recipe
Hoppin' John is a Southern tradition for new years dinner with black eyed peas and rice. Made with a smoky ham hock or salt pork, this black eyed pea soup is believed by some to bring good luck!
Ham hock is a salty and smoky meat addition to this soup. I find ham hock packaged in the meat department.
Cook bacon until crisp. Remove and reserve bacon grease. Cook onions and peppers in bacon grease until soft. Add garlic. Add ham hock and broth. Bring to boil and simmer 15 minutes. Stir in peas and rice, simmer another 10 minutes.