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A forkful of southern collard greens with ham hocks held in the air.
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5 from 3 votes

Collard Greens with Ham Hocks

Collard Greens with Ham Hocks is a traditional Southern dish that you should know how to make! These are delightfully smoky, tender, and full of plenty of flavor.
Prep Time5 minutes
Cook Time4 hours 5 minutes
Total Time4 hours 10 minutes
Servings: 12
Calories: 176kcal

Ingredients

  • 2 ham hocks
  • 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
  • 64 ounces unsalted chicken stock
  • 2 Tablespoons garlic powder
  • 2 Tablespoons onion powder
  • 2 pounds collard greens bagged already chopped and rinsed for you!
  • 1 Tablespoon seasoned salt
  • 1 teaspoon fresh black pepper
  • 2 Tablespoons unsalted butter

Instructions

  • Get out and measure your ingredients.
  • Score the ham hocks in a diamond pattern, cutting through the skin to expose the meat.
  • In a dutch oven over medium-high heat, add the oil and sear the ham hocks on all sides, about 5 minutes total.
  • Add the chicken stock.
  • Add garlic powder, and onion powder, stir in the seasonings.
  • Bring to a boil, reduce the heat to a simmer, cover, and simmer for 2 hours. Take the ham hocks out and place them on a plate to cool.
  • While the ham hocks cool, add the collards to the pot.
  • Stir in the seasoned salt and black pepper.
  • Bring to a boil, reduce to a simmer, cover, and simmer for 2 hours, stirring occasionally.
  • Once the ham hocks are cool to the touch, pick the meat off the bone. Discard the bone, skin, and gristle. Add the meat to the pot with the collards at any time. Add the butter.
  • Stir it in. Taste and adjust seasoning if necessary.
  • Enjoy every bite!

Notes

  • Taste the greens before adding extra salt. The ham hocks and seasoned salt already add plenty of flavor and saltiness. 
  • Reheat the greens gently over low to medium-low heat. Add a splash of the reserved cooking liquid if needed to keep them moist. 
  • You may cook the ham hocks without searing, but searing them first, adds extra flavor to the cooking liquid.

Nutrition

Calories: 176kcal | Carbohydrates: 8g | Protein: 14g | Fat: 11g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 36mg | Sodium: 712mg | Potassium: 423mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 3853IU | Vitamin C: 27mg | Calcium: 194mg | Iron: 1mg