A mix of kale, collard greens, and mustard greens cooked Southern-style with bacon and turnips! This Southern mixed greens recipe is easy, delicious, and packed with flavor.
A few years ago, I uploaded my recipe for Southern Collard Greens, and so many of y’all have tried and loved the recipe. Since the recipe was a quick fan-favorite, I decided to come back with another southern greens recipe, but this time the greens are a flavorful mix of different greens.
I have a ton of Southern-style greens recipes, and each one is a bit different! That’s what happens when you eat greens your whole life… you get a lot of people cooking all different kinds of greens because collard greens are a Southern staple. So, in this recipe, we’re mixing some of my favorite fresh leafy greens with bacon, onions, garlic, and turnips for the ultimate mixed greens recipe.
Turnip greens: Turnip greens are often cooked like collards or mustard greens. They can be sautéed, steamed, or added to soups and stews. The smaller leaves can be used raw in salads.
How to Cook Mixed Greens with Turnips
Ready to make the best mixed greens? It just takes a few easy steps! You can find all of these steps, plus the complete ingredient measurements in the recipe card at the end of this post. Let’s get started!
Step 3: Cook Down the Greens
Next, we’re adding the greens into the large pot of veggies and bacon. Now, you won’t be able to fit all of the greens in the pot at once, and that’s okay! As they begin to cook down, you can add more.
Once all the greens are in the pot with the bacon, onion, bell peppers, and garlic, we add the seasonings. I keep it simple: salt, black pepper, and red pepper flakes for some heat. However, you can adjust the seasonings based on your tastes! You can use onion powder and garlic powder, your favorite seasoning salt, or try my Rosamae Seasonings green seasoning! It has everything you need for flavorful greens—a hint of sweet, smoky, and spicy. It’s perfect on roasted vegetables too! (I also have a salt-free greens seasoning for those watching their salt intake.)
TURNIP GREENS VS COLLARD GREENS!!!
FAQ
Can you substitute collard greens for turnip greens?
How do you get the bitterness out of cooked turnip greens?
Do turnips and collards taste the same?
Are collard greens better than turnip greens?
Turnip greens are known to be a bit on the sweeter side with a more robust flavor. You will immediately be able to tell apart this leafy green when compared to collard green which can be a bit bitter. When cooked, collard greens can taste more or less like turnip greens with a few flavor deviations.
Can turnips greens and kale be frozen like collard greens?
Yes. First you need to be blanched them for 2 minutes. Then drain the greens and plunge them into the ice water. Let them cool for the same amount of time as blanching. Drain them well and then squeeze as much water out of them as you can. After you have blanched and cooled the turnips greens and kale, give them a thorough squeeze to get as much water out of them as you can. Place the prepared greens in freezing containers or in ziplock bags. Squeeze as much air out of the bags as you can. Label and date the bags and place them in your freezer. They can be frozen for over a year.
How do you tell a turnip Green from a collard green?
Turnip greens will have slender leaves and may also be whitish or reddish at the top. Another great way to tell these two apart is if they come with the full vegetable. Turnip leaves attached to turnips make them easier to identify whereas collard greens are sold as individual leaves .
Can you freeze collard & turnip greens?
To freeze collard and turnip greens, first, steam them using any pot or steamer. Once cooked, tender, and reduced in size, you will then have to pack them tightly into a mold. We recommend that you use a measuring cup. Tightly pack each leafy green into the cup so that they take the shape of a hockey puck.