Skillet Hopping John Recipes

HOPPIN' JOHN

Steps:

• Soak black-eyed peas in cool water for at least 6 hours. Rinse before using.
• Heat butter in a large pot over medium-high heat. Add onion, garlic, green pepper, and celery and stir. Cook for 3 to 4 minutes. Stir in soaked beans, then add chicken broth, ham hock, salt & pepper, and cayenne to taste. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and cover the pot for 30 minutes.
• After 30 minutes, check the liquid level; if it's too soupy, cook with the lid off for another 15 minutes or so. If it's too thick, splash in a little more broth. Stir in vinegar, then taste for seasonings. Add more spice if needed.
• Serve over white or brown rice, making sure to get plenty of the cooking liquid spooned over the top. Or, you may mix the bean mixture with the rice before serving.
• Variations: Add red bell pepper, canned diced tomatoes, diced jalapenos, diced ham (instead of ham hocks), or sliced bacon (instead of ham hocks). Stir in torn-up kale when 5 minutes of cooking time remain. You can also use canned, drained black-eyed peas if preferred. Just use diced ham instead of ham hock and a little less broth, as peas won't need to cook as long.

SOUTHERN HOPPIN' JOHN

Steps:

• In a large skillet, cook bacon over medium heat until crisp. Drain on paper towels; discard all but 2 tablespoons drippings. Saute pepper, celery and onions in drippings until almost tender. Add rice, water and seasonings. Cover and simmer 10 minutes. Add peas and bacon; simmer 10 minutes longer. Discard bay leaf.

MEATLESS HOPPING JOHN

Steps:

• Cook rice according to package directions. Meanwhile, in a large nonstick skillet, saute the corn, carrots, peppers and onion in oil for 6-8 minutes or until crisp-tender. Add garlic; cook 1 minute longer. , Stir in the rice, peas and tomatoes; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 5 minutes or until heated through, stirring occasionally. Add the seasonings; cook 2-3 minutes longer.

SKILLET HOPPING JOHN

Steps:

• Saute onion and garlic in butter until onion is tender.
• Stir in black-eyed peas, chicken bouillon, rice, salt, and 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper.
• Bring mixture to a boil; cover and simmer 20 minutes or until liquid is absorbed and rice is tender.
• Serve with additional crushed red pepper.

NEW YEAR'S HOPPING JOHN

Steps:

• Saute the first three ingredients in a large Dutch oven in hot oil, bacon drippings, or butter until tender.
• Add water and next five ingredients.
• Bring to a boil; cover, reduce heat, and simmer 40 minutes or until peas are tender.
• Remove and discard bay leaf.
• Serve over rice.

QUICK HOPPIN' JOHN SOUP

Steps:

• Crumble sausage into a skillet over medium heat and cook until evenly brown.
• In a large pot, mix the cooked sausage, rice mix with seasoning packet, black-eyed peas, tomatoes, broth and water. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low, cover and simmer 20 minutes, or until rice is tender. Season to taste with salt.