Best Nytimes Black Eyed Peas Ham Hock Recipes

SOUTHERN-STYLE BLACK-EYED PEAS

Steps:

• Soak black-eyed peas in a bowl of water for at least 2 hours, or overnight.
• Heat oil in a large, heavy saucepan over medium heat. Saute onion and garlic in the hot oil until onion is translucent, about 5 minutes. Add smoked ham hocks and water. Bring to a boil. Cover, lower heat to a simmer, and cook for 1 hour.
• Drain peas and add to the pot along with seasoned salt, onion powder, cumin, black pepper, red pepper, and bay leaves. Bring to a boil. Cover, lower heat to a simmer, and cook for 1 hour. Uncover the pot and cook until beans are tender, about 30 minutes more. Remove bay leaves and ham hocks before serving.

BLACK-EYED PEAS AND HAM HOCKS

Steps:

• Rinse dried peas thoroughly, sorting any tiny pebbles or other debris.
• In a large stockpot, bring 3 cups of water to a boil with black-eyed peas, ham hocks, salt, pepper, and bay leaf. Reduce to a simmer and cook, uncovered, 1 1/2 hours, or until peas and ham hocks are tender. If ham hocks require further cooking, simmer in water in a separate pot until meat is easily pulled from the bone.
• Cool ham hocks and remove all meat from the bone. Stir ham into the peas, adjust seasoning with salt and pepper as needed, and serve.

BROOKLYN-STYLE HOPPIN' JOHN

Steps:

• In a large bowl, cover peas generously with water, add baking soda and soak overnight.
• The next day, rinse ham hocks and pat dry. Heat oil in a large heavy-bottomed pot. Sear ham hocks and ham trimmings, turning so all sides are cooked.
• Remove seasoning meat, if using. Add water to ham hocks just to cover, bring to a boil and then turn heat to a strong simmer. Partly cover pot and cook hocks until slightly tender, about 45 minutes.
• If using seasoning meat, return it to pot. Add peas, onion, celery, green pepper, garlic, bay leaves, salt and red pepper, along with five cups of water. Bring to a boil, then turn to a simmer and cook until beans are tender and water begins to look saucy, 30 to 45 minutes. Serve over white rice with vinegar peppers, if desired.

BLACK-EYED PEAS WITH COLLARD GREENS

Steps:

• Place the black-eyed peas in a large saucepan, cover with water by two inches, bring to a boil and then drain. Combine with half the onion and one of the garlic cloves in the saucepan. Add water to cover by two inches, and bring back to a simmer. Add the bay leaf, and reduce the heat. Add salt to taste, cover and simmer 30 minutes, until the beans are just tender. Drain through a strainer set over a bowl.
• Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 350 degrees. In a large, ovenproof lidded skillet or Dutch oven, heat 2 tablespoons of the olive oil over medium heat and add the remaining onion. Cook, stirring, until tender, about five minutes, and add the remaining garlic. Stir together for 30 seconds to a minute, until fragrant. A handful at a time, stir in the greens. As the greens wilt, stir in another handful, until all the greens have been added and have collapsed in the pan. Add the dissolved tomato paste and stir together. Add salt to taste. Add the beans and enough cooking liquid to barely cover everything, cover and place in the oven for 30 minutes, until the collards are tender and the beans very soft.
• Uncover the pot, and add a bit of liquid if the beans are dry. Stir in the remaining tablespoon of olive oil and the dill, cover and continue to simmer for another 10 minutes. Add salt and freshly ground pepper to taste. Serve warm or hot. If you wish, top with crumbled feta or a squeeze of lemon.

SOUTHERN BLACK-EYED PEAS

Steps:

• Place peas in a Dutch oven; add water to cover by 2 in. Bring to a boil; boil for 2 minutes. Remove from the heat; cover and let stand for 1 hour. Drain and rinse peas, discarding liquid; set aside., In the same pan, saute onion in oil until tender. Add the pork belly, garlic, bay leaves, thyme, pepper flakes and pepper; cook 1 minute longer., Add the broth, ham hocks and peas; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, for 35-40 minutes or until peas are tender, stirring occasionally and adding more water if desired., Discard bay leaves. Remove ham hocks; cool slightly. Remove meat from bones if desired; finely chop and return to pan. Discard bones. If desired, top with additional fresh thyme.

BLACK-EYED PEAS WITH HAM HOCKS

Steps:

• Rinse peas well and pick out dirt and stones (I do not soak mine).
• Add to a large stock pot.
• Fill with water up to a little over half full (you may need to add more water (hot) as you go).
• Add ham hocks, salt and pepper (be careful not to add too much salt because of the ham hocks).
• Bring to a rapid boil for about 20 minutes. stirring so the peas don't stick.
• Put on low and simmer 2 1/2 to 3 hours, stirring every so often.
• When done, you can serve it by itself or over rice.