Friday, December 27, 2013

Creamy Collards with Smithfield Ham



    1/4 cup olive oil
    1 cup finely chopped onion
    1 Tbs. finely chopped garlic
    1-1/2 cups chopped Smithfield ham, other country-cured ham, or prosciutto
    2 cups homemade or low-salt canned chicken stock
    2 large heads (about 3 lb. total) collard greens, washed, stemmed, and cut into 1/4-inch strips
    2 cups heavy cream
    Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

Heat the olive oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. Add the onion and garlic; sauté until translucent, about 5 minutes. Add the ham; sauté for about 1 minute. Add the stock and collard greens; cover and cook, stirring occasionally, until the collards are tender, about 15 minutes. (The greens will diminish in volume as they cook.) Add the heavy cream and cook until it reduces and thickens slightly, another 10 to 15 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.