This time of year, I am often overwhelmed with a sense of nostalgia. When the very first Christmas Carol falls on my ear, I immediately call to mind fond memories of North Mississippi, the place of myth and mystery that William Faulkner immortalized in his writing. I think on the celebrations, traditions, and superstitions that characterized the holidays in my childhood home.
The New Year's holiday is popularly associated with a number of age-old superstitions. My house was no exception. First of all, my mom would absolutely insist that Christmas decorations (i.e. the tree and outdoor lights) be taken down immediately after Christmas to properly set the stage for the new year. I can hear her now, "If you don't take 'em down befo' the new year, might'a well leave 'em up all year. " Then, she would never wash clothes on the last Friday on the year because, according to superstition, she could accidentally wash someone out of the family (i.e. cause a death in the family). We didn't particularly believe in this one, but no one wants to be blamed for someone's death, especially in a family as large as ours. New Year's Eve was always spent at Watch Night Service, which is associated with the Emancipation Proclamation and the end of slavery. And, on New Year's Day, a man had to be the first person to enter the house and we always ate black-eyed peas, both for good luck. As a rural household, we also had an open door policy and family and friends would stop by, unannounced, all day long for well wishes in the new year. I have faltered on keeping most of these traditions alive. However, as a foodie, I figured the New Year's superstitions were the perfect excuse for me to eat black-eyed peas and collard greens.
I didn't want traditional southern style black-eyed peas and collard greens, though. I was in the mood for something special. I thought about making gumbo, but I wasn't feeling quite up to making a roux. I also thought about a rice dish (a la jambalaya and jollof rice), but I wanted something more. Then, it hit me to make stuffed collard greens. I thought it would be a novel idea, but a quick google search revealed numerous recipes. My recipe is still very different from all of them. The ingredients are mostly southern, but the addition of coconut milk (and lack of smoke flavor) in the rice gives the dish a more international flavor profile.
The technique of stuffing leaves most likely originates in the Mediterranean region, and I benefited from this step-by-step tutorial for making stuffed grape leaves. This recipe is rather labor intensive and requires a good deal of time and patience.
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Ingredients
3 cups coconut milk
1 cup boiling water
12 okra, chopped into small pieces
1 red onion, coarsely chopped
4 tbsp tomato ketchup
2 tsp Italian seasoning
1 vegetable bouillon cube
1 lb Trader Joe's Basmati Rice Medley
1/4 cup butter, diced
1 cup frozen black-eyed peas
1 teaspoon of hamburger relish
Directions
1. Preheat oven to 350°F
2. Combine coconut milk, bouillon cube, water, onions, ketchup, Italian seasoning, hamburger relish and pulse until chunky.
3. Combine mixture in a greased 3-quart casserole dish with okra, black-eyed peas, rice, and butter.
4. Cover tightly (either with lid or aluminum foil) and bake for 1 hour, or until all liquid has been absorbed.
5. Fluff to serve.
Spicy Sweet Potato Sauce
Ingredients
2 cups sweet potato, peeled and diced into small cubes
1/2 cup salsa
1/4 cup Mr. Wonderful's Wonderful Island Hot Sauce*
2 tsp grapefruit juice
1/4 t. allspice
dash of ground ginger
salt, to taste
Directions
1. Begin by boiling the sweet potatoes in a pot until soft and tender. Allow to cool for 5 to 10 minutes.
2. Combine ingredients in a blender of food processor and process until smooth and creamy.
Note: Due to the potency of my original sauce, I added 1/2 cup apple juice and 2 tbsp of white wine vinegar to counterbalance the spiciness of the sauce.
* I picked this sauce up while on vacation in St. John, USVI. I underestimated it's potency. Simply substitute your favorite hot sauce.
Stuffed Collard Greens
Ingredients
Roughly 1/2 lb Black-Eyed Pea and Okra Rice
Spicy Sweet Potato Sauce
1 bunch of collard greens
Trader Joe's Chicken-Less Strips
Directions
1. Preheat oven to 375°F
2. Cook the chicken-less strips according to package directions.
3. Wash the collard leaves and trim steams along the bottom surface of the collards. For visual aid, see Susan's technique on the Fat Free Vegan Kitchen.
4. Blanch the collard greens, 6 at a time, in a large pot for about 6 minutes.
5. Cool the collard greens in a cold water bath to stop the cooking process.
6. Working with one green at a time, squeeze excess liquid from the green and lay flat on a clean surface, trimmed side up and stem closest to you.
7. Place the Spicy Sweet Potato Sauce in a 3-quart casserole dish
8. To assemble stuffed greens, scoop approximately 1/4 cup of black-eyed pea and okra rice onto the base of the collard green (for smaller leaves, use less). Add two pieces of the chicken-less strips. Roll the leaf, starting at the stem end and first roll up to encase the rice stuffing. Tuck the stem end under the stuffing. Then, fold over the leaf on both the right and leaf sides. Roll up tight. Place in prepared casserole dish. Repeat with remaining collard greens.
9. Bake the rolls, covered, in the middle of the preheated oven for 45 to 50 minutes, or until the sauce is bubbling and the rolls are cooked through.
10. Serve the stuffed collard green on a plate with the spicy sweet potato sauce.
Note: My stuffed collard greens turned out to be extremely spicy so I ate them with yogurt. I will likely purchase some mint today to make a bona fide yogurt sauce.
