Black Eyed Pea Cocktail Balls Recipes

BLACK EYED PEA FRITTERS

Steps:

• In a large, deep frying pan, heat about 1/2-inch of oil to 350 degrees F.
• Mash cooked peas in a large mixing bowl. Add remaining ingredients and mix well. Shape into fritters, whatever size you desire. Carefully add fritters to the hot oil and fry until golden on 1 side. Carefully turn fritters over and continue frying until golden on the second side and cooked through in the middle. Remove and let drain on paper towels. Serve.

BLACK EYED PEA COCKTAIL BALLS

Steps:

• Drain and mash black eyed peas.
• Combine all ingredients, except cooking oil, the 1 tablespoon salad oil is combined with all ingredients.
• MIx well.
• Drop by rounded teaspoons into hot cooking oil; cook until browned.
• Drain on absorbent towels.
• This may be made into patties and fried, it has a sausage taste.

FUZZY BEACH BALLS COCKTAIL

Steps:

• Need a larger batch? See final step below. :).
• While our original uses raspberry vodka, substitutes such as pomegranate or watermelon vodka would work. There are many flavored vodkas so create your own version of the Beach Balls Cocktail! How about marshmallow vodka -- Sticky Beach Balls, anyone?.
• You could shake, stir, or go frozen then add the Spiked Melon Balls (2 per serving!). Freeze some grapes and use as ice cubes. The grapes will slowly thaw then absorb some of the alcohol. Since the mixture should already be chilled, the grapes are excellent substitutes for ice (no watering down). Simple enough and the grapes, like the Spiked Melon Balls, will be fun to eat! Fruit with a Punch! You can add a splash of Grenadine for sweetness and color. Just need sweetness? -- make some simple sugar (1 part water to 1 part sugar then boil/stir until syrup) and pour amount desired. Keep simple sugar in the fridge to use again. If using ice, make sure the cubes are large.
• To make the Spiked Melon Balls, select your favorite melon (watermelon, honeydew, cantaloupe -- ) then use the melon baller to create balls. Add balls to bowl and pour in Everclear until it covers about 1/2 of the fruit. If too much Everclear is used, you will drain and waste because the fruit can only absorb so much. Prepare the Spiked Balls the day before consumption or at least 4 hours in advance. Turn a few times to ensure even infusion of the Everclear. Friendly reminder -- Everclear is powerful stuff, 190 proof (95% alcohol by volume!) to be exact though some bottles are sold as 151 proof (75.5% alcohol by volume). Either version is stout to say the least! While it complements this drink recipe, we don't recommend friends toss back a bunch as a snack! As a comparison, the average vodka is 80 proof or 40% alcohol by volume.
• Batch serving of Fuzzy Beach Balls aka: Bunch o' Fuzzy Beach Balls (serves 20 +/-): one 750 ml bottle of Coconut Rum, 1. L of Raspberry Vodka, 46 ounces of Pineapple Juice, 46 ounces of Orange Juice, 46 Spiked Balls, and 1 bottle of Grenadine (optional, splash in each cup as desired).

BLACK-EYED PEA FRITTERS WITH HOT PEPPER RELISH

Steps:

• Soak peas for fritters:
• Put peas in water to cover by 2 inches and soak 8 hours. Drain in a colander.
• Make relish:
• Purée bell peppers, onion, tomatoes, chile, and salt in 2 batches in a food processor.
• Heat oil in a 12-inch heavy skillet over moderately high heat until hot but not smoking, then stir in purée (use caution as it will splatter). Reduce heat and simmer, stirring occasionally, until most of liquid is evaporated, 8 to 10 minutes. Cool to room temperature.
• Make fritters:
• Purée peas, onion, and chile in food processor until as smooth as possible, then blend in egg and salt. With motor running, add 3 tablespoons water and blend until smooth and fluffy (add remaining tablespoon water if necessary to form a batter just thin enough to drop from a spoon).
• Fry fritters:
• Heat oil in a 4-quart heavy pot (preferably cast-iron) until thermometer registers 360°F. Working in batches of 8, gently drop tablespoons of batter into hot oil, using a small spoon to scrape batter from tablespoon. Fry, stirring constantly (to prevent fritters from browning too quickly), until golden, about 2 minutes, then transfer to paper towels to drain. Return oil to 360°F between batches.