Southern Turnip Greens with Smoked Turkey Recipe
This Southern Turnip Greens recipe is a classic, comforting dish featuring tender, smoky greens slow-cooked with a smoked turkey leg and seasoned with Creole spices. Perfect as a flavorful side or a hearty main, these greens deliver bold southern flavors with a balance of smokiness, sweetness, and spice.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 2 hours 15 minutes
- Total Time: 2 hours 35 minutes
- Yield: 6-8 servings 1x
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Southern
- Diet: Gluten Free
Ingredients
Scale
Vegetables:
- 1 cup chopped white onions
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 3 pounds fresh turnip greens (including stems)
Meat & Broth:
- 1 smoked turkey leg or wing
- 1 1/2 to 2 cups chicken broth (or water)
Seasonings & Oils:
- 1 teaspoon olive oil
- 1/2 tablespoon Creole Seasoning (adjust to taste)
- 2 teaspoons smoked paprika
- 1–2 tablespoons sweetener or sugar (adjust to taste; 2 tablespoons used)
Instructions
- Cook the smoked turkey: Place the smoked turkey in a large pot and cover it with water. Bring to a boil and cook for 45 minutes to 1 hour until the meat becomes tender. Monitor the water level and add more if it evaporates during cooking.
- Wash the greens: While the turkey cooks, wash the turnip greens thoroughly. Use a large bowl or sink filled with water and scrub the veins of the leaves to remove dirt and sand. Repeat rinsing until water is clear.
- Prepare the greens: Remove the stems from the washed greens and slice the leaves into smaller, manageable pieces.
- Sauté aromatics: Heat a large pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add olive oil, chopped onions, and minced garlic. Sauté until the onions become translucent and fragrant.
- Deglaze the pot: Pour in the chicken broth to deglaze, scraping any browned bits off the bottom to enhance flavor.
- Add the greens in batches: Begin layering the greens in the pot in batches, stirring to allow them to wilt down to fit more in the pot.
- Season and combine: Add Creole seasoning, smoked paprika, sugar or sweetener, and the cooked smoked turkey to the pot. Bring everything to a boil.
- Simmer the greens: Cover the pot with a lid and reduce the heat to medium-low. Let the greens cook gently for about 2 hours, stirring occasionally, until the greens are soft and the turkey is tender enough to fall off the bone.
- Shred the turkey: Remove the turkey from the pot, shred the meat with forks, and return it to the pot with the greens.
- Final seasoning and serve: Taste the greens and add extra seasoning, sugar, or spices if needed. Serve warm as a flavorful southern side or main dish.
Notes
- Using a smoked turkey leg or wing adds authentic smoky flavor usually imparted by ham hocks in traditional recipes.
- If you prefer a less smoky taste, substitute turkey with smoked ham or a non-smoked alternative.
- Adjust the amount of sugar or sweetener based on your preference for balance against the smoky and spicy seasonings.
- Turnip greens can be substituted with collard greens or mustard greens if desired, but cooking times may vary slightly.
- For a gluten-free dish, ensure the Creole seasoning and chicken broth are gluten-free.
Keywords: Southern Turnip Greens, Turnip Greens Recipe, Smoked Turkey Greens, Southern Side Dish, Creole Seasoning Greens
