by Joseph Erdos

Hoppin' John, a New Year Tradition Recipe

New Year's is about a lot of things: partying into the night, getting tipsy on Champagne, sharing a moment with a special someone at the stroke of midnight. But most importantly, the new year is a reboot, a chance to make some changes, to set a goal and go for it, to choose a new direction in life. Many cultures believe there's a way to ensure a positive outcome in the new year by eating lucky foods. So to guarantee your good luck, why not eat your way to prosperity and wealth with this Hoppin' John recipe? It's worth a try!

It's tradition to eat pork on New Year's Day since the pig symbolizes forward progress due to its predilection to dig things up with its snout, whereas the chicken, which scratches backwards, is a no-no. Southerners equate black-eyed peas and greens with wealth -- the beans look like coins and the greens like money.

This Hoppin' John recipe is one of those traditional dishes you'll find on the Southern New Year's table because it has black-eyed peas and bacon -- a winning combination.

This easy New Year's Hoppin' John side dish is quick to put together. It can even be made with leftover rice and beans. The vegetables are cooked in the rendered bacon fat, and then the rice and beans are tossed in. Before serving, add scallions and the reserved bacon. For a true Southern New Year's supper, pair this Hoppin' John recipe with sauteed greens such as collards or kale, corn bread, and a beautiful baked ham or roast pork. Not only will it be an amazingly flavorful dinner, it will also guarantee luck for everyone who partakes in the meal.

Hoppin' John Southern-Style Side Dish

    Prep Time: 10 minutes

    Cook time: 20 minutes

    Yield: Serves 6 as a side dish

Hoppin' John Ingredients

    5 slices thick-cut bacon, cut into strips

    1 small onion, chopped

    1 small red bell pepper, diced

    3 garlic cloves, finely chopped

    1/4 teaspoon Cayenne pepper

    1 tomato, peeled, seeded, and diced

    2 cups cooked white rice

    2 cups cooked black-eyed peas

    1/2 cup chopped scallions, plus more for garnish

Hoppin' John Recipe Instructions

    In a large skillet set over medium-high heat, fry bacon until crisp.

    Remove to a bowl with a slotted spoon.

    Add onion and bell pepper to hot bacon fat and sauté until soft and translucent, about 5 minutes.

    Add garlic and Cayenne and sauté for 1 minute.

    Add tomato and cook until soft and thick, about 5 minutes.

    Stir in rice and black-eyed peas and warm for 3 to 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.

    Stir in scallions and reserved bacon.

    Remove mixture to a platter and garnish with additional scallions.

Hoppin' John Southern Side-dish Recipe, American Southern Cuisine

 

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Hoppin' John Side Dish Recipe - A Southern New Year Tradition

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