Black-Eyed Pea & Hambone Soup

• ham bone↗1

  smoked ham with some meat, gristle & skin if possible, like the smoked ham's bone & the shank end

• olive oil↗2 tablespoons
• water↗

  to cover ham bone

• onion↗1

  large yellow, chopped

• celery↗2

  stalks, chopped

• black-eyed peas32 ounces

  frozen (peas & snaps if you can get them)

• bell peppers↗2

  diced

• cayenne bell peppers↗4

  coarsely chopped (your choice on hot peppers)

• salt↗

  to taste

• white pepper

  to taste

Step-by-step instructions

1. 1

   Place ham bone in soup pot large enough to allow bone to be fully covered by water. Add olive oil & brown ham bone until dark brown on one side. Add onions & saute until translucent & just beginning to brown. Add water to cover ham bone by 1/2 inch, cover pot & bring to boil then simmer 45 minutes.

2. 2

   Pour black-eyed peas into pot with ham bone & onions. Add green & cayenne peppers. Leave lid off & bring to boil then reduce to simmer for 60 minutes.

3. 3

   Remove ham bone & any other chunks of ham. Trim bone of meat & chop fine. Add back to pot (along with skin if you like the texture). Season to taste with salt & white pepper. Black pepper will do just fine if you do not have white pepper on hand.