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Braised Collard Greens With Garlic

    A nutritional powerhouse and a classic southern dish these collard greens with garlic get a healthy makeover.

    garlic braised collard greens with garlic

    Are you a fan of the Biggest Loser? This season is themed “No Excuses” and each week they highlight popular excuses people give for not leading a healthy lifestyle. A common excuse is “I can’t afford healthy food.” Anyone who says that has never purchased dark, leafy greens. A giant bunch of kale or collards is about 50 cents a serving. Considering that calorie for calorie, dark leafy vegetables are the most concentrated source of nutrition of any food, I would say that 50 cents is worth it.

    Ham hocks are a tasty and cheap way to add a deep, smoky flavor to leafy greens without adding too many calories. They often are sold in packs of two so use one for this recipe and the other for my delicious Split Pea Soup.

    Why are leafy greens good for you?

    Excellent source of Vitamin K which helps prevents osteoporosis, fights diabetes and also fights inflammation.

    Helps lower cholesterol: greens help bind bile in the digestive tract which helps remove cholesterol from the body.

    Loaded in fiber which helps fill you up with few calories.

    Greens have zero carbohydrates which help keep blood sugars low.

    Your fork is waiting.

    garlic braised collard greens with garlic

    Braised Collard Greens With Garlic

    4.75 stars average
    A nutritional powerhouse, and a classic southern dish these collard greens with garlic get a healthy makeover.
    PREP: 10 mins
    COOK: 45 mins
    TOTAL: 55 mins
    Servings: 4

    Ingredients
     

    • 1 tsp extra virgin olive oil
    • 1 pinch red chili flakes
    • 4 cloves garlic (thinly sliced)
    • 12 c collards (sliced in 2 in strips)
    • 1 ham hock (optional)
    • 1 c chicken broth (low sodium)
    • 1 tbs sugar
    • 2 tbs lemon juice
    • Salt and pepper to taste

    Instructions
     

    • Heat a large pot over medium high heat and add olive oil, chili flakes and sliced garlic.
    • Stir and cook for 30-60 seconds to allow juices to be released.
    • Add collards and season with salt and pepper.
    • Stir collards around to allow them to get coated in the oil and spices.
    • Add ham hock, chicken broth and sugar.
    • Bring to a boil them turn to low.
    • Place lid on the greens and simmer for 45 minutes.
    • Add lemon juice right before serving and check for seasoning.
    • Add salt and pepper if needed.

    Notes

    Excellent source of Vitamin A and C. Good source Calcium.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 61kcalCarbohydrates: 10.7gProtein: 3.2gFat: 1.6gSaturated Fat: 0.2gSodium: 446mgFiber: 3.9g

    SHOW AND TELL ON INSTAGRAM!Show me your creation and rate it below! Mention @thelemonbowl or tag #thelemonbowl! I would LOVE to see!
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    Liz DellaCroce

    Liz Della Croce is the creator and author of The Lemon Bowl, a healthy food blog. Since 2010, Liz has been sharing delicious recipes that just so happen to be healthy. By using real ingredients with an emphasis on seasonality, Liz has built a growing audience of loyal readers who crave good food for their families. Click Here To Subscribe to my newsletter:

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