It’s a commonly held belief that black eyed peas bring good luck and prosperity in a new year. Every year on January 1st, I make slow cooker black eyed peas or this Hoppin’ John, and I always serve sides of honey cornbread and collard greens.
Hoppin’ John Ingredients
To make Hoppin’ John you will need butter, onion, celery, bell pepper, garlic, a bay leaf, dried thyme, Cajun seasoning, a ham hock or diced ham, black eyed peas, chicken broth, parsley, salt and black pepper. For more Southern favorites check out my mustard greens, Southern mac and cheese, pineapple casserole and funeral potatoes. Make your picks for a Southern feast!
How Do You Make Hoppin’ John?
To make this Hoppin’ John recipe, start by cooking onion, bell peppers and celery in butter in a large pot until tender. Add garlic and diced ham or a ham hock to the pot. Stir in seasonings, then add black eyed peas and chicken broth. Simmer for approximately one hour, or until the peas are tender. Stir in fresh herbs, then remove the meat from the ham hock and return the meat to the pot. Serve over steamed rice, garnish with parsley and enjoy!
Tips For The Perfect Dish
You do not need to soak your peas before you add them to this dish. If you prefer to soak them, you can, just be aware that it may reduce the cook time. Be sure to rinse your peas to remove any debris before you cook them. Your cook time may vary depending on the freshness of your peas. While typical dried peas take about an hour to become tender, it could take as little as 45 minutes or as long as two hours. Make sure to remove the bay leaves before serving the Hoppin’ John. I recommend serving this with cooked long-grain rice. This dish stays fresh in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. You can freeze your peas and rice for up to 2 months.
Flavor Variations
While this is a fairly traditional version of Hoppin’ John, you can easily customize the ingredients to suit your tastes.
Protein: I find that a ham hock produces the best flavor, but you can also use other pork like a ham bone, diced ham or bacon. You could even try smoked sausage or smoked turkey. Peas: Some people use red cowpeas or crowder peas instead of black eyed peas. In a pinch, you could use a different type of dried bean. Vegetables: Feel free to add other veggies to the mix such as red bell peppers or a can of diced tomatoes. Green Onions: Feel free to add sliced green onions over the top when you serve the dish. Spicy: For a spicier version, add a little hot sauce or a few red pepper flakes. You could even add some cayenne pepper.
This Hoppin’ John is the absolute best way to kick off your year! You can’t go wrong with the combination of smoky meat and creamy peas.
Hoppin’ John Video
