Creole Chitterlings

Ingredients

• 20 pounds frozen cleaned chitterlings, thawed
• 1 large baking potato
• 2 large onions, peeled and halved
• 1 green bell pepper, chopped
• 3 cloves garlic
• 3 stalks celery, with leaves
• 1 cup apple cider vinegar
• 2 tablespoons salt
• 1 bay leaf
• 1 teaspoon Creole seasoning to taste
• 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes, or to taste

Directions

Step 1
Clean the chitterlings by removing all the specks and fat with specks on them. Rinse in several changes of salted water. Place them in a large pot and fill with enough water to cover. Bring to a boil, drain, rinse and fill with enough water to cover again.

Step 2
Return to the heat and add the potato, onions, green pepper, garlic, celery and vinegar. Season with salt, bay leaf, Creole seasoning and red pepper flakes. Cover and simmer over medium heat for 3 to 4 hours. Chitterlings should appear clear to white in color.

Step 3
Cut the chitterlings into 1 inch pieces and return to the pot. Pour out most of the cooking liquid. Discard the potato, onions, celery and bay leaf. Heat the chitterlings through and serve with your favorite side dishes. Store the leftovers in the refrigerator. Like so many other great soul food dishes, chitlins taste even better after the flavor has soaked in for a few hours.