Hoppin John with Collard Greens

The story

A Southern New Year dish and everyday comfort plate, earthy, smoky and deeply satisfying.

Ingredients

• Base
• 160 gram oniondiced · 160 gram onion, diced
• 100 gram celerydiced · 100 gram celery, diced
• 120 gram green bell pepperdiced · 120 gram green bell pepper, diced
• Finish
• 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
• Greens
• 300 gram collard greensstems removed, leaves sliced into ribbons · 300 gram collard greens, stems removed, leaves sliced into ribbons
• Main
• 300 gram black-eyed peassoaked overnight · 300 gram black eyed peas, soaked overnight
• 260 gram long-grain ricerinsed · 260 gram long grain rice, rinsed
• 450 gram smoked ham hock450 gram smoked ham hock
• 900 millilitre chicken stock900 millilitre chicken stock

Method

1. Soften the trinity

   Dice onion, celery and green pepper evenly. Cook with a little oil over medium heat for 8 minutes until soft.

   Look for: The vegetables should soften without browning hard. Tip: This Southern base is about savoury depth rather than colour. Avoid: Uneven dice gives uneven texture in the rice.

2. Cook peas with ham

   Add soaked black eyed peas, ham hock and stock. Simmer for 60-75 minutes until the peas are tender.

   Look for: Peas should hold shape but squash easily. Tip: A ham hock gives the traditional smoky backbone. Avoid: Do not salt heavily at the start if the ham is salty.

3. Add rice

   Stir in rinsed rice, cover and cook very gently for 18 minutes, then rest off heat for 10 minutes.

   Look for: Rice should absorb the broth without turning mushy. Tip: Resting finishes the rice gently. Avoid: Do not keep lifting the lid.

4. Finish greens

   Slice collards into ribbons and cook until tender with a splash of vinegar. Serve beside or folded through.

   Look for: Greens should be tender but still green. Tip: Vinegar brightens the smoky peas. Avoid: Do not leave the stems thick; they cook slower than leaves.

Nutrition

per serving

Estimated from the upgraded serves-2 metric ingredient list; verify with a calculator before making health claims.