There are many New Year’s Day eating traditions that are supposed to bring good luck, but eating greens is one of the most common. Greens resemble money, and it is thought by many worldwide that the more you eat on New Year’s Day, the more money you will have during the upcoming year. The most common green eaten is cabbage, but there are many other greens out there to explore. At my house, my husband with the German mother always makes a marvelous pork roast with sauerkraut, but being from the south we always include collard greens on the side.
Collard greens may be traditionally southern, but that doesn’t mean the rest of you can’t eat them too! If you have never tried collard greens, you really should. Not only are they delicious, but they are super nutritious. They are low in fat and calories, but high in vitamins A, C, and k, folates, several B-complex vitamins, iron, calcium, magnesium, selenium, and zinc.
Here is a recipe my husband uses to prepare them. It is a very simple, basic recipe, but is really good. It does contain bacon fat, so if you are going for nutrition, you might want to leave that out. The bacon fat is traditional however, which means it will at least show up on New Year’s Day.
Southern Collard Greens
Ingredients
- 2 lbs. collard greens, washed well, stems removed, and sliced into 1 inch strips
- 3 Tbsps. bacon fat
- 1 tsp. salt
- 1 tsp. black pepper
- 1 Tbsp. onion powder
- 32 oz. chicken broth
- 2 cups water
Instructions
- Stir all ingredients into a large pot. Bring to a boil.
- Reduce heat and let simmer 45 minutes to an hour or until greens are tender.
Sources: Epicurious Nutrition and You