Hog Jowl Food

BRAISED PORK JOWLS ALL'AMATRICIANA

Steps:

• For the jowls: Combine jowls, bay leaves, oregano, thyme, peppercorns, kosher salt, pink salt and 3 quarts water in a large soup pot. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a low simmer and cook until the jowls are fork-tender throughout, about 2 hours 30 minutes. Set aside to cool in cooking liquid.
• Slice each jowl across the grain into about six 1/4-inch-thick slices.
• For the amatriciana sauce: Slice the Pancetta into 1/8-inch-thick slices, then cut the slices into 3/4-inch squares. Set aside.
• Heat a large, heavy-bottomed saucepot over medium-high heat and add onions and pancetta. Turn heat to high and cook, stirring occasionally, until well caramelized. Add the tomatoes, red pepper flakes and garlic and stir to mix well. Reduce the heat and simmer for 30 minutes. Remove from heat and keep warm. Season to taste.
• Heat a large cast-iron pan over medium-high heat and add the olive oil. Cook until smoking, then add 2 to 3 slices jowl to the pan. (Don't crowd them in the pan; give them room to breathe.) Caramelize both sides of the jowl slices until crisped, then remove them to a paper towel to absorb excess oil. Continue with remaining slices. Arrange the slices on a large platter and spoon a generous amount of amatriciana sauce on top. Sprinkle with pecorino and chopped parsley.
• Combine kosher salt, sugar and pink salt in a medium bowl and mix well. Roughly chop the rosemary and thyme leaves and mix them into the dry ingredients. Add the peppercorns, red pepper flakes, coriander seeds and garlic and mix well again. Set aside.
• Place the pork belly in a shallow plastic bin or on a cookie sheet and rub liberally with the cure; it should have a uniform coating on it, almost as if you'd dredged it. Put the pork belly in a 2-gallon resealable plastic bag and seal it. Refrigerate, flipping the bag every 2 days and working the cure into the meat, for 9 days.
• Remove the pork belly from the bag and rinse all the cure off. Use a meat needle to insert a string into one corner of the pancetta. Hang it in the refrigerator to dry for 1 to 2 weeks more. (The pancetta will be ready in 1 week, but an additional week of curing will intensify the flavor.)

HOG JOWL AND BLACK-EYED PEAS

Steps:

• Cover peas with cold water and soak overnight.
• Cook hog jowls in boiling water for an hour; add drained peas and salt.
• Simmer for an additional 2 hours.

HOPPIN' JOHN

Steps:

• Wash the peas in a strainer, and soak them for 4 hours in ample fresh water. When ready, heat olive oil over medium-high heat in a 4-quart pot, and brown the hog jowl on both sides. (If using bacon, omit the olive oil, and simply render the fat in the pot for 5 minutes.) Add onion, and cook until softened, about 5 minutes. Add 6 cups water, black pepper, red pepper and salt, and bring to a boil.
• Let mixture boil 10 minutes, and then add peas. Maintain a low boil, uncovered, until peas are nearly tender (25 minutes for black-eyed peas, 30 minutes for field peas). In a bowl, lightly crush tomatoes, and add to pot. Add rice to pot, reduce heat to low and simmer, covered, 20 minutes.
• Turn off flame, and allow hoppin' John to steam in pot, lid on, for 5 minutes. If using hog jowl, remove from pot, and shred meat. Fluff hoppin' John, and add shredded jowl. Serve.