The Home Front
In the summer, fresh peas are a coveted prize at stocked farmer’s markets in the Heart of Dixie. Many of us recall watching our grandmothers make Southern-style peas, and once you learn the ropes, it’s easy to create those same flavorful vegetables just as we remembered from our childhood. The three keys to delicious Southern-style peas are:
1. Browning meat/rendering fat
2. Adding rich broth(s)
3. Cooking low and slow
Although fresh peas are always the best, frozen peas still taste wonderful using the Southern-style method. Browning the meat is the first step to Southern-style peas. Whether using bacon, ham hock, turkey neck or other smoked meats, browning first is key. Here are the steps to brown the meat:
- Heat about 2 tablespoons of oil.
- Add meat when oil is hot.
- Sauté the meat until all sides are golden brown.
Smoked meats, such as ham hock or turkey neck, are typically “cooked” and just need to be browned beforehand to release full flavor. Bacon, my personal favorite, is best cooked first because it will release smoky fat that will season the beans beautifully. Adding broth is the next step to adding flavor. Broth adds a whole new level of rich flavor. There are myriad options for broth, but the ones I recommend are:
- Better Than Bouillon paste (make per directions on the jar)
- Prepared stock, broth, or bone broth
- Bouillon cubes
A good tip that I learned from my grandmother is to “layer” for more flavor. She always added a cube or two of bouillon to broth to make it richer. This worked in her Southern cornbread dressing recipe, which you can find on the Family Savvy blog. Cooking low and slow is essential. Southern-style peas aren’t made in a jiffy. They are best simmered for hours on the stovetop or in a slow cooker. Peas in the Instant Pot are quicker to make, but I still let mine continue to cook in the Instant Pot for several hours. This method works for more than just peas, you can also use this method for butter beans, lima beans, pinto beans, and more! If you want the full step-by-step recipe for my Southern-style peas, I share all the details on www.familysavvy.com. I hope you’ll give this method a try and that these peas remind you of the days of old.
-Jamie Tarence
