Hoppin John

Today am here to give out the recipe of the southern United States staple food called Hoppin John 🤭...

I know the name sounds funny but according to me this is a very healthy and balanced kind of food. 

It has rice, beans, meat and veggies in it and of course it was super tasty. It has a moist texture to it which is kind of comforting to me. 

As its has so much goodness in it i am happy to serve this, not only balanced but it also has loads of flavour to it.

And finally making this in my instant pot was like a cake walk. So easy and so filling. Hope you all will enjoy it too... 🤗 

Ingredients

1 cup dried black-eyed peas

1 ham hock or any meat (i used beef steak) 

1 onion, halved

5 garlic cloves

4 bay leaves

250 gm bacon, diced

1 cup chopped onion

3 of celery, diced

2 bell pepper, diced

4  chilli chopped (adjust) 

1 tbsp chopped fresh or dry thyme

1 cup long-grain rice

Salt to taste 

1 teaspoon ground black pepper

1 cup green onions (save little for garnish) 

INSTRUCTIONS 

Place dry black-eyed peas, ham or meat, halved onion, garlic, and bay leaves with 4 cups of water in an Instant Pot. 

Turn on the pot’s pressure cooker setting and cook for 12 mins high and quick release the pressure. 

Drain the peas, saving liquid in a bowl. Chop the meat into cubes. 

Wash the pot and turn on the sauté setting. Add bacon and cook, stirring occasionally, until crispy. 

Add 1 cup chopped onion, celery, bell pepper, and chillies. Cook, stirring occasionally, until onions are tender, about 5 minutes. 

Add the thyme, pepper powder and reserved bean liquid according to the  amount of rice to pot with the chopped meat. 

Close the lid and pressure cook for 4 mins high, natural release. 

Stir in the green onions and black-eyed peas. Taste, Adjust with salt and pepper. 

Adjust the consistency with additional reserved bean liquid if needed. 

The Hoppin’ John should be moist, but not soupy.

Serve hot with the saved green onions sprinkled on top. 

NOTES:

* For regular rice i add 1:1.25 ratio of water. For this dish you need to add somewhere between 1:1.75 - 2 ratio, as it has to be moist but not soupy. 

* I paired it with some homemade yogurt and it was heavenly.