RAINBOW TROUT WITH BLACK-EYED PEAS AND COUNTRY HAM

Rainbow Trout with Black-eyed Peas and Country Ham image

Provided by Food Network

Time 2h25m

Yield 4 servings

Number Of Ingredients 11

4 fillets rainbow trout
3/4 cup cornmeal
6 tablespoons butter
Salt and pepper
1 carrot, diced
1 onion, diced
2 stalks celery, diced
1 pound dried black-eyed peas
1 bay leaf
2 sprigs fresh thyme
2 ounces country ham, cut into thin strips

Steps:

In a shallow dish, coat the trout with the cornmeal. Heat a large skillet over medium heat and add 3 tablespoons of the butter. When the butter begins to melt, place the trout, skin-side down, and cook over medium heat until the skin turns brown and crisp, about 5 minutes. Gently turn the trout over and continue to cook another 3 minutes. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Reserve the pan juices.
Melt the remaining butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add the carrot and onion and cook until the onion is just translucent, about 10 minutes. Add the celery, black-eyed peas, bay leaf, and thyme. Cook for 5 more minutes. Add just enough water to cover the mixture and lower the heat. Cook until the black-eyed peas are tender, about 1 hour and 30 minutes. Add the strips of country ham. Season with salt and pepper, to taste.
Remove thyme sprigs. Place the warm black-eyed peas in the center of a plate. Arrange the trout on top. Drizzle with the pan juices.