Vegetable Hoppin John Food

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 (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.