Ingredients

  • 2 lbs greens, washed and stemmed (collard, mustard, or turnip)
  • 1/4 cup vegetable oil, plus
  • 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
  • 1/4 cup flour
  • 2 large onions, finely diced
  • 1 green bell pepper, finely diced
  • 4 stalks celery, finely diced
  • 1 (16 ounce) can plum tomatoes, drained and coarsely chopped
  • 1/4 cup liquid hot pepper sauce (such as Texas Pete's)
  • 3 bay leaves
  • 1 teaspoon file powder (a Cajun spice)
  • 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper (to taste)
  • 1 teaspoon thyme
  • 1 teaspoon oregano
  • 1/2 teaspoon basil
  • 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
  • 3 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper (to taste)
  • 6 cups vegetable broth
  • 1 (10 ounce) package frozen okra
  • 1 (16 ounce) can kidney beans, drained and rinsed
  • 2 cups cooked white rice

Method

  • Place the greens in a large soup pot with enough water to just cover the greens. Bring to a boil and cook for 15 minutes. Drain, reserving 2 cups of the cooking water.
  • On a cutting board, coarsely chop the greens and set aside.
  • In a small saucepan over medium-low heat, whisk 1/4 cup oil and the flour together and cook, stirring constantly, until the roux is a dark reddish-brown, about 15 minutes. Remove the pan from the heat and set aside.
  • In the large soup pot, heat the remaining 2 tablespoons of oil and saute the onions, bell pepper, celery, and tomatoes for about 10 minutes or until the vegetables are wilted.
  • Add the hot sauce, bay leaves, file powder, cayenne, thyme, oregano, basil, parsley, garlic, salt, and pepper and cook for 5 minutes.
  • Add the roux, vegetable or faux chicken broth, and the reserved greens-cooking water, stirring well to blend in the roux.
  • Reduce the heat and simmer, uncovered, for 15 minutes. Add the cooked collard greens, okra, kidney beans, and rice and cook for 5 minutes.
  • Remove the bay leaves and serve warm.