Black-Eyed Peas with Pork and Greens

Prep time: 25 min
Cook time: 115 min
Servings: 8
Yield: 8 servings

Description

This hearty pork and black-eyed peas with greens recipe is Chef John's variation of Hoppin' John. Perfect on New Year's Day or any time of the year!

Ingredients

1 pound dried black-eyed peas
1 pound pork neck bones
3 slices bacon, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
1 cup diced onion
1 cup diced celery
1 cup diced carrot
3 cloves garlic, chopped
6 cups cold water
1 bay leaf
1 teaspoon dried thyme
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 pinch cayenne pepper, or to taste
1 (10 ounce) can diced tomatoes with green chile peppers
1 teaspoon salt
6 ounces smoked ham, diced
1 bunch kale, ribs removed and leaves torn into pieces

Directions

1 Place black-eyed peas into a large container and cover with several inches of cool water; let stand, 8 hours to overnight. Drain and set aside.
2 Cook pork neck bones and bacon in a Dutch oven over medium heat until lightly browned, about 5 minutes. Add onion, celery, and carrot; cook and stir until softened, 6 to 7 minutes. Stir in garlic and cook 1 minute.
3 Pour cold water and black-eyed peas into pork mixture; increase heat to high. Stir in bay leaf, thyme, cumin, black pepper, and cayenne pepper; bring to a simmer. Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 45 minutes.
4 Stir in tomatoes with green chile peppers and salt. Simmer uncovered until beans are tender, about 40 minutes.
5 Remove neck bones; separate any meat from bones, return meat to the Dutch oven, and discard bones.
6 Stir in diced ham and kale; cook until greens are tender, 10 to 15 minutes. Serve over rice.