Once I became a responsible adult, I always dreaded the New Year meal.
A. Cabbage is not tasty. Not only that, it smells awful.
B. While black eyed peas are not really bad, it is difficult to get creative with them.
After several New Years of failed meals, I finally remembered about my mom's cabbage soup. I made some adjustments for the occasion, added some secret ingredients, and made a meal worthy of Hell's Kitchen (according to me and my minions).
And the best part is that it doesn't leave your kitchen reeking of cabbage.
What you'll need:
- 1 lb chopped ham (I just bought a small pre-sliced honey ham and chopped it up)
- 1/2 head of cabbage, medium to large, chopped
- 1 cup dried black eyed peas, rinsed
- 4 cups low sodium chicken stock
- 1 cup water
- 1 can (15oz) tomato sauce
- 1 can (14.5oz) petite diced tomatoes, undrained
- 1 tsp minced garlic
- 1/2 cup dried minced onion
- 1/4 cup parsley
- 1 T basil
- 2 tsp pepper
- 1 tsp thyme
- 1 tsp dill weed
- 2-3 dashes of Swampy's Bar-B-Q Rub (secret ingredient #1)
- 2-3 dashes of Tony Chachere's Original Creole Seasoning (secret ingredient #2)
**This soup does NOT need salt**
What to do:
Warm the ham in the bottom of a large stock pot over medium heat. I like to let it sizzle for about 4-5 minutes to bring out some of the flavor. Stir in garlic and let cook for about 30 seconds or until fragrant.
Add the rest of the ingredients to the pot and stir it all together. You may or may not need more water, depending on how big your cabbage is. Make sure it is all covered up with liquid. Raise heat to high and bring to a boil.
Reduce to medium-low heat (slightly more on the medium side), cover, and let simmer for about an hour, or until beans are nice and tender.
Serve with cornbread, and you have a highly inexpensive, highly delicious meal to get you ready for your prosperous year.
Enjoy!
Prep time: About 10 minutes
Cook time: About an hour
Serves: 6-7
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