Hoppin' John Recipe | Hallmark Ideas & Inspiration (2024)

FAQs

What is traditional Hoppin John? ›

Hoppin' John, also known as Carolina peas and rice, is a peas and rice dish served in the Southern United States. It is made with cowpeas, mainly, black-eyed peas and Sea Island red peas in the Sea Islands and iron and clay peas in the Southeast US, and rice, chopped onion, and sliced bacon, seasoned with salt.

What's the difference between Hoppin' John and black-eyed peas? Hoppin' John has black-eyed peas in it, but it also has other ingredients. In this recipe, the black-eyed peas are stewed with onion, garlic, celery, and a ham hock, similar to how some Southern-style black-eyed peas would be cooked.

You'll find this Hoppin' John recipe gracing most tables in the South on New Year's Day. Served alongside it is a side of collard greens and freshly baked cornbread; the greens are a symbol of paper money, while the cornbread represents gold. For a complete New Year's Day spread, you'll need some pork, too.

And our tastiest superstitious tradition is eating Hoppin' John on New Year's Day. This classic Southern dish, a one-pot meal of black-eyed peas, ham hock, and rice, is believed by many (not just the Sterlings) to ensure wealth and bring good luck in the upcoming year.

hoppin' John was, and still is, often eaten with collard greens, which can resemble paper money, and “golden” cornbread. The peas themselves represent coins. Some families boost the potential of their hoppin' John by placing a penny underneath the dishes—or adding extra pork, which is thought to bring more luck.

Hoppin' John is made with black-eyed peas and rice, chopped onion and sliced bacon. Some recipes substitute another type of field peas for the black-eyed peas. Others also may use ham hock, fatback or country sausage in place of the bacon.

The crop was brought by enslaved Africans in the 1600s as they were transported to the Americas. West Africans have long considered black-eyed peas a good luck charm that warded off evil spirits, and they are often served on holidays and birthdays.

The bigger difference is in how they taste. The purple hulls are far more delicate than the black-eyes; they're creamier, sweeter, and lack the sometimes chalky texture you get with the other. They are the du Puy to the plain old green French lentil. They're more refined — and they're slightly more expensive.

Hoppin' John is a Southern American dish made with black-eyed peas, rice, and smoked pork, often served on New Year's Day for good luck. It is believed to bring prosperity and good fortune to those who eat it.

Do you drain canned black-eyed peas? ›

Drain and Rinse: Start by opening the can of black eyed peas and draining the liquid. Rinse the peas under cold running water to remove any excess sodium or preservatives.

Soaked black eyed peas take about 45 minutes to 1 1/2 hours to cook, depending on the age of the beans, how long they were soaked for and how soft you prefer them. If you're starting with frozen black eyed peas, microwave until thawed before adding them to your dish.

Black-eyed peas are a great source of soluble fiber, which is a key nutrient when it comes to digestive health. In fact, studies show that increasing your intake of soluble fiber can help promote regularity and increase stool frequency in those with constipation ( 8 ).

As with many types of dried beans, soak them overnight in salted water. Then cook them slowly or low to medium high heat over 2 hours or so. When they are almost soft, add them to the stew or soup and let them heatt up for another hour or so. The result should be succulent, soft but not mushy.

It is possible to soak beans for too long before cooking. Beans should soak for 8 to 10 hours overnight. If they are soaked for longer than 12 hours, they can lose their familiar flavor and become overly mushy. For the best result, refrain from soaking them for too long.

Black-eyed peas have also long been considered to be good luck in West African tradition, since they're thought to ward off the Evil Eye. They resemble other amulets and symbols, like buckeyes, that are thought to serve the same purpose.

According to historian and food scholar, Adrian Miller, black-eyed peas represent coins, collard greens represent paper money and cornbread represents gold. Some say you'll have the best chance at luck if you eat exactly 365 black-eyed peas, one for each day of the year.

New Year's foods are dishes traditionally eaten for luck in the coming year. Many traditional New Year dishes revolve around the food's resemblance to money or to its appearance symbolizing long life, such as long noodles or strands of sauerkraut.