THERE'S A SOUTHERN TRADITION OF EATING BLACK-EYED PEAS AND GREENS TO BRING GOOD FORTUNE IN THE NEW YEAR. LAST NIGHT, I CELEBRATED THIS TRADITION WITH A FEW CLOSE FRIENDS AND THE WIFEY. TODAY, I'M SHARING OUR RECIPE WITH YOU. HAPPY NEW YEAR!
PORK & BEANS:
1.5 LBS PORK SIDE, BACON, WHATEVER
3 16oz. CANS/6C. DRIED, BLACK-EYED PEAS
2 BUNCHES GREENS (COLLARDS, KALE, WHATEVER)
1 SWEET ONION
5-6 STALKS OF CELERY
1 RUTABAGA
1 CELERY ROOT
2 YUKON GOLD POTATOES
6-PACK OF BEER, DEALER'S CHOICE
SALT & PEPPER
LEMONS, FOR THE SQUEEZING
SAMBAL (OPTIONAL)
LET'S GO:
START BY GETTING EVERYTHING IN PLACE. THINLY SLICE THE ONION. CUT THE CELERY ON THE BIAS. PICK AND CLEAN THE GREENS. SHAVE THE CELERY ROOT, RUTABAGA AND POTATO. YADDA YADDA YADDA. IF USING DRIED LEGUMES, IT IS GOOD TO GIVE THEM AN OVERNIGHT SOAK OR QUICK BOIL.
THE TRABAJO:
BRING THE PORK PRODUCT AND A GOOD SIZED SOUP POT. GENTLY BROWN THE MEAT AND RENDER THE FAT. FROM HERE, GOOD COOKS WILL DRAIN AND RESERVE THE FAT. AFTERWARDS, ROUGHLY CHOP THE PORK AND RETURN IT TO THE POT. LIFT THE FOND WITH THE CELERY AND ONION. SCRAPE REMAINING BROWN BITS FROM THE BOTTOM WITH A WOODEN SPOON.
ONCE THE ONION AND CELERY ARE SOFTENED, GO IN WITH THE REST OF THE VEG, PEAS, ETC. GIVE EVERYTHING A STIR, GET IT GLISTENING WITH THAT GOOD FAT.
NEXT THE BEER. THE RECIPE CALLS FOR A 6-PACK. WHEN I MADE THIS DISH, I BOUGHT A BUBBA KEG OF STEIGL, POURED THE BEER TO COVER EVERYTHING AND TOOK THE REST TO THE DOME. ALL BEER. NO WATER. NO STOCK. YOU CAN SUBSTITUTE THOSE IF NEEDED, BUT I THINK THIS WAS A DAMN FINE SOUP.
ONCE THE BEER IS IN, BRING EVERYTHING TO A SIMMER AND GENTLY COOK THE SOUP UNTIL EVERYTHING IS TENDER AND DELICIOUS. FINISH WITH A SQUEEZE OF LEMON JUICE AND A SPOONFUL OF SAMBAL, IF DESIRED.
WE FED 4-5 PEOPLE, HAD SECONDS AND LEFTOVERS OFF ONE POT.
HAPPY NEW YEAR BEEEE-ITCHES!
-PETE
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