Vegetable Hoppin John Food

HOPPIN' JOHN

Steps:

• Soak black-eyed peas in cool water for at least 6 hours. Rinse before using.
• Heat butter in a large pot over medium-high heat. Add onion, garlic, green pepper, and celery and stir. Cook for 3 to 4 minutes. Stir in soaked beans, then add chicken broth, ham hock, salt & pepper, and cayenne to taste. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and cover the pot for 30 minutes.
• After 30 minutes, check the liquid level; if it's too soupy, cook with the lid off for another 15 minutes or so. If it's too thick, splash in a little more broth. Stir in vinegar, then taste for seasonings. Add more spice if needed.
• Serve over white or brown rice, making sure to get plenty of the cooking liquid spooned over the top. Or, you may mix the bean mixture with the rice before serving.
• Variations: Add red bell pepper, canned diced tomatoes, diced jalapenos, diced ham (instead of ham hocks), or sliced bacon (instead of ham hocks). Stir in torn-up kale when 5 minutes of cooking time remain. You can also use canned, drained black-eyed peas if preferred. Just use diced ham instead of ham hock and a little less broth, as peas won't need to cook as long.

HOPPIN JOHN

Steps:

• Heat a medium heavy-bottomed saucepot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the black-eyed peas and cover with cold water by 1 inch (should be about 6 cups water). Add the smoked turkey and a pinch of salt and bring to a boil. Reduce to a simmer and cook over medium heat, covered, until tender, about 2 hours, then turn off the heat.
• Melt the butter and oil in a large saucepot over medium-high heat. Add the onions and peppers. Season with salt and pepper and cook just until slightly softened, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and cook 1 minute more. Add the rice to the pot and stir until toasted, about 5 minutes.
• Add 3 cups water and 1 cup of the cooking liquid from the peas. Bring to a boil, then cover and cook over medium-low heat until the rice is tender and cooked through, 15 to 20 minutes. Fluff the rice with a fork and gently stir in 2 cups of the cooked peas (save the remainder for another use). Cover and cook for 10 minutes more. Transfer to a serving bowl and top with the sliced scallions before serving.

HOPPIN' JOHN

Steps:

• 1. Place black-eyed peas into and strainer and rinse. Dice the Trinity (peppers, onions and green onions)- no celery for this one! Heat extra virgin olive oil and saute fresh seasonings until clear. Add minced garlic and cook for 2 min.
• 2. Place rice into rice cooker and add the proper amount of water.
• 3. Place rinsed peas in to a stock pot and fill with water up to 1 inch above the peas. Add 1 cup of chicken or vegetable broth. Cook on medium-high heat for 20 min. or until a low boil occurs.
• 4. Add dry seasonings to black-eyed peas, reduce heat and cook 25 more min. or until soft and tender.
• 5. Combine cooked black-eyed peas, cooked vegetables, and rice together. Serve with cornbread squares and greens! Bon Appetit!

HOPPIN' JOHN (VEGETARIAN)

Steps:

• Melt butter with oil in large, heavy saucepan over medium heat. Add onion, bay leaves, thyme, chili powder and allspice. Cook, stirring often, until onion is lightly browned, about 7 minutes.
• Prepare rice by your preferred method.
• Add black-eyed peas to the onion mix; cover with water. Increase heat to medium-high; heat to a boil. Lower heat to a simmer; cover. Cook until peas are just tender, 20-25 minutes, checking pan and adding more water if needed. Uncover; cook over medium heat until water is mostly absorbed, about 5 minutes. Season with salt and pepper, to taste.
• Remove bay leaves. Serve over rice.
• Note: I used vegetable broth instead of water. My broth had no salt, if you use a commercial broth, cut down on or eliminate the salt.

VEGETABLE HOPPIN' JOHN

Steps:

• Let the oil heat in a large pot over medium heat.
• Add in the chopped onion and bell pepper; stir/saute for 3-4 minutes.
• Add in the garlic and broth; increase heat to high.
• Add in the bouillon cube; cover and bring to a boil.
• Uncover and add Worcestershire sauce, basil, and pepper; stir and recover.
• Add in rice and stir to combine.
• Cover again and decrease heat to medium; cook for about 8 minutes or until the broth is just absorbed.
• Add in the tomatoes and peas; stir to combine.
• Continue to cook covered for 1-2 more minutes or until well heated.

HOPPIN' JOHN

Steps:

• Heat oil in a large soup pot, add the ham hock and sear on all sides for 4 minutes. Add the onion, celery, green pepper, and garlic, cook for 4 minutes. Add the black-eyed peas, stock, bay leaves, thyme, and seasonings. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat and simmer for 40 minutes, or until the peas are creamy and tender, stir occasionally. If the liquid evaporates, add more water or stock. Adjust seasonings, and garnish with green onions. Serve over rice.