Kickoff Blackeyed Pea Bacon Chili Recipes

BLACK-EYED PEAS WITH BACON

Steps:

• Rinse and sort black-eyed peas. Place peas and bacon in a Dutch oven; add water to cover. Bring to a boil; boil 2 minutes. Remove from heat; let soak, covered, 1 hour. Do not drain., In a cast-iron or other heavy skillet, heat butter over medium-high heat. Add onion; cook and stir until tender. Add garlic; cook 1 minute longer. Stir in thyme., Stir into pea mixture. Bring to a boil; reduce heat. Simmer, covered, until peas are tender, stirring occasionally, 30-40 minutes. Sprinkle with salt to taste. If desired, garnish with fresh thyme leaves and additional crumbled bacon.

SPICY BLACK-EYED PEAS

Steps:

• In a large saucepan, cook bacon until crisp. Remove bacon, crumble and set aside to use as topping for peas. Sauté onion in bacon drippings until tender. Add peas, diced tomatoes and green chilies, salt, chili powder, pepper and water. Cook, covered, over medium heat for 45 minutes to 1 hour, or until peas are tender. Add additional water if necessary.

BLACK-EYED PEAS WITH BACON AND PORK

Steps:

• If using dried black-eyed peas, put them in a large pot and cover with about 4 inches of water. Soak the peas overnight, then drain the water and rinse. Alternatively, you can "quick-soak" the peas by bringing them and the water to a boil for 2 minutes. After this, remove them from the heat, cover the pot and soak the peas for 1 hour. Then, drain and rinse the peas.
• Heat the oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. When the oil is shimmering, add the pork. Sear until the pork is browned on all sides, 4 to 5 minutes. Add the bacon, onion and garlic to the pot and cook, stirring, until the onion and garlic are lightly browned, about 6 to 8 minutes. Add the salt, black pepper, cayenne and garlic powder. Cook until the entire mixture is coated with the spices, about 2 minutes. Pour in the stock and water and drop in the bay leaves. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer, covered, for about 30 minutes.
• When the pork begins to fall apart, add the prepared peas to the pot and simmer until the peas are very soft, about 1 to 1 1/2 hours (see Cook's Note).
• Taste for seasonings, and add some hot-pepper vinegar, if desired. Discard the bay leaves and transfer the black-eyed peas to a serving bowl.

BLACK-EYED PEA CHILI

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add onion and cook till softened. Add garlic and cook 30 seconds. Add turkey and cook till done. Stir in the bell pepper, jalapeno pepper and chili powder and cook 1 minute.
• Add the peas, tomatoes and chicken broth. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to medium low, cover and simmer, stirring a few times, for about 20 minutes.
• Serve topped with a dollop of sour cream and sprinkle of cilantro leaves.

BLACK-EYED PEA AND BACON SOUP

Steps:

• Brown the bacon in a large pot over medium heat. Drain grease, and place onion in the pot. Cook and stir until tender. Pour in the water. Mix in the bouillon cubes until dissolved. Stir in black-eyed peas, and season with salt and pepper. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low, and simmer 45 minutes.
• Place the potatoes in the pot, and continue cooking 15 minutes, or until beans and potatoes are tender. Serve warm.

BLACK-EYED PEAS WITH BACON AND PORK

Steps:

• If using dried black-eyed peas, place them in a large pot and cover with about 4 inches of water. Soak the beans overnight, then drain and rinse. Alternatively, you can "quick-soak" the beans: bring them and the water to a boil for 2 minutes, then remove them from the heat, and cover the pot and soak for 1 hour. Drain and rinse the beans.
• Heat the oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. When the oil is shimmering, add the pork. Cook until the pork is browned on all sides, 4 to 5 minutes. Add the bacon, onion, and garlic to the pot, and cook, stirring, for an additional 6 to 8 minutes, until the onion and garlic are lightly browned. Add the salt, black pepper, cayenne, and garlic powder, and cook for 2 more minutes, until the entire mixture is coated with spices. Add the stock, 2 cups water, and the bay leaves, bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer, covered, for about 30 minutes.
• When the pork begins to fall apart, add the soaked (or fresh) beans to the pot, and simmer for 1 to 1 1/2 hours more, until the beans are very soft.
• Using the back of a spoon, smash some of the beans against the inside of the pot, then stir into the mix. This will break up some beans and give them a creamier consistency. Alternatively, you can purée 1 cup of the beans and broth in a blender or a food processor, then return to the pot. Taste for seasonings, add hot pepper vinegar, as desired, and serve.

PORK CHEEK AND BLACK-EYED PEA CHILI

Steps:

• In a large bowl, combine the coriander, paprika and cumin and toss with the pork cheeks. Season with salt and pepper.
• In a large enameled cast-iron casserole, heat 2 Tbsp of the oil. Add half of the pork and cook over moderately high heat, turning once, until browned, about 8 minutes. Transfer the pork to a plate. Add the remaining 2 Tbsp of oil and brown the remaining pork over moderate heat. Transfer the pork to a plate.
• Add the bacon to the casserole and cook over moderate heat, stirring occasionally, until browned and slightly crisp, about 7 minutes. Add the onion, garlic and jalapenos and bell peppers and cook, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are softened, about 5 minutes.
• Return the pork cheeks to the casserole along with any accumulated juices. Add the ale, chicken stock, tomatoes, chipotles, black-eyed peas and cinnamon stick and bring to a boil. Cover and cook over very low heat until the meat and beans are tender, about 2 1/2 hours. Season the chili with salt and pepper. Spoon off the fat from the surface and discard the cinnamon stick. Serve the chili in bowls. Pass the smoked cheddar, cilantro and creme fraiche at the table.