The Motown

Braised Collard Greens

A classic slow-cooked side dish from the South, these braised collard greens include diced pancetta for added meatiness.

Red Rooster's Mac and Greens

Marcus Samuelsson's penchant for Southern American-African-Swedish fusion cuisine always makes him an interesting chef to watch. His recipe for Mac and Greens, adapted in Ellen Brown's Mac & Cheese, fits right into his oeuvre. The recipe title is apt, as his mac contains just as much greenery as pasta. Braised collards and bok choy pair perfectly with the gooey cheddar-Gruyère-Parmesan mix, and the hints of soy and coconut lend glutamate-rich depth. But don't be fooled, this is no health food--t...

Savory Grits With Slow-Cooked Collard Greens From 'Afro-Vegan'

Give me a bowl of creamy grits and I'm a happy woman. Give me that same bowl of grits topped with slow-cooked greens and I'll swoon. So I didn't hesitate to try out Bryant Terry's recipe for savory grits with long-cooked collards in his new cookbook, Afro-Vegan.

Skillet Potatoes With Cajun Blackening Spices and Buttermilk-Herb Sauce

Potatoes deserve more than to just be a boring side dish. They've got serious star power, and these Cajun-spiced baby potatoes—first boiled until creamy, then crisped in a skillet, and finally topped with a cooling buttermilk-herb dressing—prove it.

Creole Succotash from 'Treme'

The succotash I grew up eating was a simple side dish of lima beans, corn, onion, black pepper, and a big hunk of butter. But despite my familiarity with the basic version, I am open to different interpretations of the dish (as long as it still contains butter, corn, and limas, of course). This creole succotash from the Treme cookbook is kind of like a tricked out version of the classic. In addition to the requisite vegetables, you'll find okra, celery, bell pepper, shrimp, and two kinds of pork...

Sam Sifton's Braised Collard Greens

I knew going into the recipe that the bacon and butter would taste great with the greens, but the beer was a total surprise. Its beer-ness dissipates during cooking, leaving only malty sweetness and just a hint of fermented grain to the greens. It was this extra level of complexity that made these greens my favorite side of the season.

New Orleans–Style Red Beans and Rice

New Orleans red beans and rice is delicious and simple. All you need: the holy trinity, pantry spices, ham hock, smoked sausage, and dried red beans.

Grits inspired by My Cousin Vinny — Binging With Babish

This week, we’re finally taking a look at that most essential of Southern staples, grits with eggs and bacon from My Cousin Vinny. But that’s not all: sweet grits and shrimp & grits are both quite literally on the table! Just make sure they’re not instant if you’re using them as part of your

Braised Collard Greens With Ham Hocks

A classic pot of braised collards has deep, smoky pork flavor and meltingly tender greens.

Hearty One-Pot Black-Eyed Pea Stew With Kale and Andouille

This easy black eyed pea stew starts with andouille sausage and pork belly cooked until browned and crisped, then gets flavored with the Holy Trinity of Cajun cuisine: onions, celery, and green bell peppers, along with some leeks and garlic for extra flavor. Tender braised kale transform this into a full-on meal, while a shot of apple cider vinegar brightens up all the flavors.