Creamy Collard Greens Dip With Shito Food

COLLARD GREEN AND ARTICHOKE DIP

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.
• Melt butter in a 2-quart saucepan over medium heat. Add garlic and shallots and saute until tender, about 3 minutes. Stir in the flour and cook for 1 minute until it reaches a golden blonde color. Slowly whisk in the cream and turn up heat until it thickens.
• Add the Parmesan and Cheddar. Stir until the cheese has melted. Add salt, pepper, lemon juice, hot sauce and Worcestershire. Fold in the collard greens and artichoke hearts.
• Add mixture to a casserole dish. Bake for 15 minutes until golden brown.
• Serve this dip with baked pita chips.

CREAMY COLLARD GREENS DIP WITH SHITO

Steps:

• Heat the broiler with the rack 6 to 8 inches from the heat source.
• Heat oil in a large, deep skillet over medium-high. Add onion, bell pepper and jalapeño. Season with salt and pepper and cook, stirring occasionally, until vegetables are lightly browned at the edges, 2 to 3 minutes. Add garlic and cook, stirring, for 1 minute.
• Deglaze the pan by adding chicken stock and stirring and scraping up browned bits. Add heavy cream and cream cheese and simmer, stirring occasionally, until cream cheese is melted. Add 1/2 cup shito and stir to combine, then stir in collards. Reduce heat to medium and simmer rapidly, stirring occasionally, until liquid is reduced to a thick, creamy consistency that coats the greens without being soupy, 5 to 7 minutes.
• Remove from heat and add 1 1/2 cups Cheddar and the lemon juice. Stir until cheese melts. Season to taste with salt and pepper. You can keep the dip in the skillet if the pan is ovenproof, or transfer the dip to a 2-quart baking dish and spread evenly. Combine panko with the remaining 1/2 cup Cheddar and sprinkle over the dip.
• Broil until golden on top, 1 to 2 minutes. Remove from oven and spoon remaining 2 tablespoons shito over dip. Serve hot or warm, with baguette, if you'd like.

CREAMED COLLARD GREENS

Steps:

• Fill a very large pot three-quarters full with water and bring to a boil. Add the collard greens to the water and make sure they are all well submerged. Return the water to a boil and simmer until the greens are tender and bright green, 10 to 15 minutes. Drain the greens and run under cold water to stop the cooking. Drain the greens well, squeezing out excess water with your hands or by placing in a kitchen towel and squeezing. Chop the greens finely and set aside.
• Melt the butter in a skillet or Dutch oven large enough to hold all of the greens. Add the garlic and shallots and cook over medium heat until softened but not browned, 4 to 6 minutes. Add the cream and bring to a simmer, stirring occasionally. Cook until reduced by half, about 25 minutes - watch carefully as the cream can quickly boil over! Add the greens and toss until warmed through. Season generously with nutmeg, salt and pepper. Add to a serving dish and sprinkle with the Parmesan.

CREAMY COLLARD DIP

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cook bacon in 12 inch skillet until crisp and drain on paper towel. Remove and discard all but 2 teaspoons of bacon drippings from skillet. Add onion and pepper to skillet. Cook 5 minutes over medium heat or until vegetables are just tender, stirring occasionally. Add collard greens and garlic; cover and cook 10 minutes or until tender, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat.
• Add cream cheese, Monterey Jack cheese, sour cream and Cajun seasoning to the collard mixture, stirring until combined. If desired, trim fatty part from bacon and discard. Crumble remaining bacon and add to collard mixture. Spread mixture in 1 1/2 quart casserole dish or 9 inch pie plate.
• Bake, uncovered, 10 minutes or until warmed through. Serve with vegetable dippers or bread sticks.