This healthy vegan collard greens creation really took me by surprise. Why? Because I had no idea that I liked collard greens.
Collard greens are a cruciferous vegetable like broccoli, cabbage and kale. Most people think of collard greens as a part of southern US cooking and many don't know how to cook them properly. I certainly fell into that category.
Collard greens are considered one of the healthiest foods in the world for numerous reasons. First, they are a very good source of vitamin B1, vitamin B6 and iron. They are also a good source of vitamin E, copper, protein, magnesium, phosphorus, vitamin B5, folate, omega-3 fatty acids, niacin, vitamin B1 and potassium.
If I still can't convince you to try these dark, beautiful, leafy greens, you can certainly substitute this vegan collard greens recipe with cabbage, spinach or kale.
Want to learn other ways to enjoy your leafy greens? Try these yummy recipes; Hemp Seeds, Cannellini Beans & Greens, Kale & Quinoa Salad with Vegan Green Goddess Dressing and Kale Marinara with Chickpeas.
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Healthy Vegan Collard Greens with Potatoes & Nutritional Yeast
- 1 large bunch collard greens, stemmed and washed thoroughly
- ¾ pounds yellow fleshed potatoes like Yukon gold (peeled or unpeeled)
- ½ cup vegetable broth
- 1 small onion, thinly sliced
- 2-4 garlic cloves, chopped
- ½ teaspoon salt
- Fresh ground black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon red chili flakes (optional)
- ¼ cup nutritional yeast
- Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Fill a bowl with ice water. When the pot of water comes. to a boil, add a generous pinch of salt and add the collard greens. Blanch for four minutes, and transfer to the ice water with a slotted spoon. Save the water the greens were cooked in. Drain and squeeze out the extra water from the greens and chop coarsely. Set aside.
- Heat ½ cup of vegetable broth over medium heat in a dutch oven. Add the onion and cook until softened, approximately 3 minutes. Add the salt, ground black pepper, garlic and red pepper flakes. Add more vegetable broth if sticking.
- Continue to saute for another 2 minutes.
- Stir in the collard greens. Mix together. Add 1 cup of the cooking water and set another cup of cooking liquid aside. Bring to a simmer, cover partially and simmer over low heat for 45 minutes adding more cooking liquid as needed. You always want it simmering in the cooking liquid.
- While the greens are cooking, bring the left over collard green water to a boil. Scrub the potatoes (skin on or off works). Cut them in quarters and add to the pot of boiling collard green water. Bring to a boil, lower the heat and simmer until tender 15-22 minutes. Uncover the greens add the nutritional yeast and then the potatoes. Combine and using a fork or wooden spoon, crush the potatoes into the greens keeping it chunky, Taste for seasoning.
What is nutritional yeast?
Nutritional yeast (affectionately called “nooch”) is a deactivated form of yeast.. The key word here is deactivated. Don’t try putting nutritional yeast in your next loaf of bread. It won’t make them rise! Even though they come from the same fungus, instant yeast and nutritional yeast are never interchangeable. Its flavor is nutty and savory, making it a delicious addition to all sorts of dishes. It also has lots of health benefits.
What is nutritional yeast?
Hi Maitreye – You can buy nutritional yeast online. Nutritional yeast is a deactivated yeast that is often fortified with B12. It is sold in the form of yellow flakes and has a nutty, cheesy flavor. Many people use it in place of cheese. Hope that helps.
Nutritional yeast (affectionately called “nooch”) is a deactivated form of yeast.. The key word here is deactivated. Don’t try putting nutritional yeast in your next loaf of bread. It won’t make them rise! Even though they come from the same fungus, instant yeast and nutritional yeast are never interchangeable. Its flavor is nutty and savory, making it a delicious addition to all sorts of dishes. It also has lots of health benefits. https://www.iherb.com/pr/bragg-nutritional-yeast-4-5-oz-127-g/56885?gclid=Cj0KCQiArt6PBhCoARIsAMF5wajPiCAHC0_mwdF6fkXBV63Dy6-OXOsrAKPCPGxklJPUsMnoFvrZJtEaAixtEALw_wcB
Nutritional yeast (affectionately called “nooch”) is a deactivated form of yeast.. The key word here is deactivated. Don’t try putting nutritional yeast in your next loaf of bread. It won’t make them rise! Even though they come from the same fungus, instant yeast and nutritional yeast are never interchangeable. Its flavor is nutty and savory, making it a delicious addition to all sorts of dishes. It also has lots of health benefits.
Can’t figure out the need to blanch the collards.
Hi Judi – I haven’t revisited this recipe in a long time, but it is so important for those greens not to be bitter which is why I blanch them first. I just made collard greens yesterday without blanching and just added to a soup and they were delicious soI do think you can skip that step. Hope that helps. Thanks for stopping by.
How To Blanch Collard Greens ~ First wash the Collard Greens. Then cut off the thick stem at the base of the leaf. Use a small knife to trim the thick spine down the middle of the leaf. Cut it so the spine is as flat as can be with the leaf. Add 1 Collard leaf at a time to the simmering water, holding the leaf down gently with a tongs so that leaf is totally submerged in water. Simmer each leaf 30-60 seconds. Don’t go any longer or the leaf will rip. You can also use them as veggie wraps.
This recipe is outstanding,
I sometimes add other veggies too like carrots, galic and these seam to complement well.
I frequently have French lentils on the side.
Thank you for this recipe, it’s one of my favorites!!
Thank you so much for your feedback and so happy you enjoyed this recipe! Have a wonderful day.