Description
This one is a favorite in our house. It is low cost, healthy with the vegies & peas & puts a lowly hambone (preferably with some good gristly bits & meat clinging to it) to great use. Don't fear the grisstly connective tissue – it cooks down & gives wonderful body to the soup/stew. Seriously. Giving the hambone a nice browning in the pot is key to getting a rich flavorful brown soup. Serve with a good crispy cornbread for a wonderful meal. Even better when made a day ahead of time – doubles well.
Ingredients
- Ham Bone
- Olive Oil
- Water
- Onion
- Celery
- Frozen Black-eyed Peas
- Bell Peppers
- Salt
- White Pepper
Instructions
- Place ham bone in soup pot large enough to allow bone to be fully covered by water
- Add olive oil & brown ham bone until dark brown on one side
- Add onions & saute until translucent & just beginning to brown
- Add water to cover ham bone by 1 / 2 inch, cover pot & bring to boil then simmer 45 minutes
- Pour black-eyed peas into pot with ham bone & onions
- Add green & cayenne peppers
- Leave lid off & bring to boil then reduce to simmer for 60 minutes
- Remove ham bone & any other chunks of ham
- Trim bone of meat & chop fine
- Add back to pot
- Season to taste with salt & white pepper
- Black pepper will do just fine if you do not have white pepper on hand