Hoppin John Risotto Recipes

HOPPIN' JOHN RISOTTO (PAULA DEEN)

Steps:

• In a large saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Add onion, celery, and garlic, and cook for 5 minutes, or until tender. Stir in rice and cook, stirring frequently, for 5 minutes, or until lightly browned. Stir in wine; cook until wine is absorbed, stirring frequently. Reduce heat to medium low, and stir in black-eyed peas. Add 1 cup warm chicken broth; cook, stirring constantly, until liquid is absorbed
• Repeat procedure with remaining chicken broth, 1 cup at a time, allowing liquid to be absorbed after each addition, stirring constantly. Remove from heat and stir in salt, crushed red pepper flakes, and bacon.
• Garnish with fresh parsley and crumbled bacon, if desired. Serve immediately.

HOPPIN' JOHN RECIPE

Steps:

• In a 5-quart Dutch oven, combine ham hock, bay leaves, and quartered onion, and top with 3 quarts of water. Set over high heat, bring to a boil, then cook at a boil for 5 minutes. Reduce heat to maintain a gentle boil, cover with the lid slightly ajar, and cook until the ham hock is fork-tender, about 3 hours; top up with boiling water as needed to keep the ham hock covered. Discard bay leaves. Transfer ham hock and onion to a heatproof plate or bowl to cool. Measure 2 quarts (1.9L) broth and return it to the Dutch oven; save any remaining broth for another use.
• Pull ham hock meat and skin from the bones. Roughly chop up any larger pieces, then return meat, skin, and bones along with the onion to the pot.
• Drain field peas from soaking water, rinse, and add to the pot.
• Add salt, pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder. Set over high heat and return to a boil. Lower heat to maintain a gentle boil, cover with the lid slightly ajar, and cook until peas are al dente, about 45 minutes. About 15 minutes before peas are al dente, preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Add parboiled rice to pot, stir to combine, then return to a full boil over high heat and cook for 1 minute, then turn off heat.
• Stir the pot well to incorporate the ingredients, cover fully with lid, and cook in oven for 30 minutes. Remove from the oven and let rest, covered, for 5 minutes.
• Fluff with a fork, and serve right away.

HOPPIN' JOHN RISOTTO

Steps:

• Cook chopped bacon in a 12-inch heavy skillet over moderate heat, stirring occasionally, until bacon is crisp, about 6 minutes. Transfer bacon with a slotted spoon to paper towels to drain.
• Add 2 tablespoons butter to bacon fat in skillet and heat over moderate heat until foam subsides, then cook sliced onions with 1/2 teaspoon table salt, stirring occasionally, until golden, 20 to 25 minutes. Reserve 1/2 cup caramelized onions in a bowl and set remaining caramelized onions aside in skillet.
• While onions are caramelizing, simmer frozen black-eyed peas (if using) in 2 cups water in a 2-quart saucepan, uncovered, over moderate heat until just tender, about 15 minutes, and drain peas in a colander.
• Cook red onion and celery in 2 tablespoons butter in a 5- to 6-quart heavy pot over moderate heat, stirring occasionally, until softened, 5 to 7 minutes. Add garlic and cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add rice and cook, stirring, 1 minute. Stir in wine and boil over moderately high heat until wine is reduced by half, about 2 minutes.
• Add caramelized onions from skillet, black-eyed peas (cooked frozen ones or canned), pancetta, thyme, red pepper flakes, remaining 3/4 teaspoon table salt, and 4 cups chicken stock and briskly simmer, uncovered, over moderate heat, stirring occasionally, until most of liquid is absorbed, 15 to 20 minutes. Add remaining 4 cups chicken stock and briskly simmer, stirring occasionally, until most of liquid is absorbed and rice is just tender and creamy-looking, 15 to 20 minutes. Add remaining 8 tablespoons butter (1 stick) and lemon juice, stirring until butter is incorporated.
• Divide risotto among 8 shallow bowls or dinner plates and sprinkle with bacon. If serving with verbena-brined pork chops (recipe precedes), top with chops. Sprinkle with coarse black pepper and sea salt, then top each serving with about 1 tablespoon reserved caramelized onion and sprinkle with chopped parsley.