Southern Beans and Smokey Greens
Time for another featured dish! This time around, we went with our Southern Beans and Smokey Greens. It’s a heartwarming, savory entree loaded with slow-cooked pinto beans and smokey braised collard greens served over jasmine rice and roasted sweet potatoes. Totally vegan and totally delicious.
Why We Love It
Before we dive into the nitty-gritty of how this wholesome meal tastes, where it comes from, and what makes it SO good for you, we want to give you a quick overview of why it made it to the top of our list this week.
- Great flavors and textures. Between the smoky collard greens, the buttery pinto beans, and the earthy sweetness of the sweet potatoes, this vegan main has so many fun flavors and textures going on. It’s sure to delight your senses.
- Filling. Loaded with protein and fiber, this hearty Southern-inspired entree is so satisfying. It’s the perfect fuel for your busiest days.
- Nutrient-rich. Not only is this savory main chalk full of mouthwatering flavor, it’s also loaded with vitamins and minerals, fiber, and antioxidants. Check out the section below titled “What’s in Southern Beans and Smokey Greens?” to find out why your body is going to love this meal.
What Does It Taste Like?
Tasteful Kitchen’s Southern Beans and Smokey Greens is a hearty, Southern-inspired entree that is sure to charm your senses. It’s made up of slow-cooked greens and buttery pinto beans simmered with garlic, onions, and warming spices. The greens have this wonderful smokiness to them that mingles with the savory beans beautifully.
We served it all over a bed of rice and roasted sweet potatoes. The slightly caramelized sweet potatoes contribute a subtle sweetness to the dish that balances its otherwise savory nature. The rice acts as the perfect canvas for the whole shebang, soaking up the flavorful juices from the greens and beans and bringing a little extra substance to the meal so you can stay satiated until your next meal.
Southern Roots
Our chefs drew their inspiration for this recipe from the rich culinary culture of the American South. Southern cuisine is a tapestry of flavors and agricultural traditions that have evolved over centuries. Recipes are often relatively simple, allowing quality ingredients from the region’s fertile soil to speak for themselves.
To us, Southern cuisine is all about comfort, tradition, and creating a sense of home. Our chefs made it their goal to wrap some of those homey, comforting feelings up in this collard greens and beans dish. And, man, did they do a good job. Between the smokey greens, the savory slow-cooked beans, and the earthy-sweetness of the sweet potatoes, this dish will transport you to cozy evenings by the fire surrounded by people you love.
What’s in Southern Beans and Smokey Greens?
Let’s talk about some of the key ingredients in this Southern-inspired recipe and how they work together to fuel your body, helping you maintain a healthy, happy vegan lifestyle.
Collard Greens
Collard greens, a classic Southern staple, are a nutritional powerhouse. Rich in vitamins A, C, and K, these leafy greens are awesome at helping you maintain healthy vision and a strong immune system. They’re also a good source of minerals like calcium, potassium, and manganese, which contribute to bone health and blood pressure regulation and can help you maintain a healthy metabolism.
This popular Southern crop is rich in antioxidants, which help keep your cells healthy and reduce the risk of diseases like cancer. In addition, collard greens are high in fiber, which promotes healthy digestion, helps regulate blood sugar levels, and does a great job of keeping you fuller for longer.
Pinto Beans
Pinto beans are packed with essential nutrients that promote overall health and well-being. They are an excellent source of plant-based protein and contain disease-fighting antioxidants as well.
Pinto beans are also rich in soluble fiber, which promotes healthy digestion and heart health and helps regulate blood sugar levels. Plus, like the fiber-rich collard greens, they do a great job of keeping you full!
Still not sold? Pinto beans pack a punch of essential vitamins and minerals, including folate, iron, magnesium, and potassium, that work together to boost energy production, red blood cell formation, muscle function, and blood pressure regulation.
Sweet Potatoes
Sweet potatoes are not only delicious but they are also packed with essential nutrients. These vibrant orange root vegetables are rich in dietary fiber. So, just like collard greens and pinto beans, they help keep you full as well as help you maintain healthy digestion and steady blood sugar levels.
Sweet potatoes are also a great source of vitamins A and C, which play vital roles in immune function, skin health, and vision. Sweet potatoes provide a significant amount of potassium as well, which helps keep your heart healthy and your blood pressure steady.
Like collard greens and pinto beans, sweet potatoes are rich in antioxidants. Yay for healthier cells and reduced risk of cancer and other diseases.
Conclusion
We cannot wait for you to try this new favorite from Tasteful Kitchens. Heartwarming, flavorful, and nutritious, it’s sure to make an impression. Looking for more favorites from our kitchen? Have a look through the following featured menu items:
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