Brazilian Collard Greens with Bacon Recipe (2024)

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This Brazilian collard greens with bacon recipe is a crisp, garlicky side dish full of bacon bits. This easy collard greens recipe is THE perfect mid-week side dish your familia will fall in love with.

Brazilian Collard Greens with Bacon Recipe (2)

Oi gente!!

I’m updating this post because I’m participating in a Juneteenth online cookout with a number of other Black Food Bloggers who are coming together to share recipes that celebrate the black culinary culture in the US and all over the world.

For those who don’t know, Juneteenth is a merge of the words/date June Nineteenth, and it represents the oldest known celebration honoring the end of slavery in the United States in 1865.

While the Juneteenthcelebration is centered around *Black*freedom and liberation, and is celebrated in many places in the world, I hadn’t actually heard of it until I moved to the US.

Dia da Consciencia Negra – The Brazilian Celebration

In Brazil, slavery wasn’t abolished until twenty-some years after the US, in May of 1888 – AND this is not the date we celebrate our freedom, or our African roots.

Dia da Consciencia Negra, Black Awareness Day or Black Consciousness Day, is observed annually in Brazil, on November 20th, to celebrate the regained awareness by the Brazilian black community, and to highlight our great worth and contribution to the country.

The celebration takes place in November, particularly to honor Zumbi’s death – a Brazilian of Congo origins, who was a freedom fighter, and symbol of freedom for pioneering the movement to resist colonialism and slavery in Brazil.

And what better way to celebrate if not through food?

In the 150+ years since, Black families have commemorated freedom and liberation with food traditions that tell a story of the perseverance of our people.

Now, check out this classic Brazilian Collard Greens Recipe then go see 10 other recipes from the cookout right after (or clickherefor the full lineup)!

I hope you love this classic Brazilian recipe as much as I do!

Beijinhos!

Collard Greens &Brazilian Cuisine

Couve, how we call collard greens in Potuguese, is one of the main essential vegetables of Brazilian cuisine, serving as base or accompaniment to many traditional dishes, from Caldo Verde soup to the traditional Feijoada (recipe coming soon).

Collard greens, is not only delicious, but also low calorie, and out of control nutritional. They are filled with vitamins A, B, C, minerals, potassium, calcium, iron and tons of other great stuff.

Couve a Mineira – Classic Brazilian collard greens with bacon recipe

Couve a Mineira, how we call this classic collard greens with bacon recipe in Portuguese, is a real Brazilian national passion. The name of the dish is an homage to the state where it originated, Minas Gerais – the home of some of Brazil’s most known foods all over the world.

If you aren’t very familiar with or don’t eat collard greens regularly, give this easy collard greens with bacon recipe a try. Better yet, try it with this Brazilian Black Beans recipe and some Brazilian rice for a real Brazilian experience!

You and your family will love it!

Bom apetite!

How to prepare Brazilian Collard Greens

Wash and pat dry the greens with paper towel
We don’t want the greens to be wet when they hit the pan as this would alter the end result of the dish. In this dish, the greens are gently sauteed to keep its texture somewhat firm. If there’s any water left in the leaves, the greens will steam instead and will become bitter.
Cut off the thicker part of the stems
Stack 2-3 leaves on top of each other, then roll them like a cigar, as tight as you can
Then, thinly slice it into a chiffonade

This also step also helps prevent bitterness!
Dice the bacon
Or not, if you need a vegan recipe, just skip this step!
Dice the onion and mince the garlic
Or if you have that Brazilian sofrito ready in the fridge, use that and save a few minutes of prep!

Then, on to sauteeing it. Just heat up the oil, and cook the bacon until its crispy, then add the onion and the garlic until they smell oh-so-irresistibly delicious. And then… *drum roll*

The big secret for mastering this Brazilian collard greens recipe is…

Turn off the heat then add the greens to the pan! Then quickly season with salt and pepper and toss until wilted a little bit. This step will make sure your greens have a nice bite to it, and aren’t bitter.

This side dish is perfect for a quick and easy mid-week dinner. It tastes great with rice, beans, a nice piece of chicken, meat, or just eat the whole thing just by itself… straight off of the skillet, because… I’ve done it, so I won’t judge!

Love couve? Check out these other collard greens recipes:

Caldo Verde – Portuguese Green Soup
Cheesy Collard Greens Dip
Southern Collard Greens Recipe

FOR MORE BRAZILIAN FOOD INSPO, BE SURE TO FOLLOW ME ON

5 from 57 votes

Couve a Mineira | Brazilian Collard Greens with Bacon

Couve a Mineira aka Brazilian collard greens with bacon is a crisp, garlicky, side dish full of bacon bits. This easy collard greens recipe is THE perfect mid-week side dish your familia will fall in love with.

Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 5 minutes minutes

Total Time: 15 minutes minutes

Servings: 2 servings

Calories: 107kcal

Author: Aline Shaw

Ingredients

1 bunch of collard greens stems removed and thinly sliced
1-2 thick strips of smoked bacon diced
1/2 onion diced
2 colves of garlic minced
1 tbsp of extra virgin olive oil
Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

Heat the olive oil in a medium skillet over medium to high heat
Add the bacon and cook until browned, about 3-4 mins
Add the onions and cook until transparent, about 2 mins
Add the garlic and cook until fragrant, about a minute
Turn ff the heat and add the collard greens and toss gently until the greens wilt, about 1 minute

Bom Apetite!!

Did you make this recipe? Show me how it turned out! Snap a photo and share with me on Instagram tagging @aline_shaw!

Video

Nutrition

🖤2020 JUNETEENTH COOKOUT 🖤

Below are only a few recipes from our online cookout – check out the full list here and celebrate away!

Brazilian Collard Greens with Bacon Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What does adding vinegar to collard greens do? ›

This might seem like an unusual addition if you're new to making collard greens, but the vinegar adds a welcome tangy note that brightens the dish and balances out the salty, savory flavors. A tablespoon of sugar also helps balance out the greens' potential bitterness.

Can you overcook collard greens? ›

It is important to not overcook collard greens or kale, as they tend to give off a sulfur smell and taste bitter. Cut the leaves into one-half inch strips and steam for 5 minutes on the stove. Collard greens make a great addition to eggs and bean soup or can be served alone as a steamed vegetable with a dressing.

Do baking soda make collard greens tender? ›

Baking soda has infinite uses in cooking and beyond: It's a leavening agent, an odor neutralizer, and an antacid to name a few. In the case of collard greens, baking soda's utility is threefold, serving as a flavor enhancer, a tenderizer, and a color protector.

Keep Reading ›

Why does collard greens take so long to cook? ›

Long cooking time.

Slowly cooking collard greens not only softens the tough leaves, it also tames the leaves' bitter flavor.

Tell Me More ›

When should I add vinegar to my collard greens? ›

Cook for 30 to 45 minutes, then remove the lid, increase the heat to high, and add the vinegar and a teaspoon of hot sauce. Adjust the seasoning, if needed, then put it into a serving bowl.

Should you add apple cider vinegar to collard greens? ›

If you use fresh greens, just make sure to thoroughly clean and prepare them first. Acidic apple cider vinegar cuts the fattiness from the ham hocks and adds flavor. Just two tablespoons of sugar is all you need to balance the bold flavors in this southern collard greens recipe.

Explore More ›

Why do you soak greens in vinegar? ›

However, if you're looking for a green and cost-effective way to clean up that produce, our favorite way is to washing vegetables wiith vinegar and water. Research suggests that this simple trick can remove pesticides and kill up to 98% of bacteria.

Read On ›

Does vinegar take the bitterness out of greens? ›

Acids, like vinegar and citrus juice, help to brighten up bitter greens and provide a light contrasting flavor.