Pot Likker Soup Recipe (2024)

Pot Likker Soup makes a delicious and filling meal. Made of pot likker (or pot liquor), the cooking liquid from collards or turnip greens, along with other vegetables and ham. This soup is Southern comfort all the way!

Pot Likker Soup Recipe (1)

Okay, the name of this recipe may have thrown you off just a touch, but please stay with me.

This Pot Likker Soup Recipe is really, really one you should give a try. It makes a great soup recipe to throw together on the stove with any leftovers from your New Year’s Day meal of baked ham, turnip, mustard or collard greens, and just a few more additions to the soup pot.

And just to tell you, we love Pot Likker Soup so much that we don’t even wait for New Year’s to enjoy it.

Pot Likker Soup Recipe

If you’ve never heard the term pot likker before, it is the liquid left over after you’ve cooked collard, turnip or mustard greens. Sometimes it is spelled as pot liquor soup, potlikker, or – the way I spell it – pot likker. Pot Likker is packed with iron and vitamins C and K and is one of the most revered liquids in Southern cooking around my house.

Pot Likker Soup Recipe (2)

I probably get my affiinity for a big pot of greens with pot likker from my Grandmother who would have had a fit at the thought of pouring out the liquid from cooking her greens.

Since she cooked greens regularly, the left over liquid would become a meal in and of itself.

Sometimes, it was as simple as warming a piping hot bowl of pot likker on the stove and making a fresh skillet of corn bread to go along with it for a simple and warm lunch during the cool winter months.

Pot Likker Soup Recipe (3)

Now, I add a few more ingredients turning that simple broth from the greens into a hearty soup.

My Pot Likker Soup recipe included below gives you instructions for cooking the collard, mustard, or turnip greens along with leftover ham.

If you don’t have a leftover ham, you can always substitute slices of salt pork or thick-sliced bacon.

Also, if you happen to have leftover collard, mustard, or turnip greens, you’ll reduce the cooking time to about 15 minutes total.

You’ll want to add more water to any pot likker that you have from your leftover greens to make it equal about 6 cups total.

You can play with the broths to find the flavor profile you prefer, you may prefer to use 1/2 chicken broth and 1/2 vegetable broth, either will work well.

Here’s my Pot Likker Soup recipe.

Pot Likker Soup Recipe (4)

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Pot Likker Soup Recipe

Robyn Stone

4.91 from 11 votes

Pot Likker Soup makes a delicious, hearty soup using the broth of collard, mustard, or turnip greens and additional vegetables.

Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 45 minutes minutes

Total Time: 55 minutes minutes

Servings: 8

Ingredients

  • 5 slices baked ham, chopped (about 1-1/2 pounds)
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 medium onion, diced
  • 3 medium carrots, chopped
  • 2 clove garlic, minced
  • 2 cups chicken stock or broth
  • 2 cups collard greens, mustard, or turnip greens, washed with hard stems removed
  • 8 cups water
  • pinch red pepper flakes, optional

Instructions

  • Add chopped ham to a Dutch oven over medium heat. Heat for about 2-3 minutes and then add olive oil, onion and carrots. Saute until becomes tender, about 2 more minutes. Then add in garlic and cook for 1 more minute. Pour in chicken broth and cook until has reduced by about ½.

  • Add greens and water. Boil over medium heat for about 45 minutes until greens are extremely tender.

Nutrition

Calories: 79kcal | Carbohydrates: 4g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 4g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 10mg | Sodium: 453mg | Potassium: 209mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 4275IU | Vitamin C: 9.9mg | Calcium: 44mg | Iron: 0.4mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

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Enjoy!
Robyn xo

Pot Likker Soup Recipe (5)

From the Add a Pinch recipe archives. Originally published 2012.

Categorized as:All Recipes, By Special Diets, Cooking, Dinner Recipes, Egg-Free Recipes, Holiday and Occasion Recipes, Lunch, New Year Recipes, One Dish Meal Recipes, Pork Recipes, Recipes, , Soup and Stew Recipes, Southern Favorites

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Robyn Stone is a cookbook author, wife, mom, and passionate home cook. Her tested and trusted recipes give readers the confidence to cook recipes the whole family will love. Robyn has been featured on Food Network, People, Southern Living, and more.

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Pot Likker Soup Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Is pot likker healthy? ›

Pot liquor contains high amounts of essential vitamins and minerals including iron, vitamin A and vitamin C. Especially important is that it contains high amounts of vitamin K, which aids in blood clotting. Another term is collard liquor.

What to do with leftover potlikker? ›

The concentrated liquid left behind after boiling greens or beans maintains roots deep in Southern culture and cooking traditions. Just like with chicken or beef stock, potlikker layers flavors and can be used as a base for everything from soups to gravies to dressings.

How to use pot likker? ›

Pot liquor! Or potlikker if you prefer, is not only delicious but also VERY nutritious, loaded with vitamin C, vitamin K and iron. Use it for soup, or cook beans in it, make sauce or gravy. Serve it as the first course in a southern inspired meal.

How to thicken cauliflower soup? ›

There are many ways to thicken cauliflower soup. Some recipes lean on heavy cream, half-and-half, milk, or coconut milk to thicken the soup and make it creamy. Others blend in cooked potatoes with the cauliflower.

What is the meaning of the word pot likker? ›

Definitions of pot likker. noun. the liquid in which vegetables or meat have be cooked. synonyms: liquor, pot liquor. type of: broth, stock.

Can you freeze pot likker? ›

They freeze nicely. I always make a bunch just so I will be able to freeze some for the time when they aren't available at the produce stand. I freeze pot likker and all. I usually just pop the contents into a pot, but I see no reason why they wouldn't microwave fine.

Is collard greens broth good for you? ›

From kale to collards to turnips, we've learned to embrace their nutrient-packed bitterness. So here's a tip: When you're cooking up a big pot of greens, don't toss out what may be the most nutritious part — the brothy water that's left in the pot. Lots of the beneficial nutrients cook out of the greens.

What are the benefits of Potlikkers? ›

But, like the leafy greens that give this broth its dark green color, pot liquor is rich in Vitamin C, Vitamin K, Vitamin A and iron. And while old-timers used to chug it as a tonic, some of today's modern Southern chefs use pot liquor to elevate the flavors of other dishes.

What is the liquid in collard greens? ›

Potlikker — the liquid left behind after boiling collards — is loaded with vitamins and minerals. Plus, it's delicious. To say that potlikker is broth is like saying that wedding cake is dessert.

What is collard green broth called? ›

Pot Liquor, also known as Pot Likker and Potlikker, is the tasty broth left behind from a pot of cooked greens (usually collard, turnip or mustard greens) and meat.

Can you drink collard green juice? ›

Although juicing collard greens is not super popular, raw collard greens are a great addition to any juice. They are full of calcium, and folate, and are a good source of vitamin K, vitamin C, and vitamin A. Cruciferous vegetables like collards are also known for their anticancer effects.

What is Potlicker in Southern food? ›

Potlikker (or “pot liquor”) is simple enough to describe—it's the brothy liquid gold left behind after boiling greens and beans—and its roots in Southern culinary traditions and heritage run deep.

Why is my cauliflower soup tasteless? ›

So, if your cauliflower soup is bland it is likely due to a lack of seasoning. Take time to properly season the soup with salt and black pepper and your favorite spices.

Is it better to thicken soup with flour or cornstarch? ›

It's important to note that cornstarch has twice the thickening power of flour. If you need to substitute cornstarch to thicken liquid in a recipe that calls for ¼ cup (four tablespoons) flour, you only need two tablespoons cornstarch.

How do you make cauliflower soup less bitter? ›

Cauliflower becomes bitter when exposed to too much heat. Over-cooking cauliflower can make it bitter. If your soup tastes bitter, you can add a little more salt to help with the bitterness. If you don't want to add any more salt, a little sugar or something sour, lemon juice, or vinegar to help offset the bitterness.

What is the healthiest option for smoking pot? ›

Don't smoke cannabis, which can inflame your lungs. Use an under-the-tongue tincture, an edible, a topical product, or a dry herb vaporizer. If you do smoke cannabis, don't hold it in your lungs for more than a second or two; holding it in longer doesn't give you more effect, it just irritates your lungs.

Are collard greens healthy for you? ›

The vitamins, minerals, and dietary fiber found in collard greens provide significant health benefits. Dietary fiber is important for helping maintain your digestive health. The soluble fiber in collard greens can help absorb cholesterol before it makes its way into your bloodstream, lowering your cholesterol levels.

Are canned collards healthy? ›

The greens are loaded with vitamin A, calcium, folic acid and other vital nutrients, making them a wonderful choice to add to lunch and dinner entrees. Great Value Collard Greens, 14 oz: No Artificial Flavors Or Colors.

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