n Italy we also have Collar greens, but it's called Escarole he told me. He said , our Italian dishes are for more tasteful then you soul food dishes. That was over 40 year ago. I mention this because I believe escarole is a ingredient in minestre.
You might be right my grandparents were from norther Italy in the country and so may have called it that or something else like Monast, and chigotis come to mind anyway we made in in a soup with some kidney beans olive oil, I like getting the soup and breaking up some old dry bread to soak up the juice and then quickly frying it in olive oil.