HOCKS COLLARDS & PEAS Southern traditional

This is a real ”comfort food” item!

1 tbsp. unsalted butter
6 cloves garlic, peeled, crushed and coarsely chopped
1 yellow onion, chopped

3 smoked ham hocks
2 quarts low-sodium chicken stock (or it’ll be really salty)
3# collard greens
4 cups (about 20oz. fresh or frozen black eyed peas)
1 tsp. Fresh ground pepper
½ tsp. Red pepper flakes (chopped a little)
1 tsp. Fresh thyme, chopped
2 tsp. Brown sugar
1 Tbsp. Cider vinegar

Heat butter in a large pot, about 2 gallon size. Add garlic, onion and ham hocks and sauté for a few minutes. Cover with chicken stock and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 2 hours until meat is falling off bones of hocks.

Meanwhile, wash the greens thoroughly and remove the thick parts of the stems. Bring 3 quarts of water to a boil, add just enough salt to make it taste like sea water. Add greens, cover and cook for five minutes.

Rinse greens with cold water; squeeze out excess water and roughly chop. Set aside.

When ham hocks are tender, add black eyed peas, black pepper, red pepper flakes, thyme and chopped collards.

Continue until peas are tender (about 30 minutes). Remove hocks and shred meat from bones, discarding fat & bones. Stir the shredded meat back into the bean-collard mixture. Serve in heated bowls.

Serves 4 as an entree.

Needs good bread or cornbread to sop up some of the juices. Wine: Cabernet, possibly a Merlot, Pinot Noir is a possibility. Can be a little salty from the hocks so you need a wine that can stand up to the salt.