Black Eyed Peas Ala Nita Or Hoppin John

Total Time: 51 hrs Preparation Time: 48 hrs Cook Time: 3 hrs

Ingredients

• Servings: 4
• 1 cup dried black-eyed peas
• cold water, to wash soak, cover
• 1 fresh carrot, grated
• 1/3 medium vidalia onions or 1/3 medium sweet onion, chopped
• 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
• 1 knorr chicken bouillon cubes or 1 ham bouillon cube
• 1/2 teaspoon table salt, to add when peas are cooked and tender or done
• 1/2 cup cured ham, cooked or 1/2 cup ham hocks or 1/2 cup smoked bacon

Recipe

• 1 wash 1 cup dried black eyed peas in cold water. check for trash and discard.
• 2 place in a boiler on stove and cover with water about 1 inch above the peas and bring to a good boil.
• 3 reduce heat and simmer for 5 minutes, pour off 1/2 the water.
• 4 add more water as before, soak the peas in the water overnight.
• 5 when ready to cook the peas, drain off water, cover with fresh water.
• 6 add to this the cooked left-over cured ham with some of the fat and if available some of the bone, or add a piece of ham hock or smoked bacon.
• 7 wash and scrape 1 fresh carrot, then grate or shred the carrot; add the carrot to the peas.
• 8 cut off about 1/3 of a medium sweet vidalia or sweet type onion, remove the outside peeling and chop finely, add to the peas.
• 9 add 2 tablespoons granulated sugar.
• 10 do not add salt until peas are cooked and tender, or they will be hard.
• 11 bring the peas to a boil and reduce heat to a slow boil or simmer. be sure you have and keep plenty of water in the pot, several inches above the peas. cover with a lid.
• 12 cook about 1 hour. check often to be sure they don't dry out and burn. add water as needed.
• 13 at the end of 1 hour, add 1 knorr chicken or ham bouillon cube to the pot (or both).
• 14 cook another 30 minutes at least, or until the peas are tender and done.
• 15 when done, add 1/2 teaspoon table salt.
• 16 serve with a bowl of steamed rice (for hopping john), stewed tomatoes and corn bread. serve with a lamb dish, as lamb chops or lamb tenderloin, and iced tea.
• 17 enjoy!