“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 doesn’ 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!
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.
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.
Substituted chipotle peppers for hot sauce and it turned out great. Thanks for the recipe!
Monique,
Love your site. Your vegan collards are a staple in my home. Absolutely the best ever.
I have made this recipe so many times! It is SO good! I’ve had greens from restaurants and none of them come close to how delicious the greens are with your recipe! Thank you so much for sharing this recipe!
Sooo obsessed with this recipe! I use liquid smoke instead of the smoke salt recommended and the taste reminds me of my childhood. I absolutely LOVE these and everyone who tries these always wants the recipe. THANK YOU for this!
I too used liquid smoke and it was a great substitute. These are really good. I highly recommend.
I don’t have any smoked salt — I wonder whether smoked paprika would work.
Life changing recipe! I love collards but I only ever find it with meat in restaurants. This was the easiest and tastiest.
YUM! This is a fantastic recipe! I followed your directions but added more garlic than stated. And in our family, we always add frozen pepper strips (Trader Joe’s fire roasted bell peppers are always in my freezer) to our greens, layering them between the layers collards. This was a big hit with the family for its flavor, and for it being vegan!
Can you make this dish in a crockpot?