A New Years Food Tradition

Well, my mom always wanted me to eat black-eyed peas for New Years, but I wasn't crazy about the taste or the texture. I thought about making "Hoppin' John", which is a spicy rice and black-eyed pea dish. Here is my recipe, I sometimes like to add some andouille to this, about a half pound. BTW this is a Low Country dish from the South Carolina/Georgia coastal region, and is eaten traditionally on New Years Day for good luck. Enjoy this recipe and have a Happy New Year.

Low Country Hoppin' John

1 lb dried black-eyed peas (soaked in water overnight)
1 smoked ham hock
1 15 oz. can Rotel® Tomatoes
2 cups uncooked rice
2 medium onions
1/2 cup green bell pepper (diced)
1 cup celery (sliced)
3 large cloves garlic (halved)
1 jalapeno pepper (minced)
2 tbs worcestershire
1/2 tsp thyme
1 tsp each kosher salt & black pepper
2 tsp Creole Spice Mix
1 bay leaf
4 green onions (sliced)
8 cups distilled water
4 cups chicken stock
3 tbs butter

In a large Dutch oven or kettle, combine the drained black-eyed peas, ham bone or ham hock, and the 8 cups of distilled water. Cut one of the onions in half and add it to the pot along with the garlic and bay leaf.

Bring to a boil, reduce the heat to MED/LOW, and simmer gently until the peas are tender but not mushy, 2 to 2 1/2 hours. Remove the ham bone or hocks, cut off the meat; dice and set aside. Drain the peas and set aside. Remove and discard the bay leaf, onion, and garlic.

Melt butter in your dutch oven, saute remaining diced onions, bell pepper, and celery, letting the onion until it is brown around the edges, (to help brown the butter) now add the diced jalapeño pepper. Add the smoked pork meat, spices, herbs, worcestershire, black-eyed peas, and the 4 cups of chicken stock. Cook for about 15 mins.

Add the rice and stir it in well, turn the heat up and bring to a boil for about 5 mins. Bring the heat down to MED and allow rice to cook. Stir occasionally and when rice is nearly cooked, (about 20 mins.) give it a stir, add the green onion, place the lid back on, and place in a 300º oven for about 20-25 mins. or until the rice is tender.

Happy New Year!

RouxBDoo