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Hoppin' John

Print Recipe
Prep Time 45 minutes
Cook Time 3 hours
Total Time 3 hours 45 minutes

Ingredients
  

  • 1 # dried black-eyed peas rinsed, soaked overnight and drained
  • 2 ham hocks or 1# of cubed ham
  • 8 cups of water or broth if not using ham hocks
  • 4 strips of thick cut bacon
  • 1 package Andouille sliced ½ inch on the bias
  • ½ large onion chopped
  • 1 bunch of green onions whites and greens separate, chopped
  • 2 celery stalks chopped
  • 1 green pepper chopped
  • 3-4 garlic cloves minced
  • 1 sliced jalapeno pepper
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 1.5 cups dry rice rinsed
  • salt and creole seasoning to taste

Instructions
 

  • Soak the peas overnight in 8-12 cups of water with 3 Tbsp salt.
  • The next day, drain and rinse the peas and then put them with the ham hocks into a Dutch oven or stock pot. Add all but 2 cups of the water and bring to a boil. Cover and place into a 225-degree oven to simmer for 1-2 hours.
  • While the peas and ham hocks are simmering, prepare the rest of the ingredients.
  • Cook the bacon in a skillet, and then remove to a plate.
  • Brown the Andouille in the bacon grease and remove to the same plate. Brown the cubed ham if you have that and remove to the plate.
  • Sauté the onions, pepper and celery in the grease until soft, adding more oil if needed.
  • Add the garlic and cook 2 more minutes.
  • If using ham hocks, remove them from the pot to cool.
  • Chop the cooked bacon, and add it and the sausage to the pot of beans.
  • Add the vegetables from the skillet to the pot of beans.
  • Deglaze the skillet with the water you set aside and then add back to the pot.
  • Shred the pork off the bones when cool enough to handle and add back to the pot.
  • Add the jalapenos, bay leaves, rice, salt, and creole seasoning. Simmer covered for another hour or so adding more water if needed – or remove the lid to reduce if there is too much water.
  • Garnish with chives and/or onion greens and/or parsley.
  • Serve with hot sauce, a good crusty bread, a salad, and your favorite beer or wine.