Mustard Greens with Ham Hock

Mustard Greens with Ham Hock recipe videos

Mustard Greens with Ham Hock is a classic Southern American soul food dish featuring tender, peppery greens slow-simmered with a smoky, savory ham hock. The typical ingredients include mustard greens, a smoked ham hock or pork shank, onions, garlic, and often a splash of vinegar or a pinch of sugar to balance the bitterness. This dish is a staple of Southern cuisine, deeply rooted in African American culinary traditions.

🍽️ Nutrition at a glance

This dish is a high-protein, low-carb meal, with the ham hock providing substantial protein and fat while the greens offer fiber and essential vitamins. A typical serving is rich in vitamins A, C, and K, as well as iron and calcium, and generally contains around 250-350 calories per serving, depending on the cut of meat and added fats.

Nutrition breakdown

Calories	180 kcal
Protein	12 g
Carbs	8 g
Fat	11 g
Fiber	4 g
Sugar	2 g
Sodium	850 mg
Potassium	450 mg
Vitamin A	300 mcg RAE
Vitamin C	35 mg
Vitamin K	250 mcg
Calcium	120 mg
Iron	2.5 mg
Niacin (B3)	4 mg
Selenium	8 mcg

Per 1 cup (240 g) · estimated, varies by recipe

💡 What's interesting

Culturally, this dish is a prime example of 'nose-to-tail' eating, where tougher, less desirable cuts of meat are used to flavor and enrich vegetables, a practice born from necessity and resourcefulness. Nutritionally, the combination of the ham's fat and the greens' acidity (from vinegar) helps the body absorb the fat-soluble vitamins in the greens more effectively.