I had never eaten collard greens before I moved to the United States. When I did start eating them, I'd usually buy them frozen and then saute them with some simple spices like mustard and green chilies. But while I liked them enough, I wasn't really moved. Also, the fact that they take extra-long to cook put them somewhere at the bottom of my list of green favorites.
Then I found a recipe that intrigued me. It came from Madhur Jaffrey's fabulous cookbook "World Vegetarian," and, surprise of surprises, it was a recipe for a Kashmiri-style preparation.
This recipe takes a long time to cook: almost 2 hours. But all the ingredients go into the pot right at the beginning and you don't have to babysit them. So after I get back from work, I can throw together the ingredients into the pot, slap on a lid, go out and water the garden and then walk my dogs without a care in the world. Meanwhile, the collards cook themselves.
The most you might need to do is check a couple of times to make sure not all the water's evaporated before its time. The collards are hefty, so although the long cooking tenderizes them, it doesn't reduce them to a mush. They retain a wonderful texture and bite, and absorb all the myriad flavors of the spices and tomatoes.
I loved this recipe, and I know it's one I will be making again and again. Here goes!
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Kashmiri Collard Greens
Ingredients
- 1 bunch collard greens (about 5-6 leaves, stems removed, then rolled up and cut into long, skinny ribbons)
- 1 tomato (dunked into boiling water for a minute, then peeled and diced)
- 1 large onion , thinly sliced
- 3 cloves garlic , minced
- 1 tbsp grated ginger
- 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- ½ tsp red chilli flakes (or cayenne)
- 1 ½ cups water
Instructions
- Heat the oil and add the onions. Saute on medium heat until nicely browned.
- Add the ginger and garlic and stir for a minute.
- Add the tomato and stir for another minute.
- Add the collard greens, salt, red chilli flakes and water.
- When it comes to a boil, cover with a tight-fitting lid, turn the heat to low, and allow the veggies to simmer away for 1 ½ to 2 hours.
- If there is still water remaining at the bottom of the pan, turn the heat to medium or high and let it evaporate.
- Serve hot as a side dish with rice and dal or with rotis.
As a Southern born and bred, I love collard in all their myriad forms and incarnations! This recipe will serve very nicely as an addition to my vegan collection! Thanks...and I'll post any updates, should I do any tinkering, which is likely, since friends point out I can't leave well enough alone!