Mimis Hoppin John With Pork Jowl Recipes

HOPPIN' JOHN

Steps:

• Wash and sort the peas. Place them in a saucepan, add the water, and discard any peas that float. Gently boil the peas with the pepper, ham hock, and onion, uncovered, until tender but not mushy - about 1 1/2 hours - or until 2 cups of liquid remain. Add the rice to the pot, cover, and simmer over low heat for about 20 minutes, never lifting the lid.
• Remove from the heat and allow to steam, still covered, for another 10 minutes. Remove the cover, fluff with a fork, and serve immediately.

MIMI'S HOPPIN' JOHN WITH PORK JOWL

Steps:

• Place black-eyed peas into a large container and cover with several inches of cool water; let soak, 8 hours to overnight. Drain.
• Place pork jowl into a large soup pot over medium-high heat and cook until fat has rendered. Add onion and garlic and cook until onion is soft and pork has slightly browned, 5 to 7 minutes.
• Add chicken stock and drained black-eyed peas to the soup pot. Add diced ham and stir. Bring to a boil and reduce to a simmer. Simmer, covered, until beans are completely tender, 1 1/2 hours.
• Remove pork jowl from soup using a slotted spoon and discard. Mix cooked rice into the soup. Simmer, covered, 30 minutes more. Season with salt.

HOPPIN' JOHN

Steps:

• Wash the peas in a strainer, and soak them for 4 hours in ample fresh water. When ready, heat olive oil over medium-high heat in a 4-quart pot, and brown the hog jowl on both sides. (If using bacon, omit the olive oil, and simply render the fat in the pot for 5 minutes.) Add onion, and cook until softened, about 5 minutes. Add 6 cups water, black pepper, red pepper and salt, and bring to a boil.
• Let mixture boil 10 minutes, and then add peas. Maintain a low boil, uncovered, until peas are nearly tender (25 minutes for black-eyed peas, 30 minutes for field peas). In a bowl, lightly crush tomatoes, and add to pot. Add rice to pot, reduce heat to low and simmer, covered, 20 minutes.
• Turn off flame, and allow hoppin' John to steam in pot, lid on, for 5 minutes. If using hog jowl, remove from pot, and shred meat. Fluff hoppin' John, and add shredded jowl. Serve.

CROOK'S CORNER HOPPIN' JOHN

Steps:

• Put the bacon or salt pork in a saucepan and cook, stirring often, until all the cubes are crisp. Add the carrots, celery and onions and cook, stirring, about 1 minute.
• Add peas, garlic, about 1 1/4 cups water or to barely cover, thyme, bay leaf, salt and pepper flakes. Bring to boil and let simmer, uncovered, 30 to 40 minutes, until tender but not mushy. Remove from heat.
• Put the rice in a saucepan and add 1 1/2 cups water and salt to taste. Bring to boil and let simmer 17 minutes. Stir in the butter.
• Cut unpeeled tomato into 1/4-inch cubes; there should be about 1 cup.
• Arrange the hot rice in the center of a platter. Spoon the hot pea mixture, including liquid, over the rice. Scatter the cheese over the peas. Place tomato cubes around the rice. Scatter the scallions over the tomatoes. Serve immediately.