recipes
Black Eyed Peas with Ham Hock and Collards
Ingredients:
2 # dried black eyed peas
1 large ham hock
1 cured and smoked pork trotter
4 bunches of collard greens, chopped
1 t salt, plus more to taste
1 large onion, medium diced
2 garlic cloves, minced
6 bay leaves
1 bunch scallions, chopped, to garnish
crushed red pepper and black pepper, TT
Method:
Pick through the beans for stones, rinse them thoroughly and soak in water overnight. (Leave soaking until ready to cook).
Add the hock, 1 t of salt, and the bay leaves.
Strain the peas and fill the pot with fresh water, covering the peas by 2”. Bring to a boil and reduce to a low simmer. Cover and let simmer approximately 3-4 hours until ham hock is falling off the bone and beans are soft.
While it's cooking check the liquid level in the pot every hour or so, and add hot water as needed to barely cover the beans.
1 hour before the beans are done, saute onion and garlic in a large pot for approximately 4 minutes. Add the chopped collards. Scoop 1/2 cup of the bean liquid from the pot and add in. Stir and cover. Simmer on low to break the collards down in size.
Add everything from the collard pot into the bean pot. Stir well. Continue cooking.
When beans are tender and hock is falling apart remove from heat, and spoon out the hock onto a plate or sheet tray. Let cool until you can touch it and then pick the meat off of them. Return meat to the pot of beans and stir well.
Season with salt and pepper and serve hot.
Chef Becky’s Mom’s Pork Dumplings
To make the dumplings you will need:
•8 dried shiitake mushrooms
•1 pound ground pork
•1/4 cup green onions (chopped)
•1 egg white
•2 tbsp cornstarch
•2 tsp salt
•2 tsp soy sauce
•1 tsp sesame oil
•40 wonton wrappers
-Soak mushrooms for 20 minutes. Chop finely after hydrated.
-Mix mushrooms with pork, green onions, egg white, cornstarch, salt, 2 tsp soy sauce, 1 tsp sesame oil.
-Hold wonton wrapper in your hand and place 1 tbsp pork mixture in center of wonton. Bring the edges of the wonton up over the wonton and leave the top open.
-Place dumplings in a single layer in a steamer over boiling water for 20 minutes.
To make a homemade dipping sauce for your dumplings you will need:
•1/4 cup of soy sauce
•1/2 tsp of sesame oil
•1 clove of garlic (chopped)
•1 piece of fresh ginger (chopped)
•1 green onion (chopped)
-Finely chop your garlic, fresh ginger, and green onion, then mix in a bowl with the soy sauce and sesame oil. Dip your dumplings and enjoy!
NOTE: Pairs well with Sake or a light beer such as the “Come at me Beau” Pilsner from Little Fish Brewing Company
Spare Rib Peanut Sauce
You will need:
•2 half racks of spare ribs
•1/2 cup crunchy organic peanut butter
•2 tbsp soy sauce
•1 tbsp brown sugar
•1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
•2 tbsp fish sauce
•1-3 tbsp Gochujang Korean chili paste (based on your preferred level of spiciness)
-Blend together the peanut butter, soy sauce, brown sugar, apple cider vinegar, fish sauce, and chili paste in a blender or food processor.
-Pour sauce over spare ribs before grilling and enjoy!
NOTE: Pairs well with a glass of Pinot Noir