It makes sense that the American Heart Association has linked heart health to February since Valentine's Day is smack dab in the middle of the month and the world is glittered with hearts, candy, love and affection. I'm a firm believer that if you love someone, you will fix them something that will help prolong their life and something that tastes good, too.
When I first started this blog, 8 out of 10 recipes I posted were heart healthy because I was a guest chef at a health and wellness center and I culled most of my recipes from the classes I taught there. Every ingredient was low or no-fat, reduced calorie or sugar-free. Over the years I've changed my diet and my cooking style and instead of relying on pre-packaged "healthy" foods, I'm all about real, natural whole foods. While I still buy skim milk, today I'm more likely to use real butter (in moderation) and discard anything that is essentially a chemical $%&* storm.
Speaking of storm, North Carolina is under threat of a winter storm and I've been under the weather as of late. Plagued with a soul-crushing bought of sinusitis with a touch of the flu with a very high fever that lasted for three days, today is the first day I've felt like a normal person. Today is the first day that I've felt well enough to cook for myself. Lucky for me, it's Sunday and it's the only day I'm committed to cooking dinner. I think a big saucier pot of these greens will help me continue on the road to recovery. What do you think?
I'm slightly obsessed with collard greens right now and I've been eating them with nearly every meal. While kale is all trendy and the preferred dark, leafy green of the day, I prefer collard greens because I grew up eating them every which way. The most common way in the south is boiled to death with pieces of fat back or bacon, lots of salt, onions, spice and doused with vinegar. These greens don't taste like any of that.
Hearty collard greens or spiced just right with toasty cumin and smoky paprika and accented with fresh herbs, onions and heart-healthy olive oil for a Mediterranean taste. I love these greens. And I think you will, too.
Collard Greens with Cumin and Paprika
Yield: 3
Author: Nikki Miller-Ka of Nik Snacks
I'm slightly obsessed with collard greens right now and I've been eating them with nearly every meal. While kale is all trendy and the preferred dark, leafy green of the day, I prefer collard greens because I grew up eating them every which way. The most common way in the south is boiled to death with pieces of fat back or bacon, lots of salt, onions, spice and doused with vinegar. These greens don't taste like any of that.
Hearty collard greens or spiced just right with toasty cumin and smoky paprika and accented with fresh herbs, onions and heart-healthy olive oil for a Mediterranean taste. I love these greens. And I think you will, too. Collard greens are a favorite to use in this recipe but don't limit yourself. Be creative and use hearty romaine, peppery arugula, sweet escarole, delicate watercress, baby spinach, turnip or beet greens, trendy kale or rainbow chard to add a little color to your table.
Ingredients
6 cups greens
2 garlic cloves
1/2 cup chopped parsley
2 tsp paprika
2 tsp ground cumin
1 Tbsp olive oil
2 Tablespoons chopped shallots or red onion
Instructions
Start by discarding any inedible parts of the greens: stems and tough ribs.
Chiffonade the greens by stacking them up and rolling them up into a tube and slicing them crosswise.
Plunge the leaves into boiling salted water and cook until tender, 5 to 7 minutes. Drain.
Chop the garlic with the parsley then add the paprika and cuonion
Warm the oil in a wide skillet over medium heat. As soon as the oil releases its flavor and starts to shimmer, add the shallots, then the greens and the garlic/herb mixture. Cook, stirring frequently, until any extra moisture has evaporated.
Serve.
Calories
199.92
Fat (grams)
7.90
Sat. Fat (grams)
0.88
Carbs (grams)
28.51
Fiber (grams)
16.91
Net carbs
11.60
Sugar (grams)
3.82
Protein (grams)
11.78
Sodium (milligrams)
68.17
Cholesterol (grams)
0.00
Please consult a healthcare professional or dietician about nutritional needs for your diet. I am a communications professional, not a physician.
Lori of Foxes Love Lemons and Ethel of eatingininstead have organized the Sunday Supper crew's heart healthy recipes and I'm sure you can find a recipe or two to add to your loved ones' menu today! Check 'em out: Better for you breakfasts:
Join the #SundaySupper conversation on twitter on Sunday! We tweet throughout the day and share recipes from all over the world. Our weekly chat starts at 7:00 pm ET. Follow the #SundaySupper hashtag and remember to include it in your tweets to join in the chat. To get more great Sunday Supper Recipes, visit our website or check out our Pinterest board.
Would you like to join the Sunday Supper Movement? It’s easy. You can sign up by clicking here: Sunday Supper Movement.
Ms. Miller-Ka is a classically trained chef with a BA in English from East Carolina University and a Culinary Arts Associate Degree from Le Cordon Bleu-Miami.
Formerly, she’s worked as a researcher, an editorial assistant, reporter and guest blogger for various publications and outlets in the Southeast. She has also worked as a catering chef, a pastry chef, a butcher, a baker, and a biscuit-maker. Presently, she is a food editor, freelance food writer, and a tour guide for Taste Carolina Gourmet Food Tours.
Most of the dishes I make at home are whole, and homemade as well...It's more time consuming, but I love it! I'm not the biggest collard fan, but my husband is! I bet he'd love this.
The addition of cumin sounds enticing! I would love this with something like mesquite grilled chicken breast. Hopefully it warms up soon so I can break out the grill! Freezing cold right now in Ohio. :/
Collard greens are so delicious! Anytime someone tells me they don't like them I think it's just because they have never had them properly prepared. This recipe looks scrumptious and I love the addition of cumin.
My first time trying collard greens was only a few years ago, and I love how they maintain more of a bite than kale or spinach when cooked. I really should make them more often!
I love love love collards! My mom made them for us growing up all the time! And I really want to try it spiced up like you have! And I am all about fresh ingredients! YUM
we're totally on the same page - I'd much rather have moderate amount of real food than something full of chemicals. These collard greens look amazing. I don't think I've ever had them with cumin before!
I've never had collard greens before - but I do love cumin & paprika together! I think my husband, who is from the South, would enjoy this dish. I'll have to give it a try!
I love collard greens!! I grew up with them, and must admit I didn't fall in love with them though until I was an adult. But now I just love them - your recipe looks perfect!
Join the #SundaySupper conversation on twitter on Sunday! We tweet throughout the day and share recipes from all over the world. Our weekly chat starts at 7:00 pm ET. Follow the #SundaySupper hashtag and remember to include it in your tweets to join in the chat. To get more great Sunday Supper Recipes, visit our website or check out our Pinterest board.
Would you like to join the Sunday Supper Movement? It’s easy. You can sign up by clicking here: Sunday Supper Movement.
These with pepper sauce is a perfect side dish! Or actually I could make a meal of them with some cornbread.
ReplyDeleteWe love greens of all kinds and it is one of our favorite veggies to have on the side with our meal. Looks delicious.
ReplyDeleteMost of the dishes I make at home are whole, and homemade as well...It's more time consuming, but I love it! I'm not the biggest collard fan, but my husband is! I bet he'd love this.
ReplyDeleteSuch a yummy way to incorporate more greens into my diet :)
ReplyDeleteGet rid of the chemicals...I so so so agree! I love your greens. The spices and whole food approach won me. Yum!
ReplyDeleteGreat flavor combinations!!!
ReplyDeleteThe addition of cumin sounds enticing! I would love this with something like mesquite grilled chicken breast. Hopefully it warms up soon so I can break out the grill! Freezing cold right now in Ohio. :/
ReplyDeleteWe don't get collard greens up here, not sure if I have even had them before but they look fantastic all spiced up too!
ReplyDeletewe really like collards here! need to try with this spice combination.
ReplyDeleteYou always have such creative recipes, I love them! This sounds like the perfect side dish to me!
ReplyDeleteLove me some collard greens ... and the addition of cumin and paprika is awesome!
ReplyDeleteI love, love, love collard greens with vinegar and hot sauce. So good!
ReplyDeleteI first had collard greens when I visited a friend in Memphis years ago and loved them. Your version with cumin and paprika sounds fantastic!
ReplyDeleteCollard greens are so delicious! Anytime someone tells me they don't like them I think it's just because they have never had them properly prepared. This recipe looks scrumptious and I love the addition of cumin.
ReplyDeleteThese sound wonderful! It's been too long since I've had some good greens!
ReplyDeleteWe are VERY into greens at our house - but I have to admit we don't cook collard greens very often! I'm giving this recipe a try very soon!
ReplyDeleteI've never thought to add cumin to my greens
ReplyDeleteMy first time trying collard greens was only a few years ago, and I love how they maintain more of a bite than kale or spinach when cooked. I really should make them more often!
ReplyDeleteI do something similar with kale - what a great flavour combo!
ReplyDeleteGlad to hear that you're greening better! I miss collards so much since moving from the city. These sound absolutely perfect!
ReplyDeleteI love love love collards! My mom made them for us growing up all the time! And I really want to try it spiced up like you have! And I am all about fresh ingredients! YUM
ReplyDeleteThis is definitely the right way to kick things off - I love good, simple collard greens!
ReplyDeletewe're totally on the same page - I'd much rather have moderate amount of real food than something full of chemicals. These collard greens look amazing. I don't think I've ever had them with cumin before!
ReplyDeleteHope you're feeling better soon! We did get a nice little amount of snow last night! Might need these greens to help warm us up today!
ReplyDeleteMy hubby LOVES greens! This recipe is right up his alley :)
ReplyDeleteI've never had collard greens before - but I do love cumin & paprika together! I think my husband, who is from the South, would enjoy this dish. I'll have to give it a try!
ReplyDeleteYou mentioned a Mediterranean flavor and a few of my sister-in-law's favorite spices. I bet she'd love this!
ReplyDeleteThis sounds like a beauty of a side dish and perfect for get togethers.
ReplyDeleteThese look sooooo good, I love collard greens!
ReplyDeleteThis looks great!! YUM!
ReplyDeleteThis recipe looks great!
ReplyDeleteI love collard greens!! I grew up with them, and must admit I didn't fall in love with them though until I was an adult. But now I just love them - your recipe looks perfect!
ReplyDeleteGreat idea I like healthy meals. I love meals with paprika. This recipe must try everyone.
ReplyDelete