Hoppin John!

Here is a southern favorite here! 

Hoppin John! 

Makes 6-8 servings

Ingredients:

6 cups hot cooked rice

1 bag (1 pound) dried black eyed peas, soaked overnight and rinsed

1/4 cup salted butter

1 smoked ham hock, or 1 cup Ham chopped (we use left over ham, but any ham works)

1 red bell pepper, diced

3 red sweet chilies, diced

1 medium white onion, diced

2 small celery stalks

3 garlic cloves, finely chopped

4 cups chicken broth (I like to mix it half and half with chicken broth and vegetable broth)

1 bay leaf

Cajun seasoning

Salt and pepper

Directions:

1.  Sort and rinse peas.  Soak peas in  enough water to cover at least 8 hours or overnight.  Drain and rinse peas; set aside.  In a large pan, heat butter over medium heat.  Add onion, pepper, celery, and chilies. Sauté about 5 minutes or until onions are translucent.  Add garlic and cook for another 2 minutes. 
2. Add ham hock, brother, and bay leaf.  Heat to a boil and reduce to simmer, stir in soaked peas.  Add salt to taste and cook 50-60 minutes or until peas are tender. 
3. Remove and discard bay leaf, remove ham hock.  Remove the ham from the bone: discard bone and shred ham.  Return ham back to the pot and stir.  Serve over cooked rice.

We LOVE it served over rice! Enjoy!