Name: Black-Eyed Peas
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 45 min
Total time: 65 min
Yield: 6 servings
Cuisine: North America, Southern
Ingredients: 1 pound dried black-eyed peas, sorted and rinsed; 1 large onion, chopped; 2 tablespoons olive oil; 2 ounces sliced salt pork belly, chopped; 6 garlic cloves, minced; 2 bay leaves; 1 tablespoon minced fresh thyme or 1 teaspoon dried thyme; 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes; 1/4 teaspoon pepper; 1 carton (32 ounces) reduced-sodium chicken broth; 2 smoked ham hocks

Ready for the ultimate black-eyed peas recipe? This popular Southern side dish gets its flavor from salty pork belly and ham hocks and might even bring good luck when eaten on New Year's Day.

Ingredients

1 pound dried black-eyed peas, sorted and rinsed

1 large onion, chopped

2 tablespoons olive oil

2 ounces sliced salt pork belly, chopped

6 garlic cloves, minced

2 bay leaves

1 tablespoon minced fresh thyme or 1 teaspoon dried thyme

1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes

1/4 teaspoon pepper

1 carton (32 ounces) reduced-sodium chicken broth

2 smoked ham hocks

Instructions

1 Quick soak the beans

2 Put the peas in a Dutch oven. Add enough water so the peas are covered by two inches. Bring the water to a boil and boil for two minutes. Remove the Dutch oven from the heat, then cover and let the peas stand for one hour. Drain and rinse the peas, then set aside.

3 Saute the onions and pork

4 Heat oil in the Dutch oven. Add the onions and saute until soft and translucent. Add the pork belly, garlic, bay leaves, thyme, red pepper flakes and pepper. Cook for one minute until garlic becomes fragrant.

5 Simmer the peas and ham hocks

6 Pour in the chicken broth. Add the ham hocks and peas. Bring to a boil then reduce to a simmer. Cook uncovered for 35 to 40 minutes or until the peas are tender. Editor's Tip: Give the peas an occasional stir as they're cooking. If the liquid is cooking off too fast, add extra broth or water.

7 Chop the ham hocks

8 Remove and discard the bay leaves. Take out the ham hocks, remove the meat from the bones and discard the bones. Finely chop the meat and stir it back into the peas.