Nytimes Black Eyed Peas Ham Hock Food

BLACK-EYED PEAS WITH HAM HOCK AND COLLARDS

Steps:

• Drain peas and put them in a large Dutch oven or heavy-bottomed soup pot. Add ham hock or bone (if using slab bacon, cut it into 2-inch chunks), cover with 10 cups water and turn heat to high. Add salt, onion stuck with cloves, bay leaf, black pepper and allspice.
• Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to a gentle simmer. Skim off and discard any foam that rises to the surface. Simmer for 1 1/2 to 2 hours, until peas are tender. Throughout cooking, add water as necessary, always keeping liquid level 1 inch above surface, stirring with wooden spoon occasionally. Turn off heat. Check broth for salt and adjust seasoning. Mixture should be fairly brothy. With a pair of tongs, remove ham hock, ham bone or bacon. Chop meat and skin in rough pieces and set aside.
• Put a large wide skillet over medium-high heat. Add vegetable oil and heat until wavy. Add garlic and red pepper and let sizzle without browning. Add collard greens and stir to coat. Season with salt and add 1 cup water, stirring to help wilt greens. Add chopped ham and reduce heat to medium, then cover with lid slightly ajar and cook until greens are soft, about 20 minutes. Check seasoning.
• To serve, put greens and meat in low soup bowls, then ladle over hot black-eyed peas. Sprinkle with scallions.

BLACK-EYED PEAS

Steps:

• Pick over the peas, discarding any broken or undesirable ones. Rinse in a colander; place in a large saucepan and add enough very warm water to cover by 2 inches. Cover and let soak 2 hours. (Fresh peas do not need soaking.)
• Drain the peas. In a heavy-bottomed 4-quart saucepan or Dutch oven, sauté pancetta over medium heat until fat is rendered, about 15 minutes. Remove pancetta with a slotted spoon and set aside. Add onion to the fat; sauté until soft, about 3 minutes. Remove and set aside.
• Pour off and discard most of the fat. Add the chicken stock and bring to a boil. Add the peas and reduce to a simmer. Add the thyme, pancetta and onion. Cook slowly until tender, 20 to 30 minutes. Add parsley. Season to taste.

STEWED BLACK-EYED PEAS

Steps:

• Put the peas in a large bowl, add water to cover by 2 inches, and soak overnight.
• Blacken the onion: If you have a gas stove, turn one burner on high and place the onion halves directly on the grates next to the flame and cook, turning occasionally, until the onion is charred on all sides, about 5 minutes. Otherwise, heat the broiler and broil the onion on a baking sheet a few inches from the heat, turning occasionally, until charred, 1 to 2 minutes. Set aside to cool.
• When the onion is cool enough to handle, poke 2 cloves into each half, and add the onion to a large stockpot. Drain the peas, discarding the liquid, and then transfer the peas to the pot.
• Place the garlic, peppercorns, bay leaves and chile on a 12-inch square of cheesecloth and wrap tightly, using twine to seal the packet.
• Add 6 quarts water and the spice packet to the pot and bring to a boil over high heat. Skim any foam that collects on the surface, then reduce to a simmer. Stir in the olive oil and 1 tablespoon salt and cook, stirring and skimming occasionally, until the peas are fully cooked and the cooking liquid has thickened, 1 to 2 hours.
• Discard the spice packet, season with the remaining 1 tablespoon salt (or to taste) and the hot sauce and serve.

SOUTHERN HAM HOCK BLACK-EYED PEAS

Steps:

• Add peas to a large dutch oven.
• Add chicken stock, water, onions and ham hocks.
• Bring to a boil, cover and reduce heat to simmer for 1 hour.
• Remove lid and add chopped garlic and jalapeños, cover and simmer another 30 minutes or until they are tender.
• Season with salt and pepper to taste.
• Remove ham hocks before serving. (You can add the meat from the hocks if you desire. I don't).
• Enjoy.

SOUTHERN BLACK-EYED PEAS

Steps:

• In a 5 quart Dutch oven, cook bacon until crisp; set aside to drain on paper towels.
• Cook onion, celery and garlic in bacon drippings until tender; add broth, salt, pepper and peas. Bring to a boil and skim top if necessary.
• Lower heat to simmer; crumble bacon and add to peas.
• Adjust seasonings to taste, cover and simmer until peas are tender (30 minutes to 1 hour depending on how tender you like them).

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.