Hopping John Modified Recipes

SLOW COOKER HOPPIN JOHN

Steps:

• Place black-eyed peas in a large container and cover with several inches of cool water; let stand 8 hours to overnight. Drain and rinse.
• Pour 6 cups water into a pot; add ham hock. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer until meat is tender, about 1 hour. Transfer ham hock to a plate to cool and reserve 4 cups of the cooking liquid.
• Layer soaked peas, andouille sausage, onion, celery, and garlic in the bottom of a slow cooker. Remove meat from ham hock and add meat to slow cooker. Sprinkle bay leaves, cumin, salt, and red pepper flakes over the top. Pour reserved cooking water over peas mixture.
• Cook on High until peas are tender, at least 4 hours.

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.

SOUTHERN HOPPIN' JOHN

Steps:

• In a large skillet, cook bacon over medium heat until crisp. Drain on paper towels; discard all but 2 tablespoons drippings. Saute pepper, celery and onions in drippings until almost tender. Add rice, water and seasonings. Cover and simmer 10 minutes. Add peas and bacon; simmer 10 minutes longer. Discard bay leaf.

HOPPIN' JOHN

Steps:

• In a large pan place the peas, ham hock, onion, red pepper, salt and pepper. Cover with water and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low and cook for 1 1/2 hours.
• Remove ham hock and cut meat into pieces. Return meat to pot. Stir in the rice, cover and cook until rice is tender, about 20 to 25 minutes. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Sprinkle shredded cheese over top, if desired. Serve

HOPPING JOHN (MODIFIED)

Steps:

• Prepare the 1 cup ham broth if using a base, or bullion. Make sure the base is well dissolved before adding to cooking pot. (I used 1 teaspoons Penzy's ham base to 1 cup water.).
• Chop Canadian Bacon into small pieces so you will get a little in each bite. Drain and rinse black eye peas. Set both aside.
• Add 1/3 cup water to pot, add prepared ham broth, and add the half cup of uncooked rice. Bring rice liquid to a boil over medium high heat, then stir in black eye peas and ham. As soon as rice liquid returns to a boil, cover pot, reduce heat to a simmer, and cook to rice directions. (Uncle Bens was 20 minutes. Your time may be slightly different.).
• NOTE: If your rice mixture looks too dry near the end, you can mix in a little water, or ham broth to make it more moist. If it's way too wet you can uncover mixture, stir, and cook a little longer until some of the excess moisture evaporates.

BEEFY HOPPIN' JOHN - HOPPING JOHN

Steps:

• Brown beef strips in lard or oil; sprinkle with next three ingredients.
• Add 1 1/2 cups water; cover tightly and cook slowly 30 minutes.
• Remove meat and set aside; add rice, celery and onion to pan liquid.
• Return meat to pan and add peas and tomatoes.
• Cover tightly and continue cooking slowly until rice and meat are done, adding additional water if needed to prevent scorching, about 45 minutes.