Black-Eyed Peas With Ham Hock and Collards Recipe (2024)

By David Tanis

Black-Eyed Peas With Ham Hock and Collards Recipe (1)

Total Time
2 hours
Rating
5(1,709)
Notes
Read community notes

For the New Year’s good fortune, a plate of black-eyed peas or other beans is considered auspicious, auguring wealth and prosperity. In the American South, they are traditionally eaten on the first day of the year. Adding cooked greens (the color of money) is said to make them even luckier. Simmered with onion and a meaty ham bone (other options are salt pork, bacon, pig’s feet, hog jowl and ham hock), black-eyed peas are often seasoned quite simply, with just salt and pepper. They may also be made highly seasoned with hot pepper and spices. Freshly baked cornbread is the perfect accompaniment.

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Ingredients

Yield:About 12 cups cooked beans, 10 to 12 servings

  • 2pounds black-eyed peas, soaked overnight if possible
  • 2pounds smoked ham hock, meaty ham bone or slab bacon
  • 2teaspoons kosher salt
  • 1large onion, peeled and stuck with 2 cloves
  • 1bay leaf
  • ½teaspoon black pepper
  • ½teaspoon allspice
  • 2tablespoons vegetable oil
  • 4garlic cloves, minced
  • ½teaspoon crushed red pepper
  • 2pounds collard greens, cut in 1-inch ribbons (about 8 cups)
  • 1bunch scallions, cleaned and chopped, for garnish

Ingredient Substitution Guide

Nutritional analysis per serving (12 servings)

252 calories; 11 grams fat; 3 grams saturated fat; 0 grams trans fat; 5 grams monounsaturated fat; 2 grams polyunsaturated fat; 20 grams carbohydrates; 7 grams dietary fiber; 3 grams sugars; 21 grams protein; 635 milligrams sodium

Note: The information shown is Edamam’s estimate based on available ingredients and preparation. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

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Black-Eyed Peas With Ham Hock and Collards Recipe (2)

Preparation

  1. Step

    1

    Drain peas and put them in a large Dutch oven or heavy-bottomed soup pot. Add ham hock or bone (if using slab bacon, cut it into 2-inch chunks), cover with 10 cups water and turn heat to high. Add salt, onion stuck with cloves, bay leaf, black pepper and allspice.

  2. Step

    2

    Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to a gentle simmer. Skim off and discard any foam that rises to the surface. Simmer for 1½ to 2 hours, until peas are tender. Throughout cooking, add water as necessary, always keeping liquid level 1 inch above surface, stirring with wooden spoon occasionally. Turn off heat. Check broth for salt and adjust seasoning. Mixture should be fairly brothy. With a pair of tongs, remove ham hock, ham bone or bacon. Chop meat and skin in rough pieces and set aside.

  3. Put a large wide skillet over medium-high heat. Add vegetable oil and heat until wavy. Add garlic and red pepper and let sizzle without browning. Add collard greens and stir to coat. Season with salt and add 1 cup water, stirring to help wilt greens. Add chopped ham and reduce heat to medium, then cover with lid slightly ajar and cook until greens are soft, about 20 minutes. Check seasoning.

  4. Step

    4

    To serve, put greens and meat in low soup bowls, then ladle over hot black-eyed peas. Sprinkle with scallions.

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Private Notes

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Cooking Notes

Liz

Reading before reacting is yet another American tradition that seems to be dying out these days. I've known many Southerners who practiced it, but it seems to be going out of style. Anyway, this recipe does NOT call for cooking the beans and greens in the same pot. Guess it's easier to look at the picture and get all indignant, than to actually read the recipe.

Phillip

Any sane southerner would read the whole recipe before unloading misdirected frustration...you'll notice it instructs to cook the collards in a separate skillet with the garlic and red pepper, adding the ham and water and cooking until wilted.

Patty

This dish was a big hit for a second new year's eve in a row. Soaking the beans isn't really necessary. If the ham hock isn't done by the time the beans are done (the meat isn't tender and pulling off the bone easily), then you can pull the ham hock out of the beans, wrap snugly in foil, and bake in a 300 or so degree oven until it is done. Then allow too cool, pull meat off and add back to beans, along with any juices, too.

Sasha

Native New Orleanian here. Love this recipe. Not quite sure who it was who thought they were cooked together. Maybe reading it while sampling he cooking wine? I don't judge. I have had black eyed peas for 44 New Year's days and plenty in between. This is a great recipe for anyone. I add a little Crystal hot sauce, (Tabasco can change the overall flavor) and I like to add a dash of vinegar, as well. Usually in the last 1/2 hour of cooking the beans.

Cat M

I now use a pressure cooker to make black-eyed peas, then package in smaller batches to freeze. They hold their shape, become tender, and make it easy to add to whatever greens and side meat we have on hand. Saves time and equally delicious, especially for hoppin' john with stewed tomatoes.

Especially tasty with crumbled cornbread and a dash of hot sauce in the pot liquor.

Phil G

They aren't cooked in the same pot in this recipe. The beans are ladled over the greens at the end. Read the recipe.

Ellen Sleeter

Loved this. Made HALF the recipe with dried [not presoaked] beans in 8qt INSTANT POT in 2 phases: (1) pork butt in 2 cups water/stock/bean soaking liquid, high for 15 minutes, natural release, remove from pot liner; (2) in IP, saute onions, garlic and season; return ham and liquid, add dried beans and additional water/stock as necessary to accommodate the beans, stuff 1 pound of prepared collard greens into the pot, high for 12-15 minutes, natural release. Perfectly suited for IP.

Doug

Born & raised as a child in the deep South we had many, many meals like this featuring lots of vegetables many of which my parents grew themselves. Ranks right up there with Biscuits & Gravy!!, just "sho' nough" good!!

George

I typically first simmer the ham hocks for 45 minutes, remove, cut meat away from bone and dice, and discard fat. Then bring ham hock water to near-boil and skim off scum/fat, add to pot with enough water to total about 10 cups.

Shirley Domer

I made this using fresh black-eyed peas. Cooking time was about the same. Our family gave it rave reviews. They were the best black-eyed peas I've ever eaten.

mares

Cook collards for 20 minutes? No way unless you want tough greens and a stomach ache. Collards require 1-2 hours cooking (simmered) for a tasty dish!!!

Emily

Did you read the recipe? They ARE cooked in separate pots and NOT simultaneously. First the peas, then the greens; the meat from the former is added to the latter but that makes perfect sense to me. I'm making this tomorrow. Happy 2017!

Michaelmas

The recipe calls for 2 separate pots and it is basically 2 separate recipes. The greens and black eyed peas are served together - not cooked together. This is the proper way to cook this dish in Texas.

Mike

According to the recipe, the peas & collards were cooked in separate pots.

Lynn

Anyone know what happens to the whole onion? Is that removed when the beans are done?

Salty Ice-cream

So i didnt understand the onion with cloves so I got a red onion and diced it. But I only used half since it was just me anx my boyfriend eating it. I used a dutched oven on the stove. I used smoked ham shanks and it was really good from Mollie stone. The boiling part was confusing but i ended up taking the lid off towards the end. I also added shredded carrots to the greens for color. I did not follow the measurement for spices still came out good I made the greens spicy with sizon goya

Roland-Louis

I followed the recipe closely, but chose to chiffonade the collards. I should have cut the recipe in half, but on the bright side, I ate black-eyed peas all week long for a few extra servings of good luck.

BeverlyGirl55

Is the onion whole? What do you do with it after the peas are done?

Katy

Do you not chop the onion? Just stick a whole peeled onion with cloves stuck into it in the pot??

Angela S

This is absolutely delicious! Made it again this year on New Years Day and everyone loved it. Makes a large pot, sent some home with the kids and finished it off tonight for dinner. This recipe is going in with my traditional favorites to make every year. I do add 2 teaspoons of smoky paprika to the black-eyed peas at the end and would recommend using 2 skillets for the collard greens or do them in 2 batches. I cheat a bit and buy the collard greens already prepared triple washed and shredded.

Susan in Boulder

Failsafe, perfect recipe for New Year's Day. I soaked the peas for a full day and changed the water twice before cooking. Added peeled carrots to the black eyed peas after adding the ham hock. Totally delicious meal, can't wait for leftovers!

Penny Desmond

I absolutely loved... most of this recipe. The beans were so flavorful and tender (after 90 mins), the collard greens are insanely delicious. My only complaint is the ham hock. It might be personal preference, but I hated everything about the texture of the meat, it was so unappetizing. It gave everything an incredible flavor, but in the end I picked it out. In the future I might cook the beans with a ham hock, then take it out and use slab bacon or pancetta to cook with the greens.

Angela S

We use what is left from honey-baked Christmas ham, I cut most of the ham off the bone and add to the greens when they are done. Just cook the ham bone with the beans, can cut off whatever is left after cooking and add to the beans or not.

Rebecca Alms

This is an absolutely perfect recipe. Second year making this. Easy, simple, wholesome. This is my new tradition.

Emily Vason

Liked the separate cooking, but combo ending to this recipe. Used smoked turkey necks in place of the ham. All good. Northern style cornbread to make peace at the table.

GreenLight

This was delicious. Greens cooked down significantly. Scallions at end were key for brightness.

CP

Have made this for New Years Eve twice now. Cooked just as written, used a honey-baked hambone, and it was DELICIOUS! Everyone loved it! Unfortunately, forgot to add the collard greens this time around, but it was still great.

good

1/1/24 - came good this year, used orca beans, kale. Stuck the cloves in the onion, added spices after the first hour of cooking, did soak the beans 24 hours. Pizza spices in the kale. Used honey baked ham left over from the Ikebana potlucks which was much better than salt pork. George actually said it was good. Third year the charm. 😲

thu

Needs smoked ham hocks for sure. Used pork hocks and ended up adding bacon and bacon grease. Needs plenty of Tony's and salt.

Debbie G

Made this exactly as written. It was outstanding. Never did with 2 pans before, but what a big difference. You could really taste the different flavors. Also, I didnt have a whole clove so I stuck a cinnamon stick in the onion. Enjoy.

Angi

This year instead of adding water I added broth from the black eyed peas and the result was a truly delicious meal.

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Black-Eyed Peas With Ham Hock and Collards Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Should ham hock be soaked before cooking? ›

meat in a ham hock that is very tasty, but there is also a lot of high quality fat, collagen and cartilage that melt away and add lip-smacking savoriness to your dish. Ham hocks are usually sold pre-cooked, and often smoked. If you get a smoked hock you may want to soak it overnight to get rid of some of the saltiness.

Are collard greens and black eyed peas good for you? ›

The fiber in black eyed peas helps the body absorb flavonoids and other helpful nutrients. Black eyed peas are an excellent source of Calcium, Iron, Vitamin A, Magnesium, Zinc, Copper, Manganese and Folate. Collard greens are also very nutritious and one of my favorite greens.

What is the tradition of black eyed peas and collard greens on New Year's Day? ›

According to historian and food scholar, Adrian Miller, black-eyed peas represent coins, collard greens represent paper money and cornbread represents gold. Some say you'll have the best chance at luck if you eat exactly 365 black-eyed peas, one for each day of the year.

Should you drain and rinse canned black eyed peas? ›

Canned black-eyed peas are best in recipes that don't require slow cooking or a long cook time, which can make them mushy. If you're using canned black-eyed peas, simply rinse them in a colander to remove any liquid from the can as well as excess salt. Then you're good to go!

How many hours do you boil ham hocks? ›

How long does it take to cook ham hock? As a rough guideline, cooking ham hock for 2-3 hours yields the best results.

How long should you soak a ham hock? ›

Soak out the salt: Soaking the ham hocks in cold water for at least half an hour or more before cooking them will help draw out excess sodium so they don't overwhelm your palate with salt. Go low sodium: If you plan on braising your smoked ham hocks, use a low sodium broth or the salty taste may be too much.

Why eat collards and black-eyed peas? ›

According to food historian and scholar Adrian Miller, black-eyed peas are symbolic of coins, while collard greens symbolize paper money. Cornbread is symbolic of gold. “Some say you'll have the best of luck if you eat exactly 365 black eyed peas, one for each day of the year,” Miller said.

What day do you eat black eyed peas and collard greens? ›

The South is a region of long-held superstitions and traditions. However, one of our longest-held traditions is that of eating black-eyed peas and collard greens in some form on New Year's Day.

Does boiling collard greens destroy nutrients? ›

The green leaves turn dark green during this long cooking process, and the cooking water will be greatly reduced. Unfortunately, nutrients are leached out into the cooking liquid that many people pour down the drain.

What are 3 foods that are eaten on new year's day? ›

Looking for prosperity? As Southern tradition dictates, black-eyed peas, greens, and cornbread represent pennies, dollars, and gold, respectively, so eating them together on New Year's will keep your purse full all year long.

Why do Southerners eat black-eyed peas? ›

During the harsh winter, the Confederate soldiers survived on the remaining black-eyed peas, promoting this humble and nourishing legume into a symbol of fortune and prosperity in the American South.

Why do Southerners eat collard greens? ›

While black-eyed peas are said to have the power to bring luck, they also provide hearty, nutritious meals during the winter months because of their volume when cooked. Similarly, collard greens symbolize money and hope for the future, but are hardy crops able to survive harsh winter temperatures.

Can you overcook black-eyed peas? ›

Drain them the next day and bring them to a boil in cold water, then reduce the heat so the water barely simmers: dried black-eyed peas can overcook, and a rolling boil could cause them to break apart. Taste the peas often to check their doneness: They should be creamy but retain their shape.

How long do black-eyed peas take to cook? ›

Place beans in a large pot and cover them with 4 inches of chicken stock. Simmer, covered, for about 1 hour. Start checking after 45 minutes to see if they are tender and add more broth or water as necessary to keep them covered.

What happens if you forget to rinse beans before cooking? ›

If you're a relatively healthy person though, enjoying canned beans without draining or rinsing them first is fine. That's because our bodies require sodium to function. It's only when we go above and beyond what we need that it becomes a problem.

Why do you soak a ham hock? ›

Hocks, which are basically the pig's ankle, just above the trotter, can be sold smoked or unsmoked (I prefer the latter). Either way, it is always best to soak them in cold water for a few hours, just in case they are excessively salty.

Is it best to soak ham before cooking? ›

This process also keeps the ham nice and pink when it's cooked. Before you cook a brined gammon, it's a good idea to soak it in cold water overnight, to wash away some of the excess salt. Alternatively, pop it in a deep pot, cover with water, bring to the boil and poach it for half an hour or so.

How do you soak a ham hock? ›

The day before, soak the ham hocks in water overnight in the fridge, to draw out some of the salt (they may have already been soaked by the butcher, so check first). The next day, drain the hocks and pat them dry.

How long to cook a ham hock in water? ›

Bring to boil. Simmer on med-low heat for 4 to 5 hours, adding more water as needed. Remove hamhocks when they are tender and falling apart; allow to cool so they can be handled. Remove meat from ham hocks (discarding fat and bones) and return to the soup.

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