Southern · side

Collard Greens

Name: Collard Greens
Prep time: 15 min
Total time: 45 min
Cuisine: Southern
Ingredients: 2 lbs collard greens, stems removed; 1 smoked ham hock; 1 onion, diced; 3 cloves garlic, minced; 4 cups chicken stock; 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar; 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes; salt to taste; 1/4 tsp black pepper; 1 pinch of sugar

Collard Greens reads umami 8.2, richness 6.7 and salinity 4.6 on Palate's 0–10 flavor X-ray — a Southern side, about 45 min. Measured from the recipe itself: ingredients and technique.

The flavor X-ray — six axes, 0–10

Umami & Savory — 8.8 / 10
Sweet & Fruity — 4.0 / 10
Sour & Bright — 4.5 / 10
Bitter & Earthy — 1.8 / 10
Rich & Fat — 6.7 / 10
Aromatic & Spice — 4.6 / 10

The measured notes (of 18)

Umami 8.2 · Richness 6.7 · Salinity 4.6 · Sourness 4.4 · Allium 4.3 · Sweetness 3.9 · Heat 1.6 · Bitterness 1.6 · Funk & Ferment 1.4 · Warm Spice 1.4 · Herbaceous 1.1 · Earthy 0.9 · Fruity 0.5

What's in it (10)

2 lbs collard greens, stems removed
1 smoked ham hock
1 onion, diced
3 cloves garlic, minced
4 cups chicken stock
2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
1/4 tsp red pepper flakes
salt to taste
1/4 tsp black pepper
1 pinch of sugar

Time & effort: about 45 min (15 min active) · effort: medium

Nutrition (per 100 g, engine-estimated): 38.9 kcal, 3.4 g protein, 1.2 g fat, 4.2 g carbs

Dietary: Contains meat — engine-derived; double-check anything allergy-critical.

How it's cooked (4 steps)

Strip collard leaves from the tough stems, stack and slice into ribbons.
Render bacon or simmer ham hock in stock, then add onion and garlic.
Add the greens and enough stock to braise, cover, and cook low and slow for 1 to 2 hours until tender.
Season with vinegar, red pepper, salt, and sugar before serving with pot likker.

Dishes with a similar flavor shape

Split Pea Soup with Smoked Ham — American
Macaroni Beef — American
Shepherd's Pie with Cheddar Mashed Potato Top — American
Bangers and Mash — British
Southern Chicken Pot Pie with Cornbread Crust — Southern

Keep reading: what umami, richness, salinity mean in the flavor lexicon · the world's cuisines, by flavor.

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Every number above is Palate's engine-measured estimate, computed from this recipe's ingredients and techniques — not human-tasted ratings or reviews.