Sweet and Spicy Bitter Greens
Beth Kirby | {local milk}
- Serves
- 2 as a side
This is a modern take on the southern staple: a "mess o' greens." Traditionally tough greens like collards are cooked low and slow with ham hocks and seasoned with sugar, vinegar, and hot sauce. In this version, bitter dandelion greens and spicy mustard greens meet a quick sauté in bacon grease along with fragrant shallots and garlic. A quicker, fresher take these remain toothsome and bright, and are seasoned at the end with honey, apple cider vinegar, and hot sauce. And, of course, tossed with bacon.
Ingredients
- 2 slices of bacon, fried crispy, grease reserved
- 3 cup dandelion greens, first 3 inches of stems discarded, cut into rough 1-inch ribbons
- 1/3 cup diced shallot
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 3 cup mustard greens, tough stems discarded, sliced in rough 1"x3" ribbons
- 2 3-fingered pinches of kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
- 1 teaspoon vinegar based hot sauce, like Louisiana, Crystal, or Frank's
- 1 teaspoon honey
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Directions
- Step 1
In a large skillet, fry the bacon crispy. Remove, dice, and reserve. Reserve the grease in the pan.
- Step 2
Add the shallots and garlic to the hot grease and cook, stirring and scraping up the brown bits, for about 2 to 3 minutes until fragrant and translucent.
- Step 3
Add the greens, 1/3 at a time, adding the next third as soon as the first one wilts enough to allow them into the pan. About 20 seconds between each batch. Add 2 three-fingered pinches of salt, the vinegar, the honey, and the hot sauce. Stir to combine, and cook greens until just wilted but still bright, about 5 minutes.
- Step 4
Season with additional honey, vinegar, or hot sauce to taste if desired, and serve tossed with the diced bacon.