Sweet Potato Greens and Rice

Potato greens are the leaves of the sweet potato plant. They are highly nutritious, rich in antioxidants, proteins, and vitamin B. This green vegetable also contain some valuable minerals, including iron, calcium, and zinc.

Sweet potatoes are widely known and loved. But most people are not aware that the leaves can be cooked to make healthy and delicious greens.

Sweet potatoes are grown widely in the state of North Carolina. I remember when we first came over from Liberia. Africans were allowed to go on farms and collect discarded leaves of the potato plants to cook.

Within a few years, the culinary value of these greens had become common knowledge. Now we have to actually pay for potato greens at the farmers’ market, and in local Spanish, African, and Oriental stores.

Here's what you will need:

2 bags fresh potato greens (4 Cups pressed down)
1 lb peeled shrimp
3 lbs chicken and beef
1 C smoked turkey
2 medium onion (chopped)
1 1/2 tsp salt
2 tsp seasoned salt
1/4 tsp ground black pepper
Baking soda
1 C cooking oil
2 Cookspoon oil
2 Maggi Chicken Soup (optional)
1 or 2 pods hot pepper (optional)

First, you have to cook your chicken, meat, and shrimp.

Cut your chicken into 1 1/2 inch pieces. Cut stewing beef into 1 inch pieces. Peel and de-vein shrimp.

Combine and add 1 tsp salt and 1 tsp seasoned salt. Stir to spread seasoning evenly. Separate shrimp from beef and chicken.

Add two cookspoon of oil to a large skillet. Heat oil on medium high. When oil is hot, fry chicken until both sides are golden brown. Remove from oil.

Next, fry shrimp until golden brown and add. Reduce heat to medium and sautee’ beef until cooked. Cut turkey in small 1/2 inch pieces and add to pot. Set aside.

Then, prepare your greens.

Remove the leaves from the stems. Do this by snapping the stem about 1/2 inch from the leaf base. Rinse the leaves and transfer to a pan of water. Sprinkle a pinch of baking soda over leaves.

Rub the leaves. Pretend you are scrubbing and washing a piece of cloth between your two hands. Then wring the leaves using your two hands. Transfer to a clean pan.

Now, cook your greens.

Heat one cup of oil in a deep cooking pot on medium high. Sprinkle a pinch of baking soda. Add chopped greens, onions, and pepper. Fry for 20 minutes, stirring frequently.

Reduce heat to medium-low. Cook for 20 more minutes stirring frequently. Add cooked chicken, beef, turkey, and shrimp. Simmer on low about 15 minutes, continuing to stir.

Your greens are ready. Eat on a bed of rice. Serve with fried plantains as a side dish.

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