Kickin' Vegetarian Collard Greens

Corn bread, black eyed peas, and collards are a New Year's Day tradition in the South - the corn bread represents gold, black-eyed peas coins, and collards match the green of US paper currency. Since leaving the South, where I grew up, for the Pacific NW, I've begun a tradition of hosting an open house-style brunch on New Year's day and this is my go-to recipe for this fun occasion.

• Preparation Time: 20 mins
• Cooking Time: 40 mins
• Total Time: 60 mins
• Calories: 238 Calories

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon butter
• 1 tablespoon brown sugar
• 1 tablespoon molasses
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 2 bay leaves
• 1 cup vegetable broth
• 1 tablespoon liquid smoke flavoring
• 4 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
• 1 large onion, halved and thinly sliced
• 2 sprigs fresh thyme, leaves stripped
• 2 (14 ounce) cans chopped tomatoes
• 2 pounds collard greens, chopped
• 1 ½ cups cooked white beans (Optional)

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Heat olive oil and butter in a large pot over medium heat until butter melts and starts to brown, 1 to 2 minutes. Add onion and garlic; cook and stir until onion turns translucent, about 5 minutes. Stir in thyme and bay leaves.

Step 2

Pour chopped tomatoes, vegetable broth, brown sugar, molasses, and liquid smoke into the pot; bring to a simmer. Stir in collard greens gently. Reduce heat to low and simmer, covered, until tender, about 30 minutes.