Southern Pink Lady Peas
Southern Pink Lady Peas are a true Southern delicacy and delicious when served with a slice of cornbread or hoecakes and a few slices of fresh summer tomatoes.
Servings: 4 servings
Calories: 319kcal
Ingredients
- 3 cups fresh shelled pink lady peas
- 3 cups water
- 1 smoked ham hock or ¼ lb salt pork slices or leftover ham
- ½ cup onions finely chopped
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 tablespoon bacon grease
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
Instructions
- Add bacon grease to a large saucepan over medium heat. Once the grease is hot, add the onions, reduce the heat to low and sauté for about six to seven minutes. Add the garlic and sauté for another minute.
- Add the peas, whatever pork product you are using, and about three cups water and bring to a boil. You want the water to cover the peas by about an inch.
- Skim off any foam that develops. Reduce the heat to low and simmer for about 20 minutes. It may take a little more or a little less time, depending on what kind of peas you are cooking. Stir occasionally.
- Start tasting them to see if they are done about 15 minutes into the cooking process and keep tasting one or two peas every few minutes until they are tender. You don’t want to overcook them, or they will be mushy.
- Add salt and pepper and serve. Enjoy!
Notes
Every year I get calls from folks looking for fresh peas for Thanksgiving when they aren't in season. Plan ahead; stalk your farmers' market, buy them now, blanch them, and freeze them. You will thank me in November!
I frequently use purchased frozen chopped onions in this recipe to save time.
If you are using frozen peas, you can add them directly to the pan without defrosting them first.
You can prepare this recipe up to 48 hours in advance. Store covered in the refrigerator until ready to reheat. It reheats well with no loss in quality.
All of my pea recipes are interchangeable. In other words, you can use this recipe for any Southern pea.
This recipe calls for a smoked ham hock. Suitable substitutes are cooked salt pork, pork belly, bacon, smoked pork chops, and leftover ham.
Nutrition
Calories: 319kcal | Carbohydrates: 37g | Protein: 7g | Fat: 16g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 7g | Cholesterol: 13mg | Sodium: 519mg | Potassium: 774mg | Fiber: 9g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 1550IU | Vitamin C: 6.6mg | Calcium: 220mg | Iron: 2mg
