How to cook turnip greens in an instant pot

Growing up as a little girl in Kansas, I never really liked collard greens or any type of greens for that matter. They were bitter and too mushy and slushy for my taste. Mushy would be perfect for someone recovering from oral surgery, but not my ideal any other time. I won’t say whose greens gave me the big turn-off, but, suffice it to say I wasn’t a fan. As I got older and after I married, I learned so much of cooking and eating is about the cook’s personal preference. The turnip greens I didn’t l like growing up were likely made the way that cook liked to eat her’s. I like mine a little firmer and that’s my prerogative (cue Bobby Brown). That’s why I’ve always used recipes as “guidelines” and not as the holy grail of cooking. Look at any recipe as nothing more than a blueprint. After that, make it your own. So, if you Googled “how to cook turnip greens in an instant pot” and landed here, treat this recipe the same way. Taste as you go and adapt as needed to satisfy your own personal taste.

How to cook turnip greens in an instant pot?

The short answer on the “how to” of turnip greens:

Cook turnip greens in an Instant Pot for 5 minutes on high pressure. After cooking time, allow them to sit in the Instant Pot undisturbed for 20-25 minutes.

Fun facts about Turnip Greens.

Turnip greens are part of the cruciferous vegetable clan. Other examples are cabbage, cauliflower, radishes, bok chow, turnips (of course) rutabaga, and watercress. These veggies are said to have cancer-fighting properties. Read more on Medical News Today: https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/285961. According to “Medical News Today”, you get lots of calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, and zinc. You also get vities (i.e. vitamins) such as vitamins A, C, K, folate. So, turnip greens are good for you! Yay!

Ready for the full recipe and to learn all the beautiful details for cooking turnip greens in your Instant Pot? Ready? Ready? Let’s go!

Ingredients for your Instant Pot Turnip Greens:

2 tbsp of butter

1 tsp of olive oil

6 slices bacon cooked in air fryer or on the stove

1 large onion, chopped

4 garlic cloves, minced

2 cups of water

1/4 cup apple cider vinegar

2 tsp Better than Bouillion paste

1 Knorr Chicken Flavor Bouillon Cube

1 tsp crushed red pepper flakes

Salt and pepper to taste

1/4 tsp sugar

Lawry’s season salt, to taste

Smoked paprika

Garlic powder, granulated

Onion powder, granulated

About 5 small bunches turnip or collard greens (see pic below for comparison)

1/4 cup of salt

Wash the Greens. Please!

Pre-work:

Clean your sink thoroughly. I use a disinfectant and even disinfect the rubber stopper. Be sure to rinse the sink WELL! Once you’re sure it’s free of the chemicals, fill the sink with warm water. Add about 1/4 cup of salt to the water. Place greens in the water and let them soak for about 15 minutes – swishing them around about 2 or 3 times as they soak.

See how I’m swishing below? That’s what you want. I even left the volume so you could hear me swish that dirt off my dinner! 🙂

Meanwhile, heat the butter and the olive oil in a skillet. Add two slices of bacon. I know, some people like using the Instant Pot for sautéing, but I am old-fashion and am partial to my cast iron skillet. You can surely sauté yours in the Instant Pot if you’d like.

While the skillet is warming, you can cook your bacon in your airfare -if you haven’t already. I cook mine on 350 for about 11 minutes. It’s not really about the bacon but the rendering of the fat. I always make mine soft so I can have a Cobb sandwich after. 🙂

Add your onions and bacon. Lightly salt the onions to help them render their juices. Cook on medium heat until soft.

While the onions are cooking, scoot your greens to one side of the sink to let the water out. Then refill for the second soak. Add more salt. As the sink is refilling, start “picking” your greens and incrementally adding them to the water, if you haven’t already done so. This “picking” means to fold the leaf in half and grab with your left hand while pulling or ripping the stem off with your right hand. Work quickly. Take a peek at your onions to make sure they are not burning. Give them a stir.

After you’ve picked your greens, swish them around and let them sit for another 15 minutes. As they sit, you may get more grit falling to the floor of the sink. This is good.

Your onions should be soft now. Add the garlic and cook. Don’t walk away. Garlic burns quickly. Move them around a bit, then stir into the onions after they’ve softened. Add smoked paprika, garlic powder, and onion powder.

Now, pour 4 cups of water into the pot. Add your Knorr bouillon cube and Better than Bouillon paste. Turn the heat to medium-low and allow to simmer for 10 minutes. You’re creating the delicious broth that will flavor your greens.

Remove the greens from the sink. Check the water. If it is still gritty, you may opt for another soak. Grocery store greens are usually not very dirty and don’t require a third soak. However, if I got them from the local farmers market or someone’s backyard, I soak up to five times!

Gather several leaves and roll tightly. Slice the “roll” several times. Pour your broth into the Instant Pot.

Add the greens to the Instant Pot in batches. As I add them, I like to season each layer with salt, pepper, and seasoning salt. I lightly cover each layer. Touch a leaf with your finger and taste to get an idea of the seasoning. Remember you can season after they are cooked. Not much, but a little.

Throw the red pepper flakes on the top later. Add more if you like spicy greens. 🙂

Put your top on and the Instant Pot. Set it for 5 minutes. After the 5 minutes are up, allow the natural release for about 20 minutes or so. Now you know how to cook turnip greens in an Instant Pot.

Remember, any recipe is all about your preference. If you like your greens softer, just put them back in. Cook to 3 minutes.

Channeling my fondness of the 70’s sitcom “Good Times”, I opted to have cornbread with my Instant Pot turnip greens. I made some baked fish for my hubby and a pork chop for my teen. We were all happy.

Which Greens in your Instant Pot?

If you’d like to compare different types of greens, click here. Bon Appétit gives a cool comparison of different types of greens. I just love their YouTube channel. I’ve forgiven them for their past issues with racial bias. Anyway, Brad Leone is my absolutely favorite host! I don’t think I’ve ever watched him host a show and not laughed or learned something new.

See, the video below hear him educate you on sardine “boo boo.” Ha!

I got first my Instant Pot from Amazon.

GodsyGirl is a Christian lifestyle blog featuring Christian faith articles written by an ordinary Christian woman blogger, Christian inspirational podcaster, and a pastor’s wife. GodsyGirl is about Christian inspiration and living your fullest life as a fabulous Christian woman. Explore GodsyGirl.com to find articles on everything from daily Christian living to hair, makeup, and living your absolute best life!