“What! You didn’t use any meat in these greens? Yeah right!” is usually what I hear when I serve these vegetarian collard greens. They can stand right up to my soulful, southern style collard greens recipe with its head held high. They are bursting with flavor and yes, even the pot liquor is bangin! : )
Watch me make these vegetarian southern collard greens from start to finish!
This is my favorite family recipe for collard greens made WITHOUT chicken broth and smoked meat. It’s healthier but don’t expect to have to sacrifice taste! You won’t even miss the meat.
Pass the hot sauce! It’s on and poppin!!!
This vegetarian southern collard greens recipe is family approved which isn’t easy to do in my deep south, tell it like it is, family. Try bringing a pot of collard greens to dinner that doesn’t have a slab of smoked meat in the pot and there are bound to be some issues and major side eye. Not with this recipe though!
Smokey, slightly salty, slightly vinegary goodness!
These collard greens are full of southern flavor! The key to a pot of guuuud, yes guuuuud, vegetarian southern collard greens, or any kind of collard greens for that matter, is to create a savory broth to slowly simmer the collards in. This recipe starts with a broth made with rich vegetable broth for maximum flavor, fresh garlic and onions, smoked applewood salt for that smokey, bacon taste and red pepper flakes for a kick. The collard greens just soak up all that yumminess.
Yum!! Here is the flavorful, smokey broth we’ll be simmering our collard greens in!
I love this recipe because it’s so easy and sometimes I just want a meat-free version of soulful dishes like collard greens.
Vegan Southern Collard Greens
Ingredients
- 1/2 small yellow onion diced
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 2-3 cups vegetable broth I only used 2 cups
- 1 teaspoon applewood smoked salt or any kind of smoked salt
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 2 lbs collard greens
- black pepper
- hot sauce
Instructions
- Coat a large deep skillet or pot with vegetable oil.
- Saute onions until almost tender over medium heat and then add in garlic.
- Cook until onion and garlic are fragrant, about 2-3 minutes.
- Add in vegetable broth.
- Season broth with smoked salt and red pepper flakes.
- Taste and adjust the seasonings if needed. Make sure it's to your liking because this is how your greens will taste.
- Bring to a simmer and reduce heat.
- Add in the greens. Green will wilt down as they cook.
- Simmer for 1 hr to 1 hr 30 mins. Do not boil. Add more vegetable broth if needed. May need more or less time so be sure to check them after 30-45 minutes. When done, greens will be dark green, tender and will not have a raw taste.
- Add in more smoked salt, black pepper, red pepper flakes and hot sauce, if desired. ( I always do!)
- Enjoy!
- Add hot sauce or vinegar if desired.
Video
Notes
Any type of smoked salt can be used.
Cooking time may vary.
Add fresh tomatoes and red peppers if desired.
This recipe was wonderful. Prepared as directed with one variation, I added a touch of brown sugar to take the bitterness away.
Thanks so much for this wonderful recipe!! My husband is the chef in the house and he cooks vegetarian and vegan. He loved this dish and we are both proud of me for making something tasty and healthy!
I’ve made these a few times now with applewood smoked salt and adding extra garlic and onions, as well as A LOT of red pepper flakes, but otherwise kept to your recipe. It’s simple and amazing. I’ve shared your website with others who’ve found equal success in preparing this. These are my favorite greens EVER!!! And guilt-free! Thanks so much for sharing this. I can’t wait to check out some of your other recipes! 🙂
Recipe was easy to follow
I like collard greens a lot but don’t eat them because I don’t eat meat and they usually include me however I won’t be making this again I didn’t come out good flavor was way off and I had a weird sourness to it and I followed the recipe so if you like that then I guess it’s a good recipe but we didn’t.
Some things you’ve got to give up as a vegan there’s not always a substitute 🙁
I had never made collards before today but I’ve eaten them many times. I’m vegan so was looking for a good recipe. This one NAILED it. Best collards i have ever had. I didnt have the smoked salt so I used liquid smoke. I had two large bowls and will go back for more.
Thanks for sharing. I recently went vegan but also oil-free (per Dr. Esselstyn) so I just cooked the onions and garlic in vegetable stock.
Good idea. Never thought of replacing oil with stock. Thanks
U can water sautée your veggies . Look it up . Changed my life
The best vegan greens recipe out there. I think the smoked salt makes the difference – better than liquid smoke.