When Southerners like Birmingham chef Frank Stitt talk about field peas, they mean small shelling beans, such as black-eyed peas. (Crowder peas and lady peas also qualify, but they’re less common.) When field peas are fresh, in summer, Chef Stitt, a 1999 Workshop attendee, shows them off in this salad, tossing them with grilled corn cut from the cob, tomato, grilled red onion, and herbs. Serve the salad when you’re also grilling salmon, sausages, or pork chops, or with Brian’s Grilled Mahimahi with Preserved Lemon Butter (page 113). If you can’t find fresh black-eyed peas, use dried ones, soaked overnight, then simmered gently until tender.
Recipe information
Yield
serves 6 to 8
Ingredients
Preparation
Step 1
Prepare a medium-hot charcoal fire or preheat a gas grill to high. Grill the corn, turning often, until the husks are charred in spots and the kernels undergo the color change that indicates that they are cooked, about 10 minutes. (Peel back the husks and check a few kernels to be sure.) When the corn is cool enough to handle, husk it and cut the kernels from the cob. Place them in a large mixing bowl.
Step 2
Brush the onion slices lightly with olive oil on both sides. Grill the onion on both sides until charred in spots and lightly softened, about 5 minutes. Dice neatly and place in the bowl with the corn.
Step 3
Add the remaining ingredients and toss gently. Let rest at room temperature for 1 hour, then serve.
