		Minestrone Soup with Collard Greens & Black Eyed Peas
Spicy Southern Kitchen		Spicy Collard Greens
From the Land We Live On		Sweet Shiitake Noodles with Collard Greens
Eat Healthy, Eat Happy		Vegetarian Collard Greens Soup
Katrina Runs for food		Apple Bacon Collard Greens
Self Proclaimed Foodie		Collard Greens with Bacon
The Vintage Mixer		Kale and Collard Green Gratin
40 Aprons		Whole30 Enchiladas with Poblano-Pork Stuffing & Creamy-Avocado Sauce
Eat The Gains		Breakfast Burrito Collard Wrap
Bev Cooks		Orzo with Collard Greens, Sausage Meatballs and Sundried Tomatoes
The Fit Cookie		Collard Wraps with Tahini Basil Ranch
Leela-licious		Collard Green Roll Ups
Trial & Eater		Sunflower Wrap
Connoisseurus Veg		Blackened King Oyster Mushroom Scallops w/ Grits & Greens

Recently Shared

People have shared Collard Greens using the Specialty Produce app for iPhone and Android.

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