Black Eyed Pea, Green Bean, and Pork Stew

Black Eyed Pea, Green Bean, and Pork Stew is a symphony of flavors and textures, a dish that embodies the essence of home-cooked comfort food and the richness of traditional stews. At its heart lies the pork shoulder, a cut of meat revered for its robust flavor and tender texture when slow-cooked. Each piece of pork is meticulously browned to perfection, creating a deep, caramelized crust that adds a smoky depth to the dish. This browning process, fundamental to building layers of flavor, sets the stage for a stew that’s as rich in taste as it is in history.

As the pork simmers, it’s joined by black-eyed peas, a legume with a distinguished place in culinary tradition. These peas are not just an ingredient but a carrier of cultural heritage, often associated with good luck and prosperity. In the stew, they absorb the surrounding flavors while maintaining a delightful creaminess, adding both substance and symbolism to every bite.

The inclusion of fresh green beans brings a contrasting texture and a touch of verdant color to the dish. Their snap and natural sweetness offer a balance to the hearty elements of the stew, ensuring each spoonful is a well-rounded experience. The green beans are a reminder of the stew’s ability to bring together diverse ingredients in harmonious unison.

Integral to the stew’s character is the red bell pepper, providing a mild, sweet flavor and a vibrant pop of color. Its presence elevates the stew, enhancing the overall palette of flavors with its subtle, fruity undertones. The addition of potatoes, diced and tender, transforms the stew into a truly filling and comforting dish. These potatoes act as sponges, soaking up the rich, meaty juices and the essence of the tomatoes and broth, becoming flavor-packed morsels that melt in the mouth.

The use of San Marzano tomatoes marks a deviation from ordinary stew recipes. These Italian tomatoes, known for their sweet flavor and low acidity, lend a gentle, refined taste to the stew. The tomatoes meld into the broth, creating a base that is both rich and elegantly understated, a canvas upon which the other ingredients can shine.

As the stew gently simmers, the aromas fill the kitchen, signaling the transformation of simple ingredients into something extraordinary. Seasoned with paprika and dried thyme, the stew acquires a smoky warmth and a subtle, earthy note. These spices, combined with the natural flavors of the ingredients, create a complexity in the stew that is both comforting and intriguing.

After about 90 minutes of simmering, the stew reaches its peak. The pork becomes fork-tender, the black-eyed peas and potatoes perfectly cooked, and the green beans tender yet crisp. The result is a stew that is rich, hearty, and deeply satisfying. Every bowl served is a celebration of rustic cooking, a dish that warms the soul and brings people together around the table.

This Black Eyed Pea, Green Bean, and Pork Stew transcends the boundaries of a mere meal – it’s a celebration of hearty ingredients coming together in a perfect balance of flavors and textures. It’s a dish that encapsulates the soul of home cooking, offering warmth, nourishment, and a sense of communal joy with each shared bite. Laden with history, culture, and the simplicity of good food, this stew stands as a testament to the timeless art of cooking, turning everyday ingredients into an extraordinary experience of taste and comfort.

BEVERAGE PAIRING SUGGESTIONS:

Pairing beverages with a hearty and flavorful dish like Black Eyed Pea, Green Bean, and Pork Stew requires selections that can complement the rich and savory elements of the stew. Here’s some suggestions:

• Orange Wine: Orange wines, known for their robust and complex flavor profiles, can be an excellent match for this stew. These wines, made from white grape varieties that have been left to macerate with their skins, offer a unique combination of white wine’s freshness and red wine’s body. Look for an orange wine with earthy and nutty notes to complement the smokiness of the pork and the richness of the stew.
• Amber Ale: An amber ale, known for its balance of malt and hops, can enhance the flavors of the stew. Its caramel notes and slight fruitiness will harmonize with the richness of the pork and the sweetness of the bell pepper and tomatoes.
• Chardonnay: For a white wine option, a full-bodied Chardonnay with oaky and buttery notes can complement the creaminess of the black-eyed peas and potatoes, and the overall richness of the stew.

Black Eyed Pea, Green Bean, and Pork Stew

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Course: MainsCuisine: Italian, New AmericanDifficulty: Easy

Servings

4

servings

Prep time

15

minutes

Cooking time

1

hour 

45

minutes

Total time

2

hours 

This Black Eyed Pea, Green Bean, and Pork Stew is a hearty and savory comfort dish, brimming with the richness of tender pork, the earthiness of black-eyed peas, the freshness of green beans, and the robust flavor of San Marzano tomatoes, all melded together in a satisfying, soul-warming meal.

Ingredients

• 1 pound pork shoulder, cut into chunks

• 1 cup black eyed peas

• 3 cups green beans, trimmed and cut in half

• 1 large onion, diced

• 1 large red bell pepper, diced

• 2 large potatoes, peeled and diced

• 3 cloves garlic, minced

• 1 can (28 oz) San Marzano tomatoes

• 4 cups chicken broth

• 1 bay leaf

• 1 tablespoon dried thyme

• 1 tablespoon paprika

• 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

• to taste, salt and ground black pepper

• for garnish, parmesan cheese

• for garnish, freshly chopped parsley

Directions

• Brown the Pork:
  In a large pot or Dutch oven, heat 1 tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil over medium heat. Season the pork pieces with salt and ground black pepper and brown them on all sides. Remove the pork and set it aside.
• Sauté the Vegetables:
  In the same pot, add another tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil. Add the diced onion and bell pepper, and sauté for 3-5 minutes. Add the garlic, and continue to cook for another 2 minutes.
• Combine Pork, Vegetables, and Peas:
  Return the browned pork to the pot. Add the diced potatoes, green beans, and black-eyed peas. Stir to combine.
• Add Tomatoes and Broth:
  Pour in the San Marzano tomatoes with their juices and the chicken broth. Stir well to mix.
• Season and Simmer:
  Add the bay leaf, paprika, dried thyme, salt, and ground black pepper. Bring the stew to a boil, then reduce the heat to low. Cover and simmer for about 90 minutes, or until the peas, potatoes, and pork are tender to your liking.
• Final Adjustments and Serve:
  Remove the bay leaf and adjust seasoning to taste. Serve the stew hot, garnished with freshly chopped parsley and Parmesan cheese.