Best Easy Fatback and Greens Recipe

Slow-cooked greens seasoned with fatback deliver rich, smoky flavor in a traditional Southern family side dish. This healthy, vitamin-rich preparation is a soul food staple that pairs perfectly with cornbread.

Cook 90 min Difficulty NORMAL 170 kcal
#southern #soul food #greens #traditional #comfort food
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Ingredients
Main ingredients
  • collard greens 2 lbs
  • fatback 6 oz
  • yellow onion 1 piece
  • garlic cloves 2 cloves
  • water 4 cups
Seasonings/Sauce
  • apple cider vinegar 2 tbsp
  • kosher salt 1 tsp
  • black pepper 0.5 tsp
  • red pepper flakes 0.25 tsp
Nutrition summary
Carbohydrates 8 g 19%
Protein 7 g 16%
Fat 12 g 65%
Serving size 180g
Cooking steps
  1. 1

    Rinse and thoroughly clean the collard greens, removing thick stems and cutting leaves into bite-sized pieces.

  2. 2

    Heat a large Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the fatback slices and cook for 6–8 minutes until they render fat and turn golden and crisp, stirring occasionally.

  3. 3

    Add chopped onion and minced garlic to the pot with the fatback, sautéing over medium-low heat until the onion is soft and translucent, about 4 minutes.

  4. 4

    Pile in the prepared greens, turning with tongs. Pour in water, then stir in apple cider vinegar, salt, black pepper, and red pepper flakes.

  5. 5

    Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer, reduce heat to low, partially cover, and slow-cook for 60–75 minutes. Stir occasionally, ensuring the greens are tender but not mushy.

  6. 6

    Taste and adjust seasoning before serving. Serve hot with crispy pieces of fatback on top for extra flavor.

Personalized Q&A
Q. What's the key ingredient in this fatback and greens recipe?
The defining ingredients are collard greens and fatback. Collard greens bring earthiness and heartiness, while fatback renders a rich, smoky depth and infuses the dish with classic Southern flavor.
Q. How do you control the texture so the greens remain tender and not overcooked?
After simmering, checking the greens every 15 minutes will help keep them moist and silky but not mushy. Reduce heat and partially cover the pot to ensure the greens slow-cook evenly.
Q. What is the best heat control for rendering fatback?
Use medium heat to render the fatback until golden and crisp. This ensures the fat melts slowly to flavor the greens without burning, and gives you delicious crispy pieces for topping.
Q. How many calories and how much protein are in one serving?
Each serving contains about 170 kcal and 7g protein, offering a balanced contribution of flavor and nutrition.
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