HAM HOCKS flavor the beans & greens * SMOKY with a touch of HEAT ** I get the smoked ham hocks (or neck bones) a few weeks before (the grocery stores tend to sell out of them), stick them in the freezer and take them out to defrost on New Year's Eve. Then I get it all going in the morning on New Year's Day.
Traditional to serve with CORNBREAD, so I'll put a button link to the BEST sweet, cakey CORNBREAD you've ever had!
HOPPIN’ JOHN
Traditional Southern dish for New Year’s Day (said to bring good luck throughout the New Year)
4 TB butter
almost 1 lb. dried black-eyed peas (2 cups)…………..1/2 large white or yellow onion, diced
2-4 small smoked ham hocks or neck bones................3 TB crushed or minced garlic
2-3 stalks celery, small chop......................................1/2 large green pepper, small chop
1/2 to 1 jalapeno pepper, seeded & minced (depends how hot & spicy you want it)
2-4 tsp. Creole seasoning (I use Tony Chachere’s Creole Seasoning on everything!)
2-4 tsp. Kosher or sea salt (depends how salty your ham hocks are)
2 tsp. smoked paprika................................................1 tsp. liquid smoke
1 tsp. cracked / crushed red pepper.............................2 tsp. white vinegar
about 3 tsp. GOOD quality beef bouillon powder........5 cups water
1 bunch fresh greens (I like mustard greens best) ~OR~1 (10 oz) package frozen chopped spinach, thawed
***
In large Dutch oven, saute the onions, celery, garlic, bell pepper & jalapeno pepper in the butter (med-high) until the onions are translucent and garlic is fragrant. Then add everything else (EXCEPT the greens / spinach) and continue on medium-high until it boils. Reduce to a simmer
and simmer gently until beans are tender but not mushy (2 to 2-1/2 hrs). Remove ham hocks, cut off meat. It will probably shred right off the bone ~ add it back to the pot.
Add the fresh greens or thawed spinach now ~ simmer until the fresh greens are cooked (spinach should be well mixed in) ~ at least 15 minutes, but you could actually simmer as much as an hour, if you want.
Serve with hot sauce and fresh cornbread…. Serves 6-8