Delicious Spicy Turnip Greens

These delicious spicy turnip greens are slow-cooked with smoked turkey for a flavorful pot of Southern comfort food. Perfect for Sunday dinner or any time you crave a hearty, home-cooked meal.

Ingredients

For the Turnip Greens

• 8 bunches turnip greens
• 1 smoked turkey leg
• 1 cup diced onions
• 1 diced jalapeño pepper
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 4–5 cups water (do not completely cover the turkey leg with water)

Season to Taste

• 2 tablespoons pepper
• 1 1/2 tablespoons seasoned salt
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon onion powder
• 1/2 tablespoon crushed peppers

How to cook the Turnip Greens

1. Wash the turnip greens

Fill two large bowls with water and wash the greens thoroughly. Tear or cut the greens into manageable pieces. Rinse and wash repeatedly to remove dirt and grit. Drain well.

2. Prepare the pot

Place the smoked turkey leg in a large pot and add 4–5 cups of water. Be sure not to completely cover the turkey leg with water. Bring the pot to a boil, then reduce the heat to maintain a steady simmer.

3. Add the turnip greens

Add the washed greens to the pot.  Add in batches as they wilt down. Add onions and jalapeño peppers

4. Season

Add the pepper, seasoned salt, garlic powder, onion powder, and crushed peppers. Stir to distribute the seasonings.

5. Simmer until tender

Continue cooking until the greens reach your desired consistency. For well-done, tender greens, simmer for 5–6 hours, checking occasionally and stirring as needed.

6. Check the liquid

Monitor the pot throughout cooking. If the liquid gets too low before the greens are tender, add a little water as needed.

7. Taste and serve.

Taste the greens and adjust the seasoning if desired. Make sure the smoked turkey is thoroughly cooked and tender. Remove the turkey leg, separate the meat from the bone, and return the meat to the pot if desired. Serve hot with your favorite Southern sides.

Tina’s Tips

• Remove tough stems: If your greens have thick, tough stems, remove them or cut them into smaller pieces.
• Wash thoroughly: Turnip greens can hold dirt and grit, so rinse them repeatedly until the water is clean.

Delicious Spicy Turnip Greens

These delicious spicy turnip greens are slow-cooked with smoked turkey for a flavorful pot of Southern comfort food. Perfect for Sunday dinner or any time you crave a hearty, home-cooked meal.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 45 minutes mins

Cook Time 6 hours hrs

Cuisine American

Servings 12

Ingredients

  

For the Turnip Greens

• 8 bunches turnip greens
• 1 smoked turkey leg
• 1 cup diced onions
• 1 diced jalapeño pepper
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 4 –5 cups water (do not completely cover the turkey leg with water)

Season to Taste

• 2 tablespoons pepper
• 1 1/2 tablespoons seasoned salt
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon onion powder
• 1/2 tablespoon crushed peppers

Instructions

 

How to cook the Turnip Greens

Wash the turnip greens

• Fill two large bowls with water and wash the greens thoroughly. Tear or cut the greens into manageable pieces. Rinse and wash repeatedly to remove dirt and grit. Drain well.

Prepare the pot

• Place the smoked turkey leg in a large pot and add 4–5 cups of water. Be sure not to completely cover the turkey leg with water. Bring the pot to a boil, then reduce the heat to maintain a steady simmer.
• Add the turnip greens
• Add the washed greens to the pot. Add in batches as they wilt down. Add onions and jalapeño peppers

Season

• Add the pepper, seasoned salt, garlic powder, onion powder, and crushed peppers. Stir to distribute the seasonings.

Simmer until tender

• Continue cooking until the greens reach your desired consistency. For well-done, tender greens, simmer for 5–6 hours, checking occasionally and stirring as needed.

Check the liquid

• Monitor the pot throughout cooking. If the liquid gets too low before the greens are tender, add a little water as needed.

Taste and serve

• Taste the greens and adjust the seasoning if desired. Make sure the smoked turkey is thoroughly cooked and tender. Remove the turkey leg, separate the meat from the bone, and return the meat to the pot if desired. Serve hot with your favorite Southern sides.