Collard Greens 101

Everything you need to know about collard greens, from the taste and texture to cutting and using them in your favorite recipes.

Remember our leafy green series? We dove into every lettuce-like veggie imaginable from butterhead and romaine to arugula and kale. Well, it only felt right that we would next highlight a similar (but different) leafy green contender… collard greens!

You know how brussels sprouts are notoriously a kid-hated vegetable? I feel like these fall into that same category. And it makes me feel bad for the leafy green veggie, because they’re actually delicious. I’m here to give them the credit they deserve!

Collard greens are great for your health, but equally awesome is their flavor! Unlike kale and spinach, these don’t have such an extreme bitter taste. Instead, they taste more neutral (but more subtly bitter than not) and are in turn able to be used in a wide range of recipes.

Collard Greens vs. Lettuce

You may be surprised to learn that these greens are closer related to broccoli than romaine lettuce! This veggie is part of the Brassica plant family with close relatives including kale and cabbage. They’re naturally grown in the Americas.

How to cut Your greens

1. To cut collard greens, start by removing the stem in the center by making two vertical cuts on either side of the stem that span the length of the leaf (see above). After that, you’re left with two separate halves.
2. The easiest way to cut the greens from here is to roll them into tubes, and then slice. The slices should be about ¼ inch thick.

Benefits of Collard Greens

When it comes to benefits, these bright green leaves don’t miss a beat. They’re packed with multiple vitamins like Vitamins C, A, and K. A myriad of additional nutrients and minerals make them a healthy source of nutrition for your entire body, from your blood cells to your bones.

How to wash Them

The easiest way to wash collard greens is to separate the leaves and wash them one by one, being sure to wash closely to remove all of the dirt.

How to use Them in recipes

Collard greens are surprisingly versatile and can be used in a wide range of dishes! For starters, you can sauté ’em up and enjoy them in their lemon juice and garlic seasoned deliciousness. But, the world of this veggie is so much larger!

Use them as wraps the same way you’d use lettuce. Veggie wraps are even better with these greens because their thick texture makes them less prone to breakage! Here’s our step-by-step guide on how to make collard wraps.

You can also cook them up for enjoying in grain bowls, curries, stir fry dishes, chilis, salads, or soup. Throw some into your favorite green smoothie for extra nutrients!