Recipes › Turnip › Southern Turnip Greens with Pot Likker
Southern Turnip Greens with Pot Likker
A Southern classic: turnip greens slow-cooked with smoked ham hock until silky and deeply flavorful, served with the pot likker — the intensely savory cooking liquid — and a wedge of cornbread to soak it up. This is soul food at its most honest: minimal ingredients, maximum flavor, and a tradition that stretches back generations. The greens are tender and the pot likker is liquid gold.
Turnip is usually ready May to November. More turnip recipes, or see what to sow this month where you are.
Ingredients
- 2 lbs turnip greens, washed, tough stems removed, roughly torn
- 1 smoked ham hockSmoked turkey leg for lighter flavor
- 4 cups chicken broth
- 1 medium yellow onion, diced
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- ½ tsp red pepper flakes (optional)
- 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
- 1 tsp salt
Contains: cereals gluten, sulphites.
Method
- Combine ham hock, broth, onion, and garlic in a large pot. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer covered for 30 minutes.About 32 min
- Add turnip greens in batches, stirring to wilt. Add red pepper flakes and salt. Cover and simmer for 45-60 minutes until greens are very tender.About 62 min
- Remove ham hock, strip meat and return to pot. Stir in apple cider vinegar. Taste and adjust seasoning.About 8 min
- Serve greens with plenty of pot likker in a bowl. Offer hot sauce and cornbread alongside.About 3 min
Tips
- The pot likker is the soul of this dish — serve it in the bowl, not just as background.
- A splash of hot sauce and apple cider vinegar at serving brightens the whole bowl.
- Make this a day ahead — it tastes significantly better the next day.
Ring the changes
- Add diced turnip roots to the pot for the last 30 minutes — they cook down into the greens.
- Use all water instead of broth for a more traditional pot likker.
Keeping it
Refrigerate for up to 5 days. The flavor deepens over time.
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More from the same crop
Creamy mashed turnips — silkier and more complex than plain mashed potato — enriched with brown butter and a splash of cream. The turnip's natural pepperiness plays beautifully against the nutty, caramelized butter. Serve this alongside pot roast, roast chicken, or a holiday beef tenderloin as a sophisticated alternative to mashed potatoes.
35 min · easy · Turnip
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