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  • Prep-time: / Ready In:
  • Makes 4 cups grits + 7½ cups greens
  • Serving size: ¼ of recipe
  • Print/save recipe

Heap these Southern home-style greens over grits for a satisfying supper. Don't forget to add a splash of hot sauce and a squeeze of lemon.

By Nancy Macklin, RDN,

Ingredients

  • 1 32-oz. carton low-sodium vegetable broth
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1½ cups dry instant grits
  • 1 medium onion, chopped (1 cup)
  • 1 red bell pepper, chopped (1 cup)
  • 2 14.5-oz. cans no-salt-added diced tomatoes, undrained
  • 1 15-oz. can no-salt-added red or pinto beans, rinsed and drained
  • ¼ teaspoon smoked paprika
  • ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper (optional)
  • 1 16-oz. package frozen cut leaf kale
  • 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
  • Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
  • Hot sauce (optional)
  • Lemon wedges (optional)

Instructions

  • In a large saucepan bring vegetable broth and 1 clove garlic to boiling. Stir in grits; reduce heat. Cover and cook about 5 minutes or until grits are thickened and creamy, stirring occasionally. (Mixture will splatter. Use a long-handle spoon to avoid burns.) If needed, add up to ½ cup water to thin to desired consistency.
  • Meanwhile, in an extra-large skillet cook the remaining 3 cloves garlic, the onion, and bell pepper over medium 3 to 4 minutes, stirring occasionally and adding water, 1 to 2 Tbsp. at a time, as needed to prevent sticking. Add tomatoes, beans, paprika, and crushed red pepper (if using); bring to boiling. Gradually add kale, cooking until all kale has wilted. Stir in vinegar. Season with salt and black pepper.
  • Spoon greens over grits. If desired, serve with hot sauce and lemon wedges.
Nutritional Information:

Per serving (¼ of recipe): 419 calories, 86 g carbohydrates, 15 g protein, 3 g total fat, 0 g saturated fat, 0 g cholesterol, 412 mg sodium, 16 g fiber, 12 g sugar

Note: Nutritional information is provided as an estimate only.

Comments (15)

(5 from 5 votes)

Recipe Rating

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Gail

How can I cut the salt I m on a sodium restriction

Lisa, Forks Over Knives Support

Hi Gail. To reduce the salt in this recipe, do not add salt "to taste," and use a vegetable broth with no sodium at all - you might have to make your own — or leave it out. And make sure that no salt is added to your canned beans and tomatoes. A great way to get no-salt pinto beans is to cook them from scratch. The folks at The Spicery have some no-salt spices you could try if you feel the flavor is lacking. Though, as I'm sure you know, once your taste buds get the hang of a low-salt diet, they don't notice a lack of salt so much. https://www.localspicery.com/product/dynamic-duo/

Jwiltz

Grits are similar to cornmeal. It differs in that grits are made from dried and ground corn that is usually a coarser grind. Grits are often made from hominy, which is corn treated with lime—or another alkaline product—to remove the hull

Andrew W

For the international reader, what exactly are ‘grits’? Thanks, Andy (Scotland)

Josie Talbot

Andy, I am from Alabama, just so you know. Grits are coarse ground corn meal that when cook has a creamy texture. The Italians call it Polenta.

Marissa

cornmeal. Similar to polenta.

shar

It's like polenta

Len

Can Nutritional Information be included?

Alicia

Hi Len, did you notice that there are no serving sizes listed in FOK recipes? They tell you how much it will make but they don't tell you how much you should or should not eat; therefore, no nutritional information is ever given. There are many apps available that will allow you to customize your serving size to obtain the NI.

Courtney Davison

Hi Len, We are currently working on adding nutritional information to all our recipes and anticipate for this feature to be live on the website by the end of the year. Please stay tuned for updates! Thank you, Courtney Editor, Forks Over Knives

Moe

Made this with fresh Lacinato kale and fresh cherry tomatoes. In the instructions you don’t mention when to add vinegar.

April

Add the vinegar in step 2 after the greens are wilted.

Jan

Fantastic! So simple, but so tasty. My go to recipe for greens.

Eve

Excellent and simple!

Karen Smith

This was delicious! Served 5 adults well.

About the Author

Headshot of Nancy Macklin

About the Author

Nancy Macklin, RDN

Nancy Macklin has a bachelor of science in dietetics from Iowa State University and a Master of Science in health services administration from the University of Saint Francis. Macklin worked as a hospital-based clinical dietitian, providing counseling for diabetes, heart disease, and weight loss and as a food service director in health care dining sites. She now serves as a test kitchen dietitian, developing 500+ recipes per year. She is a member of the Academy for Nutrition and Dietetics and International Association of Culinary Professionals. Find her on LinkedIn.
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