Steamed Collard Greens
Steamed collard greens are tossed with sweet raisins, spicy red pepper flakes, and salty almonds for a deliciously simple side dish. Try these tasty collard greens as a side dish for your next meal!
I have to admit, I’d didn’t try collard greens until I moved to the South. They’re not too popular in the Midwest and it can be hard to find vegetarian-friendly recipes that use collard greens. But when my CSA delivery arrived from Leafy Lane farms, I didn’t want these greens to go to waste! This simple side dish is completely vegan so everyone can enjoy this tasty dish!
How to Steam Collard Greens
Collard greens are typically braised, but I decided to steam them instead. I love how these turned out! To steam the collard greens, first use a sharp knife to remove the stem. This part is tough and bitter, so I don’t recommend using it in the recipe.
Then, chop the collard greens into 1-2″ pieces.
Add the collard greens to a strainer and rinse well to ensure all dirt is removed from the leaves.
Shake dry, but do not dry completely. The remaining water on the leaves will help steam them.
Add the collard greens to a dutch oven. Cover and cook for 10-12 minutes, adding a splash of water during the cooking process, if needed.
Cook until the leaves are tender and dark green. Once the leaves are steamed, you can remove them from the pot. Add the olive oil, garlic, raisins, and red pepper flakes and cook until the oil is fragrant. Toss the collard greens in the oil and serve with chopped almonds.
Substitution Ideas
- If you can’t find collard greens, try this with kale instead! Remove the stems, just like with the collard greens, and steam until bright green.
- You can use any type of nut for a crunchy, salty topping. Try it with pine nuts, walnuts, or cashews!
- You can use regular rasins or golden raisins. I think this would also be good with dried cranberries!
How to Pick Out Collard Greens
If you’re buying collard greens from the grocery store, look for bright green leaves that are firm, not wilted. Avoid collard greens that are yellowing or have yellow spots. You can also buy pre-washed and chopped collard greens. Just be sure the tough stems have been removed.
How to Store Collard Greens
Store collard greens in a zipper top storage bag, in the fridge. Try to press out as much air as possible before sealing the bag. Avoid washing the collard greens until you’re ready to use them. If they do start to wilt, dunk them in a bowl of cold water to help them crisp up again!
PrintSteamed Collard Greens
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: Serves 2-4 1x
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegan
Description
These steamed collard greens are tossed with sweet raisins, spicy red pepper flakes, and salty almonds for a deliciously simple side dish. Try these tasty collard greens as a side for your next meal!
Ingredients
- 1 lb collard greens
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 tablespoons raisins
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
- 2 cloves garlic, chopped
- 2 tablespoons chopped almonds
Instructions
- Use a sharp knife to carefully remove the stems. Discard the stems.
- Then, chop the collard green leaves into 1-2″ pieces.
- Add the collard greens to a strainer and rinse well to ensure all dirt is removed from the leaves.
- Shake dry, but do not dry completely. The remaining water on the leaves will help steam them.
- Add the collard greens to a dutch oven. Cover and cook for 10-12 minutes, adding a splash of water during the cooking process, if need
- Cook until the leaves are tender. Remove the leaves from the pot.
- In the now empty pot, add the olive oil, raisins, garlic, and red pepper flakes
- Cook over medium heat for 2-3 minutes
- Add the collard greens back to the pot and stir for 1 minute until warmed and evenly coated
- Transfer to a serving dish, sprinkle with chopped almonds, and season generously with salt.
Notes
This recipe was adapted from Cooks Country.
Looking for more collard green recipes? Try these!
What to Serve with Collard Greens
These collard greens make a great side dish for a variety of meals, but here are a few of my favorite things to pair them with!
What’s your favorite way to eat collard greens?
My hubby and I just love collard greens. Such a great way to fit greens into our diets! We really enjoyed this recipe and I’ll definitely be making this again very soon! Thanks!
Love healthy green recipes, and this one looks delicious! This is a great side dish.
What a fantastic way to serve collard greens. I didn’t even tell my guys what they were because they wouldn’t have eaten them and they gobbled them right up! Thanks for adding another healthy green to our diet!
Love how easy this recipe is. It’s perfect for our family!
Delicious! My family loves this recipe. I especially love the addition of the nuts. Thank you!
You make this recipe look so easy! Love what you’ve got in the end. The perfect recipe to keep in the bookmarks 😉
Amazing collard greens that are the perfect side to so many great dishes! Love the looks, too. So yum!
I love this idea of adding some spice and crunch to collard greens. I will have to add this as a side dish to our menu next week.
Collard greens make a healthy meal. I love your recipe. I am loving the addition of almonds. And the photos are gorgeous.
I love the add ins here! a little bit of sweet is so good with collard greens. Thanks!