Best Easy Potlikker Recipes

EASY POTLIKKER

Steps:

• Remove the thick ribs from the collard greens. Wash the greens thoroughly and chop coarsely.
• Melt 2 T butter in a pot over medium heat and add the bacon and onion. Saute until bacon is almost done and onion is translucent, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and crushed red pepper flakes and saute for an additional 2 minutes.
• Add water and increase heat to high. Bring to a boil. Cover, turn heat to medium and simmer 30 minutes.
• Stir in the broth, sugar and vinegar into the pot and bring again to a boil. Stir in the greens, allowing them to wilt a bit to make more room if necessary. Simmer over medium-low heat, partially covered, about 50 - 60 minutes, or until tender. Add additional stock or water if too much liquid boils away.
• Check for seasoning and add pepper and the remaining tablespoon of butter. Add salt only if necessary (since the bacon and broth are salty). Ladle greens with broth into bowls and serve with hot sauce and cornbread.

POT LIKKER SOUP RECIPE

Steps:

• Add chopped ham to a Dutch oven over medium heat. Heat for about 2-3 minutes and then add olive oil, onion and carrots. Saute until becomes tender, about 2 more minutes. Then add in garlic and cook for 1 more minute. Pour in chicken broth and cook until has reduced by about ½.
• Add greens and water. Boil over medium heat for about 45 minutes until greens are extremely tender.

PURPLE HULL PEAS AND MUSTARD GREENS IN SMOKY POTLIKKER

Steps:

• Over medium heat, warm the oil in a large Dutch oven or other soup pot. Add the onion and celery and cook for 5 minutes, or until soft. Don't let the vegetables brown. Stir in the garlic and cook another minute. Stir in the chile, bay leaves, thyme and allspice.
• If using ham hocks, add them along with 10 cups of water, bring to a boil and skim off any foam. Partly cover the pot with a lid and simmer for 2 hours. If using smoked turkey wings or legs, add 9 cups of water, bring to a boil and skim off any foam. Partly cover with lid and simmer for one hour.
• Stir in the peas, partly cover the pot with the lid and simmer until the peas are tender. This will take about 20 minutes for fresh or frozen peas or as long as 1 1/2 hours for peas that were dried and soaked.
• While the beans cook, wash the mustard greens in several changes of water. Taste a leaf to be certain they are not gritty. Tear the greens into bite-size pieces and discard the tough middle stem. Alternately, pre-cut, bagged mustard greens can be used.
• Remove the hocks or wings to a platter and cool. Take the meat off the bone, chop and add to the pot. Discard any skin and connective tissue.
• Add the shredded mustard greens and tomatoes to the pot and simmer just until the greens are wilted, or about 10 minutes. Stir in the vinegar, sugar, salt, black pepper and green onions. Taste and adjust seasoning. Ladle into warm, shallow bowls and scatter a few celery leaves on top. Serve with cornbread and pass pepper vinegar or hot sauce at the table.