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Southern Mustard Greens in bowl
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Southern Mustard Greens

Slowly braised with bacon and smoked turkey, delivers a spicy, peppery side dish guaranteed to impress. This wonderful brassica provides a tender bite, heat, sweetness, and a pleasant bitterness for a soul food superfood.
Course Main
Cuisine African, Southern
Diet Gluten Free
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes
Servings 6
Calories 240kcal
Author Imma

Equipment

  • 5-quart cast iron pot, saucepan, or 12- inch skillet  
  • Chef’s knife

Ingredients

  • 2 pounds (910g) mustard greens (about 2 bunches)
  • 4-5 strips thick-sliced bacon, diced (about 4 ounces) 
  • 1 tablespoon (15ml) oil
  • 1 medium onion, chopped 
  • 1 tablespoon (8g) garlic, minced  
  • 1-2 cups (225-450g) smoked turkey, chopped 
  • salt and pepper to taste 
  • 2-3 teaspoon (8-12g) Creole seasoning  
  • 1 cup (240ml) chicken broth or water and a bouillon cube
  • 1-2 teaspoons (2-4g) red pepper flakes (optional)

Instructions

  • Remove all the mustard leaves from the stem. Then wash, rinse, and chop the leaves into large chunks. Discard the stems and reserve chopped leaves.
  • Heat a medium or large Dutch oven. Add chopped bacon, and cook for 5-6 minutes or until browned. 
  • Add about a tablespoon of oil to the rendered bacon fat. There should be 2-3 tablespoons of grease in the pot. Add onions, garlic, chopped smoked turkey, and sauté for 3-5 minutes.
  • Gently stir in the mustard greens a little at a time until wilted. Add the Creole seasoning and stir.
  • Add the smoked turkey bone (if you have one) to the pot with chicken broth. Add pepper flakes if desired.
  • Bring to a boil and simmer for about 20 minutes or until the mustard greens are as tender as you want. Return the bacon to the pot and stir.
  • Remove from the stove and remove the bone.
  • Serve hot with biscuits, hot sauce, and ham.

Notes

  • Get rid of some bitterness with a dash of red wine vinegar or freshly squeezed lemsignificantlye.
  • When buying mustard greens, make sure they're not blooming. The leaves on plants old enough to bloom are hot enough to scorch your tongue.
  • Please keep in mind that nutritional information is a rough estimate and can vary greatly based on the products used.

Nutrition

Serving: 100g | Calories: 240kcal | Carbohydrates: 11g | Protein: 16g | Fat: 16g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 7g | Trans Fat: 0.04g | Cholesterol: 45mg | Sodium: 573mg | Potassium: 829mg | Fiber: 6g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 5511IU | Vitamin C: 109mg | Calcium: 197mg | Iron: 4mg