Black eyed peas and smoked neck bones

A recipe from the Queen of Southern soul food herself, crafted especially for the new year

Table of Contents Show

Instructions
Read more about Black-eyed Peas, and find more recipes for New Years, here.
Ingredients
Description
Directions
Can you use Neckbones in Black Eyed Peas?
How long does it take for smoked Neckbones to cook?
How do you cook neck bones and black eyed peas on the stove?
What's a good side dish for smoked neck bones?

by Hardette Harris

November 22, 2021

10:55 AM

Servings 6–8 ×

Ingredients

1 Large Smoked Ham Hock, rinsed and patted dry

1 Large Smoked Pork Neck Bone, rinsed and patted dry

2 lbs. Fresh Black-Eyed Peas, rinsed (Purple Hull Peas work nicely as well)

½ Yellow Onion, sliced

2 Garlic cloves, minced

2 Okra pods, whole or chopped to thicken

1 Tbsp. Seasoned salt

1 Tsp. Garlic Powder

Salt and pepper, to taste

Instructions

In a large stockpot, place ham hocks and neck bones; cover with water.
Cook over medium heat for 1 hour or until meat easily comes off the bone.
Remove meat from bones. Save liquid and strain if necessary to remove small bones.
Add peas, onion, garlic, okra, pepper, seasoned salt, salt and pepper, and garlic powder.
Cover and cook for thirty minutes. Return ham hocks to pot, and cook until peas are soft but not broken apart, about 20 minutes more.
Serve with cornbread, sliced yellow onion, and sliced tomato. Adjust seasonings.

Ingredients

4 cans Black-eyed Peas
Soaked and rinsed
Half Red Bell Pepper
Diced
1 Knob Butter
Whole Smoked Pernil Drippings
Fat removed. If no drippings are available, use 1 packet of ham flavoring/pork bouillon & enough water to cover the beans. If no ham/pork flavoring, a packet of lipton onion soup will suffice.
Cracklings
Made from skin of a pork shoulder. If cracklins are unavailable, a hearty thick-cut bacon will work well.
8-10 Smoked Neckbones
Each roughly the size of the horizontal length the knuckles of your hand. Other smoked meats for flavoring (hocks, tails, etc) tend to have considerably more fat but are just as effective.
1 Tbs Dried Oregano
1 Large Bay Leaf
1 Tbs Dry Thyme
1/2 Tbs Red Pepper
Crushed
To Taste Salt and Pepper

Description

Directions

Done

In a large pot on med high heat, melt butter. If using chopped bacon, render bacon until very crisp & then remove bacon.

Done

Add half of the diced/minced veggies, sautée until soft & translucent.

It is recommended to Dice the veggies with:

Done

Add tomato & sautée, and cook for 2 minutes.

Done

Add beans & stir well to combine, cooking & stirring for a few minutes.

Done

Add neck bones, stirring well to combine.

Done

Begin to deglaze with the drippings, adding a little at a time until all is added. Then add seasonings.

Done

When beans begin to boil, transfer to the smoker, slightly off the flame & loosely covered in aluminum, allowing to simmer & smoke at ~ 250° for 2.5 - 3 hours (you can use mesquite & sugar maple). Check periodically, stirring & adding drippings/water/stock/broth if necessary.

(If not using the smoker, reduce stove top heat to a med low simmer, allowing beans to cook and thicken to desired consistency)

Done

Ten minutes before beans are done, sautée remaining diced veggies in butter or oil until translucent, then add to the pot.

Professionals recommend to use Garlic Press:

Done

Remove beans from heat & stir in chopped cracklins at the very end so that they don't become waterlogged during cooking & lose their flavor.

Done

Garnish with parsley or with long hot peppers.

Done

Serve with white or brown rice, and always with buttery cornbread.

Can you use Neckbones in Black Eyed Peas?

How To Make black eyed peas with smoked neckbones in crockpot. Add black eyed peas, neck bones, chopped onion, garlic and herbs to the crock pot. Season lightly with seasoning salt onion powder and black pepper.

How long does it take for smoked Neckbones to cook?

Cover the neck bones with 2-3 inches of water and allow it to boil for 15 minutes, skimming the foam off the top of the water. Then, lower the heat, place a lid on pot and simmer the meat for 1 hour.

How do you cook neck bones and black eyed peas on the stove?

Instructions.

In a large stockpot, place ham hocks and neck bones; cover with water..

Cook over medium heat for 1 hour or until meat easily comes off the bone..

Remove meat from bones. ... .

Add peas, onion, garlic, okra, pepper, seasoned salt, salt and pepper, and garlic powder..

Cover and cook for thirty minutes..

What's a good side dish for smoked neck bones?

The best side dishes for neckbones include mac and cheese, collard greens, and cornbread. Beans are also a popular side, with options like red beans and rice or southern-style black-eyed peas to pick from. For something a little different, try sauerkraut.