Slow-Cooker Collard Greens with Ham

When it comes to greens, collards tend to live in the shadow of lettuce, spinach and even kale—except in the South. There, collard greens, which taste like a cross between kale and cabbage, star in a dish that inspires lots of love and plenty of controversy, too. One classic debate: Should collards be cooked until silken or left with a bit of texture? That’s what we love about this recipe—it features all the rich savory flavor of the classic dish but is prepared using a simplified set-it-and-forget-it method that leaves room for customization. Those who like their collards meltingly tender should let their greens stew together with the ham bone and other ingredients until the six-hour point, while those who prefer a more toothsome texture can stop at four. So if you’ve been leaving collard greens on the grocery display, consider this your easy entry to enjoying this under-the-radar-but-totally-terrific veggie!