Vegetarian Braised Collard Greens

These vegetarian collard greens do away with the traditional pork in favor of shiitake mushrooms and smoked paprika for a similar hit of umami.

Braised collard greens are a classic Southern and soul food side dish – often served at barbecues, with fried chicken, and/or cornbread. They’re juicy, savory, slightly bitter, and thus great at balancing out rich foods.

Collard greens belong to the “brassica” family of vegetables – which includes broccoli, kale, and cabbage (including my beloved purple cabbage). Like their cousins, they’re packed with antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals, so they’re super good for you. Raw collard greens have a sturdy, fibrous texture. After braising, though, the leaves soften and take on a soft, silky texture.

Traditional Southern collard greens are flavored with smoked pork – either ham hocks or bacon. For a healthier (and more sustainable!) option without meat, I turn to a combo of shiitake mushrooms and smoked paprika. Together, these two impart a similar “meaty”, smoky flavor. My vegetarian version also has plenty of garlic and a kick from chili flakes. Let’s jump in!

What’s In These Vegetarian Collard Greens

This savory side dish consists of collard greens, shiitake mushrooms, fresh garlic, smoked paprika, chili flakes, and a bit of lemon juice to brighten everything up.

Vegetarian Collard Greens Step-by-Step

Prep the Greens: To start, clean each leaf thoroughly under running water. Because collard green stems are tough, you’ll need to remove them before cooking: fold each leaf in half along the stem and slice the stem off. After de-stemming, roughly chop the greens.

Cook the Mushrooms: In a large heavy-bottomed pot (like a Dutch oven), heat up some olive oil and cook the sliced mushrooms until golden brown. Then stir in the garlic and spices, and cook for another 30 seconds.

Braise the Greens: Add the greens, and stir to coat them in the oil and seasonings. Keep stirring until the collards are bright green and starting to wilt. Then add salt, pepper, and a bit of water, and cover tightly with a lid. Reduce the heat to low and cook until the greens are completely collapsed and darker in color, 25 to 30 minutes. Stir occasionally during cooking.

Season to Taste: When they’re ready, turn the heat off and stir in some lemon juice. Taste and season with more salt or pepper if needed.

Ingredient Notes + Substitutions

• Shiitake Mushrooms: These mushrooms have a uniquely savory flavor that’s ideal for replacing meat in many vegan scenarios and essential for these collard greens. They’re available in most supermarkets and in Asian stores. If you can’t find fresh ones, look for them in the freezer section.
• Smoked Paprika: Adds the smokiness traditional collard greens get from smoked pork.
• Chili Flakes: Lends a bit of heat to the greens, though not totally necessary.

More healthy greens this way…

• Creamy Spinach Pesto Pasta
• Chickpea Spinach Curry
• Palak Tofu
• Vegan Spanakopita Pie

Let me know if you try this recipe! Give it a rating below and leave a comment, and don’t forget to tag your creation with @thenewbaguette on Instagram.

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