Happy New Year! Here in the South, Hoppin’ John is a traditional New Year’s dish, and they say it brings wealth and luck for the new year. The peas are said to represent pennies or coins, and the collards, the color of money, represent cash. With the nutritional punch this dish delivers, why not take a chance on wealth and good luck for the new year?
Many thanks to The Produce Lady for this recipe and the folklore. Lots of leafy greens have great nutritional value, including spinach, kale, and mustard greens, but collards are a favorite with the black-eyed peas. This recipe for Hoppin’ John serves 8 to 10 people – perfect for your New Year’s Day gathering. Enjoy!
- 1 cup dried black-eyed peas
- 5 cups water
- 1 dried hot pepper (optional)
- 1 smoked ham hock
- 1 medium onion, chopped (about ¾ cup)
- 1 cup long-grain white rice
Wash the peas, then put them in a saucepan. Add the water and discard any peas that float. Gently boil the peas with the pepper, ham hock and onion, uncovered, until tender but not mushy — about 1 ½ hours. Add the rice to the pot, cover and simmer over low heat for about 20 minutes, keeping the lid closed the entire time. Remove from the heat and allow to steam, still covered, for another 10 minutes. Remove the cover, fluff with a fork and serve immediately with cooked greens. Serves 8 to 10.