America's Test Kitchen LogoCook's Country LogoCook's Illustrated LogoAmerica's Test Kitchen LogoCook's Country LogoCook's Illustrated Logo

Braised Winter Greens with Chorizo

By America's Test Kitchen

Published on November 14, 2008

Time

1¼ hours

Yield

Serves 4

Braised Winter Greens with Chorizo

Ingredients

8 ounces chorizo sausage, cut into ¼-inch-thick half moons3 tablespoons olive oil 1 medium onion, minced (about 1 cup)5 medium garlic cloves, minced or pressed through a garlic press (about 5 teaspoons)1 ½ teaspoons ground cumin 2 pounds kale or collard greens, ribs removed, leaves chopped into 3-inch pieces and rinsed (about 24 loosely packed cups; see related step-by-step below)1 cup low-sodium chicken broth 1 cup water Table salt 2 - 3 teaspoons juice from 1 lemonGround black pepper

Before You Begin

For best results, be sure your greens are fully cooked and tender in step 1 before moving on to step 2.

Instructions

  1. Cut chorizo sausage into 1/4-inch-thick half moons. Heat 2 tablespoons oil in Dutch oven over medium heat until shimmering. Cook chorizo in oil until lightly browned, 4 to 6 minutes. Using slotted spoon, transfer chorizo to paper towel-lined plate. Add onion and cook, stirring frequently, until softened and beginning to brown, 4 to 5 minutes. Add garlic and cumin; cook until garlic is fragrant, about 1 minute. Add half of greens and stir until beginning to wilt, about 1 minute. Add remaining greens, broth, water, and ¼ teaspoon salt; quickly cover pot and reduce heat to medium-low. Cook, stirring occasionally, until greens are tender, 25 to 35 minutes for kale and 35 to 45 minutes for collards.
  2. Remove lid and increase heat to medium-high. Cook, stirring occasionally, until most of liquid has evaporated (bottom of pot will be almost dry and greens will begin to sizzle), 8 to 12 minutes. Remove pot from heat; stir in 2 teaspoons lemon juice and remaining tablespoon olive oil. Season with salt, pepper, and remaining teaspoon lemon juice. Stir reserved chorizo into greens before serving.
Braised Winter Greens with Chorizo
Photography by Daniel J. van Ackere. Styling by Kendra McKnight.

Braised Winter Greens with Chorizo

Headshot of America's Test Kitchen
By America's Test Kitchen
Save

Time

1¼ hours

Yield

Serves 4

Ingredients

8 ounces chorizo sausage, cut into ¼-inch-thick half moons
3 tablespoons olive oil
1 medium onion, minced (about 1 cup)
5 medium garlic cloves, minced or pressed through a garlic press (about 5 teaspoons)
1 ½ teaspoons ground cumin
2 pounds kale or collard greens, ribs removed, leaves chopped into 3-inch pieces and rinsed (about 24 loosely packed cups; see related step-by-step below)
1 cup low-sodium chicken broth
1 cup water
Table salt
2 - 3 teaspoons juice from 1 lemon
Ground black pepper

Test Kitchen Techniques

Ingredients

8 ounces chorizo sausage, cut into ¼-inch-thick half moons
3 tablespoons olive oil
1 medium onion, minced (about 1 cup)
5 medium garlic cloves, minced or pressed through a garlic press (about 5 teaspoons)
1 ½ teaspoons ground cumin
2 pounds kale or collard greens, ribs removed, leaves chopped into 3-inch pieces and rinsed (about 24 loosely packed cups; see related step-by-step below)
1 cup low-sodium chicken broth
1 cup water
Table salt
2 - 3 teaspoons juice from 1 lemon
Ground black pepper

Test Kitchen Techniques

Ingredients

8 ounces chorizo sausage, cut into ¼-inch-thick half moons
3 tablespoons olive oil
1 medium onion, minced (about 1 cup)
5 medium garlic cloves, minced or pressed through a garlic press (about 5 teaspoons)
1 ½ teaspoons ground cumin
2 pounds kale or collard greens, ribs removed, leaves chopped into 3-inch pieces and rinsed (about 24 loosely packed cups; see related step-by-step below)
1 cup low-sodium chicken broth
1 cup water
Table salt
2 - 3 teaspoons juice from 1 lemon
Ground black pepper

Test Kitchen Techniques

Why This Recipe Works

We wanted a one-pot winter greens recipe with no parcooking. To achieve this, we sautéed half of the greens before adding the rest with a little bit of liquid and covered the pot. When the greens had almost the tender-firm texture we wanted, we removed the lid to allow the liquid to cook off. The result: a winter greens recipe that highlights the greens’ cabbagelike flavor and firm texture.

Before You Begin

For best results, be sure your greens are fully cooked and tender in step 1 before moving on to step 2.

Instructions

  1. Cut chorizo sausage into 1/4-inch-thick half moons. Heat 2 tablespoons oil in Dutch oven over medium heat until shimmering. Cook chorizo in oil until lightly browned, 4 to 6 minutes. Using slotted spoon, transfer chorizo to paper towel-lined plate. Add onion and cook, stirring frequently, until softened and beginning to brown, 4 to 5 minutes. Add garlic and cumin; cook until garlic is fragrant, about 1 minute. Add half of greens and stir until beginning to wilt, about 1 minute. Add remaining greens, broth, water, and ¼ teaspoon salt; quickly cover pot and reduce heat to medium-low. Cook, stirring occasionally, until greens are tender, 25 to 35 minutes for kale and 35 to 45 minutes for collards.
  2. Remove lid and increase heat to medium-high. Cook, stirring occasionally, until most of liquid has evaporated (bottom of pot will be almost dry and greens will begin to sizzle), 8 to 12 minutes. Remove pot from heat; stir in 2 teaspoons lemon juice and remaining tablespoon olive oil. Season with salt, pepper, and remaining teaspoon lemon juice. Stir reserved chorizo into greens before serving.

Gift This Recipe

Enjoyed this dish? Let others know by sharing it as a gift recipe.

This is a members' feature.