Lucky Bites – Foods to Bring Fortune in the New Year: Day 4
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As the clock counts down and the promise of a brand-new year sparkles on the horizon, there’s one tradition that stands the test of time: starting the year with a little extra luck on your plate. Whether you’re superstitious or just love a good excuse to celebrate with food, New Year’s Eve is the perfect time to indulge in dishes that symbolize prosperity and good fortune. And what better way to kick off a new year than with a flavorful twist on a Southern classic?
Enter Hoppin’ John Bean Dip — a party-perfect homage to the beloved dish traditionally served on New Year’s Day. Packed with black-eyed peas (long celebrated as a symbol of luck), smoky spices, green pepper relish, and crispy rice this dip is sure to keep your guests coming back for more. But why are black-eyed peas considered lucky? This humble legume has deep roots in tradition and folklore. In Southern culture, eating black-eyed peas on New Year’s Day is said to bring prosperity and good fortune for the year ahead. The practice is believed to date back to the Civil War, when the crop sustained communities during hard times. Over the years, black-eyed peas came to symbolize resilience, wealth (their round shape resembles coins), and the hope for a bountiful future.
Join me in this Lucky New Year’s Eve Series as we celebrate time-honored traditions with fun, modern recipes. From snacks and sides to sweet treats, these dishes are all about bringing a little extra magic (and a lot of flavor) to your celebration. Stay tuned for the full Hoppin’ John Bean Dip recipe!
Hoppin’ John Bean Dip
8-10
servings1
houra party-perfect homage to the beloved dish traditionally served on New Year’s Day. Packed with black-eyed peas (long celebrated as a symbol of luck), smoky spices, green pepper relish, and crispy rice, this dip is sure to keep your guests coming back for more
Ingredients
- Hoppin’ John Dip
3/4 cup dry black-eyed peas (120 grams)
1 smoked ham hock (or sub bacon)
1 yellow onion, diced
5 cloves garlic, minced
1/8 teaspoon cayenne
1/8 teaspoon smoked paprika
1/8 teaspoon black pepper
2 teaspoons kosher salt
2 bay leaves
1 1/4 cups chicken or vegetable stock (295 mL)
2 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil (30 grams)
parsley for garnish
crackers or veggies for dipping
- Crispy Rice
1/2 cup of cooked rice
1 Tablespoon olive oil
pinch of kosher salt
- Green Pepper Jelly
1 green pepper, finely diced
2/3 cup water (157 mL)
2 Tablespoon apple cider vinegar (30 grams)
1 1/2 Tablespoons sugar (21 grams)
1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
Directions
- Hoppin’ John Dip
- Soak the black-eyed peas in about 4 cups of water for at least 6 hours or overnight.
- Drain the soaked black-eyed peas and place them in a saucepan over medium heat with 3-4 cups of fresh water.
- Add in the ham hock and cover. Cook on low heat for about 1-2 hours or until tender.
*Note: If are substituting bacon, cook that separately, crumble, and set aside. - Strain the black-eyed peas – remove the ham hock, shred, and set aside.
- To a skillet over medium-high heat, add a drizzle of olive oil. Once hot, add in the onion and a pinch of salt and cook until translucent. Add in the garlic and cook an additional minute.
- Stir in the spices, black-eyed peas, stock, and bay leaves and simmer on low for 5-10 minutes.
- Remove the bay leaves. Blend the mixture, drizzling in the olive oil, until smooth.
- Crispy Rice
- While the black-eyed peas are cooking, cook your rice.
- Once your rice is cooked, preheat an oven to 350°F.
- Spread the cooked rice onto a parchment-lined sheet tray and drizzle with olive oil.
- Cook for 25-30 minutes or until crispy, stirring once or twice throughout. Set aside.
- Green Pepper Relish
- While the crispy rice is baking, make the pepper relish.
- Combine all ingredients in a small saucepan over medium heat.
- Cook until thickened – this will take about 15-20 minutes. Set aside.
- Assembly
- Place the bean dip in a bowl and top with the pepper relish, crispy rice, shredded ham hock (or crumbled bacon), and parsley.
- Serve with crackers and veggies for dipping and enjoy!
Notes
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