Potlikker (Pot Liquor)

Pot liquor (or potlikker) is the deeply flavorful broth created when cooking greens like collards, mustard, or turnip greens, a treasured element of Southern cuisine. This nutrient-rich liquid captures all the minerals and flavors from the greens and their seasoning.

Traditional preparation involves simmering greens with smoked ham hock, onion, and seasonings until tender, creating this gorgeous amber-green elixir. Never discard this liquid gold. It contains both flavor and nutrients that leached from the greens during cooking.

Use pot liquor to moisten cornbread, as a base for soups, to cook beans, or simply enjoyed as a restorative broth. Some Southern families even save and freeze their pot liquor, treating it as a cherished ingredient that carries the essence of generations of cooking wisdom.