Shante Keys and the New Year’s Peas

Shanté Keys loves New Year’s Day! But while Grandma fixed chitlins, baked ham, greens, and cornbread, she forgot the black-eyed peas! Oh no―it’ll be bad luck without them! So Shanté sets out to borrow some from the neighbors.

New Year’s Black eyed Peas :

• 1 pound dried black-eyed peas, sorted and rinsed
• 1 pound dried black-eyed peas, sorted and rinsed
• 2 ounces sliced salt pork belly, chopped You can use bacon )
• 2 smoked ham hocks
• 1 carton (32 ounces) reduced-sodium chicken broth
• 2 Tablespoon of oil
• 6 cloves of Garlic ,minced
• 2 bay leaves
• 1 Tablespoon thyme
• 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes

Place peas in a Dutch oven; add water to cover by 2 in. Bring to a boil; boil for 2 minutes. Remove from the heat; cover and let stand for 1 hour. Drain and rinse peas, discarding liquid; set aside.

1. In the same pan, saute onion in oil until tender. Add the pork belly, garlic, bay leaves, thyme, pepper flakes and pepper; cook 1 minute longer.
2. Add the broth, ham hocks and peas; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, for 35-40 minutes or until peas are tender, stirring occasionally and adding more water if desired.
3. Discard bay leaves. Remove ham hocks; cool slightly. Remove meat from bones if desired; finely chop and return to pan. Discard bones. If desired, top with additional fresh thyme.

Have a very Safe and Happy New Year ! The Jung’s