Black-Eyed Peas, Bacon & Pork

Looking for a recipe to bring you some luck for 2018? This savory one-dish meal made with pork and peas should do the trick. Pigs are said to be lucky because they root forward. Peas, especially black-eyed peas, are said to bring good fortune. Some say you should leave one pea on your plate, to share your luck with someone else. This delicious recipe is from Down Home with the Neelys.

Size: 6 to 8 servings

Ingredients:
1 pound dried black-eyed peas (fresh or canned black-eyed peas can be substituted)
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
6 ounces pork shoulder, diced into 1/2-inch cubes
4 strips thick sliced bacon, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
1 medium onion, small diced
4 garlic cloves, sliced
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper
1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 teaspoon garlic powder
4 cups chicken stock
2 cups water
3 bay leaves

Directions:

Instead of soaking peas overnight, you can “quick-soak” them by putting them in a pot with about 4″ of water. Bring water to a boil for 2 minutes. Remove from the heat, cover and soak the peas for 1 hour. Then, drain and rinse the peas.

Heat the oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. When the oil is shimmering, add pork. Brown on all sides, about 4 to 5 minutes. Add the bacon, onion and garlic to the pot and cook, stirring, until the onion and garlic are lightly browned, about 6 to 8 minutes. Add the salt, black pepper, cayenne and garlic powder.

Cook about 2 minutes. Add the stock, water and bay leaves. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer, covered, for about 30 minutes.

When the pork begins to fall apart, add the peas to the pot and simmer until the peas are very soft, about 1 to 1-1/2 hours. You can use the back of a spoon to smash some of the peas to create a creamier consistency.

Taste for seasonings. You can add hot-pepper vinegar for extra kick, if desired. Discard the bay leaves and serve.

 


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Author: Heather Zachariah

Former Art Director for Home Magazine, Heather Leahy Zachariah, left her career in publishing after baby number number one. She now works from home as a freelance graphic designer and a chauffeur to her 3 busy kids. "Working on TipsFromTown has been a wonderful outlet for me. It renewed my love of publishing where I can design colorful, enticing pages online and allows me to share the things I love about being a mom." Heather grew up in Shaker Heights, Ohio, a place that still is near and dear to her. " After living in Brooklyn for 18 years and studying Graphic Design at Pratt Institute, she now lives in the Jersey burbs. "I love living so close to NYC, but in my heart, I'm an Ohio girl."

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